The 2026 US Grand Prix starts at 1:30 AM IST on Monday, October 26, at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, and Indian fans can stream it live on FanCode. Kimi Antonelli starts from pole and can clinch his first F1 world title tonight, but only if he wins, George Russell finishes ninth or lower and Lewis Hamilton finishes fifth or lower.
If you’re an F1 fan in India, this is one of those nights where setting an alarm actually feels worth it. The 20-year-old Mercedes driver has been the story of the 2026 season, and Austin is the first race where the championship can mathematically be settled. I’ll be honest though: the maths says it probably won’t happen tonight. Here’s everything you need to know before the lights go out.
US GP 2026: Race Time in India and Where to Watch
The race is scheduled for 3:00 PM local time (CDT) on Sunday, October 25, in Austin, Texas. That works out to 1:30 AM IST on Monday, October 26. A normal dry race at COTA takes around 90 to 100 minutes, so expect the chequered flag somewhere around 3:00 to 3:30 AM IST.
There’s no regular TV broadcast of Formula 1 in India. You can watch the US Grand Prix live on the FanCode app or website, and FanCode also offers F1 TV Pro if you want onboard cameras and team radio. According to Sporting News India, FanCode is the only live streaming option for Indian viewers this weekend.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Race: Formula 1 United States Grand Prix 2026, round 18 of the season
- Venue: Circuit of the Americas (COTA), Austin, Texas, a 5.513 km track
- Laps: 56
- Start time in India: 1:30 AM IST, Monday, October 26
- Live stream in India: FanCode (F1 TV Pro available through FanCode)
- Pole position: Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), 1:34.035
- Championship lead: Antonelli has 340 points, 102 ahead of George Russell
- Defending US GP winner: Max Verstappen
Antonelli’s “Miracle Lap” for Pole
Going into qualifying, Mercedes didn’t look like the fastest car. Red Bull had the momentum, with Max Verstappen arriving in Austin after winning the last two races. Then Antonelli put together a 1:34.035 in Q3, his first run of the session, and nobody could beat it.
The official Formula 1 qualifying report says this is his seventh pole of 2026. Verstappen was 0.179 seconds slower in second, with his Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar third. Even Mercedes boss Toto Wolff seemed a bit surprised by the lap.
US GP 2026 Starting Grid: Top 10
- Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull
- Isack Hadjar, Red Bull
- Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
- Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
- George Russell, Mercedes
- Oscar Piastri, McLaren
- Lando Norris, McLaren
- Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
- Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Lando Norris actually set a time good enough for sixth, but it was deleted for track limits, so he starts eighth. Arvid Lindblad qualified inside the top 10 but dropped down the grid after a five-place penalty for going over his engine allocation.
Can Antonelli Win the F1 Title at the US GP?
Yes, but he needs a lot to go his way. Antonelli leads Russell by 102 points and Hamilton by 111. With five races left after Austin on the current calendar, the most anyone can score after tonight is 125 points. So Antonelli needs to leave Texas at least 125 points clear of everyone.
For that to happen, all three of these need to come true:
- Antonelli wins the US Grand Prix
- George Russell finishes ninth or lower
- Lewis Hamilton finishes fifth or lower
If Russell finishes exactly ninth, the two Mercedes drivers would be tied on the maximum possible gap, but Antonelli would still take the title on countback. He’d have nine wins against Russell’s three, and even if Russell won every remaining race he couldn’t catch up on that tie-breaker. Motorsport.com’s breakdown lays out the full permutations for each rival.
If Antonelli finishes second or lower, the title fight automatically moves on to the Mexico City Grand Prix next weekend.
Current F1 Drivers’ Standings (Before Austin)
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes): 340 points, 8 wins
- George Russell (Mercedes): 238 points, 3 wins
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari): 229 points, 1 win
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull): 221 points, 2 wins
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari): 215 points, 1 win
- Lando Norris (McLaren): 201 points, 2 wins
What If the Calendar Changes?
There’s one twist worth knowing. The Qatar and Abu Dhabi races are still on the calendar for November 29 and December 6, but ESPN reports there are question marks over both, and F1 has a contingency plan to hold a single round at Imola instead. That would cut the season by one race. If that happens, Antonelli would only need a 100-point lead, and a win tonight would be enough on its own. To be clear, no change to the calendar has been confirmed as of October 25, so the stricter conditions above still apply.
Is It Likely to Happen Tonight?
Honestly, probably not. Russell starts sixth and Hamilton starts fifth, so both of them would need a bad race at the same time Antonelli wins. Antonelli himself said earlier in the week that it would need “something catastrophic to happen to the others”, as quoted by the BBC.
Wolff has also played it down, telling Sky Sports that winning the title on Sunday is “not realistic” and that he doesn’t think Mercedes has the quickest race car this weekend. Red Bull looked strong on long runs in Friday practice, and with Verstappen and Hadjar starting right behind Antonelli, the run to Turn 1 could get interesting.
Still, that’s a short-term question. A 102-point lead with six races left means Antonelli becoming world champion is looking like a matter of “when”, not “if”. As Verstappen put it, if it doesn’t happen in Austin, it’ll probably happen in Mexico or São Paulo.
Why This Title Would Be Historic
At 20, Antonelli would become the youngest Formula 1 world champion ever, beating Sebastian Vettel’s record from 2010, when he won the title at 23. If he clinches it in Austin, he’d also be champion with five rounds to spare, which is just one short of Michael Schumacher’s record from 2002.
What makes it more impressive is that he had an up-and-down rookie season in 2025. This year he won five races in a row from round two to round six and has led the championship since the early part of the season. If you follow young sporting talent the way I do, it’s a bit like watching a debutant suddenly grab their big moment, except Antonelli has done it over a full season.
What Happens Next
After Austin, the F1 calendar heads straight to Mexico City next weekend and then to São Paulo. If the title isn’t settled tonight, Antonelli gets another shot in Mexico. I’ll keep an eye on how tonight goes. If you’re staying up for more late-night sport, you might also like my guide on El Clasico timings in IST.
FAQ
What time does the US GP 2026 start in India?
The race starts at 1:30 AM IST on Monday, October 26, 2026. That’s 3:00 PM local time in Austin on Sunday, October 25.
Where can I watch the US Grand Prix live in India?
You can stream it live on the FanCode app or website. There’s no TV channel showing F1 in India right now. F1 TV Pro is also available through FanCode.
Who is on pole for the 2026 US Grand Prix?
Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes is on pole with a 1:34.035. Max Verstappen starts second and Isack Hadjar third.
Can Kimi Antonelli win the championship at the US GP?
Yes, but only if he wins the race, George Russell finishes ninth or lower and Lewis Hamilton finishes fifth or lower. Otherwise the title fight moves on to Mexico.
How old is Kimi Antonelli?
He’s 20. If he wins the 2026 title, he’ll be the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history.
How many laps is the US Grand Prix?
The race is 56 laps around the 5.513 km Circuit of the Americas.
This preview was written before the race on October 25, 2026 (IST). I’ll update it with the result once the race is over.