A composite image of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris with the US flag in the background — Photo: © IMAGO

Formula 1

F1 2025: US Grand Prix starting grid ahead of race at COTA

The full starting order for the US Grand Prix on Sunday at COTA

Chris Deeley

Sunday 19 October 2025 16:00 Updated: 18:21

After an exciting qualifying in Austin, Texas on Saturday evening, the starting lineup for Sunday's 2025 United States Grand Prix is set.

It's a familiar face on pole position, too, with Red Bull star and four-time world champion Max Verstappen emerging as the fastest driver, ahead of McLaren's Lando Norris.

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It looked for a long time this season that Norris and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri would be in a two-horse race for the drivers' title, but Verstappen has come roaring back into view with a run of great results after the summer break.

The reigning champion is now looking for his third win in four grands prix after taking a dominant pole on Saturday, with the McLaren pair winless since Piastri took the Dutch Grand Prix back in August.

There is one penalty to note, with Lance Stroll dropping from 18th to the back of the grid after picking up a five-place penalty for causing a collision with Esteban Ocon in the sprint race.

Here is the starting grid for the US GP on Sunday.

US Grand Prix starting grid

Position	Driver	Team
1	Max Verstappen	Red Bull
2	Lando Norris	McLaren
3	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari
4	George Russell	Mercedes
5	Lewis Hamilton	Ferrari
6	Oscar Piastri	McLaren
7	Kimi Antonelli	Mercedes
8	Ollie Bearman	Haas
9	Carlos Sainz	Williams
10	Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin
11	Nico Hulkenberg	Sauber
12	Liam Lawson	Racing Bulls
13	Yuki Tsunoda	Red Bull
14	Pierre Gasly	Alpine
15	Franco Colapinto	Alpine
16	Gabriel Bortoleto	Sauber
17	Esteban Ocon	Haas
18	Alex Albon	Williams
19	Isack Hadjar	Racing Bulls
20	Lance Stroll*	Aston Martin

*Lance Stroll dropped from 18th to 20th and last thanks to a five-place penalty for causing a collision in the earlier sprint race.

What time is the F1 race today?

In Austin, Texas, this weekend's US Grand Prix action is set to start at 2pm local time (CT) today (Sunday, October 19), which means a start time of 3pm ET.

Please see below for the start times converted to your local time zone:

Local time (CT): 2pm
United States Eastern (ET): 3pm
United States Central (CT): 2pm
United States Mountain (MT): 1pm
United States Pacific (PT): 12pm