Best bets and predictions for the F1 race in Texas. We provide our United States Grand Prix picks for the race winner, podium finishers, points scorers and more.
After a hop across the Pacific Ocean, the Formula 1 teams have arrived in Texas for the 2026 United States Grand Prix, with Max Verstappen looking to continue his excellent recent form.
However, the Dutchman’s back-to-back wins have done nothing to weaken Kimi Antonelli’s chances of becoming Formula 1’s youngest-ever World Champion, with the 20-year-old still priced at 1/100 (1.01, -10000) to top the standings at the end of the season.
Despite only finishing third in the Singapore Grand Prix, Antonelli extended his lead at the top of the Drivers’ Championship leaderboard to 102 points and is now within touching distance of the title.
But there is still plenty to play for behind the Mercedes man, with second-place George Russell and sixth-place Lando Norris separated by only 37 points.
We’ve picked out some value selections for the main F1 betting markets for Sunday’s race at the Circuit of the Americas.
United States Grand Prix race winner betting tips
Max Verstappen to win the United States Grand Prix 5/2
Verstappen was 11/5 (3.2, +220) favourite to win the Singapore Grand Prix after his maiden victory of the season in the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia and, while his odds of winning a third successive race have been slashed, he still looks great value to take the chequered flag.
The four-time World Champion led every session in Singapore and has shown tremendous pace across three very different circuits, narrowly missing out in Baku before dominating at the Sepang International Circuit and the Marina Bay Street Circuit.
Not only that, but Verstappen has fond memories of the Circuit of the Americas, with only Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton winning more United States Grands Prix than the Dutchman.
All four of his wins in Austin have come in the last five years, including a win from sixth on the grid in 2023 and from third in 2022.
Verstappen moved up to fourth in the Drivers’ Championship with his win in Singapore and is only 17 points behind second-place Russell. After such a disappointing start to the 2026 season, he will be keen to improve his standing as much as possible in the final stint of the year.
United States Grand Prix podium finish betting tips
Charles Leclerc to finish on the podium 2/1
Charles Leclerc’s 2024 win from fourth on the grid is the only time in the past five years where Verstappen has not won the United States Grand Prix, and the Monegasque man could be one of his closest challengers again this weekend.
Leclerc has three podiums in the last four United States Grands Prix and was close to matching Verstappen’s race pace in Singapore last time out.
The Circuit of the Americas is a very different track, of course, but Ferrari are expected to bring a significant floor upgrade to Austin and Leclerc has not finished lower than fourth since retiring from the Italian Grand Prix.
United States Grand Prix top six finish betting tips
Oscar Piastri to finish in the top six 19/20
Oscar Piastri has had a disappointing season so far and McLaren’s return to race-winning form appears to have been a false dawn, but the Australian is still putting in respectable performances and looks good value for a top-six finish this weekend.
Piastri has finished sixth or higher in eight of the last 12 Grands Prix and the Circuit of the Americas is expected to be better suited to the McLaren package than recent races.
The papaya team are also bringing a modest upgrade package focused on brake reliability, which should give Piastri more confidence in the harsh braking zones in Austin.
United States Grand Prix points finish betting tips
Nico Hulkenberg to finish in the points 5/2
Nico Hulkenberg matched Audi’s best finish of the season in the Singapore Grand Prix, finishing eighth after an even more impressive seventh-place finish in the Singapore Sprint.
He has four top-10 finishes in the last seven Grands Prix and has not finished lower than 12th in this period, and the German has an excellent historic record at the Circuit of the Americas.
Hulkenberg has finished in the points here on six occasions and in four of his last five United States Grands Prix appearances, so back him for a strong showing.
United States Grand Prix both drivers to score points betting tips
Both Racing Bulls drivers to finish in the points 11/5
Racing Bulls moved 32 points clear of Alpine in the race to be crowned best of the rest following the Singapore Grand Prix, and another big points haul could be in store for Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad.
Both Racing Bulls have finished in the points seven times in the past 12 Grands Prix and they have had a car in the top seven in each of the last three races.
Lawson is now just 22 points behind Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar in the World Drivers’ Championship and Lindblad is embroiled in a battle for tenth place with Pierre Gasly, so there will be no holding back from the Racing Bulls pair.
Visit the Betway Insider’s F1 betting tips page for picks and predictions throughout the Formula 1 season.
