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The Italian is 102 points clear of his Mercedes team-mate George Russell at the top of the standings, with the first two victories of the year for Red Bull and Max Verstappen only having helped Antonelli move clear of the pack, leaving him with a small chance of being crowned champion in Austin.

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While both Antonelli and Mercedes are in remarkably strong positions in the championships, the competitive picture has rarely been more exciting during the 2026 season, with each of the top four teams entering each weekend with genuine hopes of victory.

Many eyes will be on Antonelli, but Verstappen's quest to complete a hat-trick of wins, along with Lewis Hamilton's attempts to bounce back from a tough Sunday in Singapore promise to provide plenty of entertainment.

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United States GP track - Circuit of the Americas

Of the newer permanent circuits to have joined the calendar over the past couple of decades, the Circuit of the Americas is certainly one of the very best.

The undulating 3.4-mile, 20-corner layout built on the outskirts of Austin quickly proved a hit with drivers when it made its debut in 2021 as F1's first made-to-measure home in the USA.

There was also a sense of familiarity given its track design took inspiration from some of Europe's most famous tracks.

An Esses section reminiscent of Silverstone's legendary high-speed Maggotts and Becketts complex at Silverstone makes up Turns Three to Six, while a reverse triple-apex challenge in the style of Istanbul Park's Turn Eight and a Hockenheim-style arena section all feature in the exciting anti-clockwise lap.

The circuit even has its own signature feature in the form of a steep uphill run to the first corner, which has been the scene of numerous overtakes and controversial incidents over the past 13 years when drivers go wheel-to-wheel into the wide braking zone before powering back downhill towards the Esses.

United States GP weather in Austin

Temperatures are expected to climb above 30 degrees Celsius on all three days of track action, but the wild card is whether rain is going to play apart.

The latest forecast suggests there's a 50 per cent chance of rain falling during the race, with showers also possible on Friday and Saturday.

United States GP dates, UK start time and Sky Sports F1's live schedule - practice, qualifying and race

Thursday October 22
6.25pm: F1 Academy Practice
8pm: Drivers' Press Conference
10.30pm: F1 Academy Qualifying
11.10pm: Paddock Uncut

Friday October 23
6pm: United States Grand Prix Practice One (session starts at 6.30pm)*
8pm: The F1 Show
9.45pm: United States Grand Prix Practice Two (session starts at 10pm)*
11.50pm: F1 Academy Race 1*

Saturday October 24
6.15pm: United States Grand Prix Practice Three (session starts at 6.30pm)
8.30pm: United States Grand Prix Qualifying build-up*
10pm: UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING*
12am: F1 Academy Race 2*
12.45am: Ted's Qualifying Notebook*

Sunday October 25
5pm: F1 Academy Race 3
6.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: United States GP build-up*
8pm: THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX*
10pm: Chequered Flag: United States GP reaction
11pm: Ted's Notebook

*also on Sky Sports Main Event

How to watch or stream the United States Grand Prix in the UK and Ireland

Got Sky?

TV: Sky Customers can watch on Sky Sports F1 from Practice on Friday to the United States Grand Prix itself on Sunday October 25 at 8pm

App: Sky Customers can also watch on the Sky Sports app - with the option to go onboard with any driver!

Not got Sky?

Stream: Non-Sky Customers can stream the action with a NOW Day or a cancel-anytime Month pass

Live blog: Anyone on the move can follow live coverage of the race weekend through our dedicated F1 blog

FREE Highlights: Watch F1 highlights shortly after the chequered flag on the Sky Sports app

How to watch the United States GP on mobile with the Sky Sports app

Sky Sports Subscribers can:

1. Download or open the Sky Sports app
2. Head to the 'Live' section at 6.30pm for build-up on Sunday, ahead of lights out at 8pm
3. Tap on the Sky Sports F1 channel
4. Sign in with your Sky iD (*you'll only need to do this once)

*Sky iD help: How to find or create your Sky iD

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It's an app, so customers can sign up and stream instantly across over 60 devices. It offers contract-free membership options, so customers can cancel anytime!

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Formula 1 next heads to The Americas for another triple header with the United States Grand Prix in Austin up first on October 23-25, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime %!s()

The result leaves Celtic with no points from six after two league-phase fixtures in the Europa League and means they have now lost four of their last five matches across all competitions.

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Another defeat - fairly or unfairly - also raises more questions over O'Neill's future in the Parkhead hot seat.

It was just weeks ago, following consecutive defeats to Rangers and a loss in their opening Europa League fixture, that O'Neill said he was going to consider his position after a gruelling week. He stayed, and now he must deliver.

Here we answer some key questions as the veteran boss chases another huge result on Sunday...

Sunday 18th October 2:30pm

Kick off 3:00pm

What did O'Neill say in Lisbon?

Following that 4-1 thumping against Benfica, O'Neill hailed Celtic's second-half display and believes they can still progress in the competition despite sitting 34th in a 36-team table.

"The last thing you want to do is concede so early on," he told TNT Sports. "Then at 2-0 we've got a great, great chance to make it 2-1 and within a few minutes they make it 3-0.

"We could have capitulated, but I thought the second-half performance was really terrific. It was a game of two halves. We created chance after chance, we should have scored more goals.

"The second-half performance gives me what I would call the determination, and I think we can still qualify. I know it's down to six games, but we want to qualify for this competition to get into the knockout stages.

"Overall, I'm really, really delighted with the second-half performance, and it's a shame that we conceded the three goals first of all."

Does O'Neill have a point?

Benfica were clinical and ultimately too much to handle.

In the first half, even when Celtic were not causing their own problems, such as giving away a penalty for the hosts' opener, they were being cut apart at times. That's where the problem lies.

Yes, O'Neill's side could have scored when they hit the frame of the goal in either half - but so could have their opponents.

Yes, things did improve after the restart - but could it have got any worse considering the Hoops were 3-0 down after 36 minutes?

O'Neill may be using all of his managerial experience to try to motivate his side and create some positivity among the fans ahead of a huge game against Hearts. After all, he needs a raucous Parkhead on Sunday to help them get past last season's runners-up.

So those with a glass half-full mindset will be fully in favour of that. However, those with a glass half-empty approach will have been worried by Thursday and demand improvement. Quickly.

Losing in their Champions League qualifier, to Rangers in the Premiership and League Cup, and now another Europa League loss - the worrying trend of failure in big matches is something that needs to end.

Celtic's last five results

• Rangers 3-0 Celtic - League Cup
• Celtic 1-3 Ferencvaros - Europa League
• Celtic 0-1 Rangers - Scottish Premiership
• Motherwell 0-2 Celtic - Scottish Premiership
• Benfica 4-1 Celtic - Europa League

What is the fan view?

Speaking on Sky Sports News, Tino Callaghan from A Celtic Exchange Podcast said:

"They were the kind of comments I suppose you'd expect any manager to make. There are small positives to take from Celtic's second half, and I think the manager is choosing to accentuate them, which you would expect him to do.

"However, there was so much wrong in the first half in particular, and that's where the real issues are for Celtic at this moment in time.

"It's just the fact that at times we weren't even competing. We were completely outstripped in that first half, and I think that in itself points back to a more general feeling of frustration amongst the fans that we are no longer competing at the top table in Europe.

"Back in the day, we would potentially draw Benfica in the Champions League and fancy our chances of maybe getting something, but we went into that game last night with no real hope.

"I really thought he was going to leave after his comments after the Rangers game. They were particularly concerning. It's not that everyone else was asking the question. The man himself was asking the question of himself, and I thought there was a serious chance he would walk.

"It seems that he's taken some time to reflect. He's probably spoken to people at the club and decided to stay on, but you need to start getting results if you've decided that you are the man for the job.

"Hearts is massive now on Sunday. A must-win game. Martin O'Neill came out quite strongly, saying that he thinks we still can qualify in the Europa League too. I agree with that, but talk is cheap. You need to start doing it on the park, and that starts again on Sunday."

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Sutton: What does O'Neill have going for him?

Speaking before Celtic beat Motherwell, former Parkhead player and Sky Sports pundit Chris Sutton said:

"I thought he was wrong to say what he said in terms of he had doubts [about his future in the job]. People will view that as a weakness. I think that was a big mistake.

"I've never heard him talk like that in his whole managerial career. I just think, if I was Martin, I would just want an easy life. What has he got going for him at Celtic at this moment?

"He didn't get the players he wanted in order to compete at the highest of levels in Europe, so he was let down there. He was undermined by one of his players, Cameron Carter-Vickers, who shouldn't be coming out publicly and undermining the manager and questioning the tactics.

"It just shows where the club is at. It's like the Wild West, there are shots fired everywhere. You now have the situation where the Green Brigade are saying 'we are not going to rock up at European games. We aren't going to go to the cup games.'

"The split between the top of the club and the supporters, I thought couldn't get any wider than last year. It does seem now that it is more fractious." %!s()

George Skivington's team pushed the French outfit all the way during a pulsating European tie at Kingsholm Stadium.

Gloucester held a 24-17 lead at half-time before Trenholm crashed over twice, but a double by Louis Bielle-Biarrey salvaged a share of the spoils for visiting Bordeaux.

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Bordeaux made a fast start, with Martin Page-Relo able to open the scoring in the fourth minute, but Arthur Clark produced an instant reply for Gloucester.

Efforts by Max Llewellyn and George Barton, either side of Sipili Falatea's try, earned the hosts a slender seven-point advantage at the break thanks to three successful conversions by Barton.

Pablo Uberti levelled for Bordeaux six minutes into the second period before quick-fire tries by Trenholm had Kingsholm rocking, but Bielle-Biarry levelled in the 62nd minute and despite plenty of territory, neither side could find a winning score.

Edinburgh beaten by Toulon in Challenge Cup opener

Edinburgh suffered a 27-17 defeat against Toulon in their Challenge Cup opener as Malvyn Jaminet scored 22 points for the French visitors.

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Defences were on top in the first half at the Hive Stadium, with two Jaminet penalties to one from James Grayson giving Toulon a 6-3 lead at the break.

Jaminet extended that advantage three minutes into the second half, collecting his own kick before converting his try.

Scotland hooker Ewan Ashman hit back immediately for Edinburgh, with Grayson adding the conversion, but Fiji international Seta Tuicuvu soon barged over and Jaminet again added the extras.

Edinburgh refused to go away, with replacement Geordie Gwynn scoring with his first touch before Grayson converted to keep the hosts in contention.

But Toulon had the final say. Baptiste Serin set up Jaminet for another converted try, while Piers O'Conor's yellow card for direct contact with Jeremy Sinzelle's head compounded Edinburgh's misery and sealed their fate. %!s()

Manchester City's claim to have "irrefutable evidence" that will overturn their guilty verdict on appeal is based on a trove of emails, letters and bank statements - Telegraph

JJ Gabriel is close to securing his Manchester United exit as his team-mates play on without him - Mirror

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EFL

Phil Parkinson's role as Wrexham manager is under increasing pressure - talkSPORT

Troy Deeney has offered his services to Watford on an advisory basis as they face the prospect of another managerial change - talkSPORT

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Scottish football

Rangers boss Derek McInnes has revealed that he's happy enough with his squad that he doesn't want to see major transfer business in January - Scottish Sun

Celtic are reportedly considering David Moyes as their next manager - with the whisper being branded "disrespectful" to under-fire Martin O'Neill - Daily Record

Watch Paper Talk on Sky Sports News

Paper Talk is a review of the sports headlines from the national newspapers, every Monday to Friday, live on Sky Sports News from 10.30pm.

Missed the show? Catch up on the latest news with the Paper Talk podcast.

Other football

Ex-Man Utd player Antony revealed his home was burgled while on Champions League duty with Real Betis - The Sun

Barcelona are facing major disruption ahead of their El Clasico showdown with Real Madrid after club workers threatened to go on strike - The Sun

FIFA are set to rewrite the rules that controversially saw USA striker Folarin Balogun avoid a World Cup ban this summer - Mirror

Alex Scott, the former Football Focus host, has left her role as a presenter of the Women's Champions League coverage on Disney+ - Guardian

Tennis

Rising tennis star Rafael Jodar has apologised and said he is still "learning how to behave on court" following an incident at the Shanghai Masters - The Athletic

Cycling

British Cycling is facing further questions after a former employee accused it of having a "toxic culture" days after Matt Richardson was sent home from the World Track Championships in Shanghai - Guardian %!s()

In a BBC interview, Guido Crosetto warned that any such move by US President Donald Trump's administration "makes absolutely no sense" and risked prolonging Russia's full-scale invasion rather than helping to bring peace.

US officials have said Trump has not asked for the slowdown of internet speeds the US provides to Ukraine and which are vital for its war effort. Trump has also denied that the US has stopped sharing early-warning alerts of incoming Russian aerial attacks with Ukraine.

Crosetto's comments continue Italy's sharpening criticism of the US.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called Trump's deal to buy diesel from Russia a "very risky choice", and said it would "grant Russia legitimacy" as it bombed cities in Ukraine.

Trump agreed the deal with Vladimir Putin, blaming Kyiv's own attacks on Russian refineries for rising fuel prices.

Meloni, once considered so close to the US president she was dubbed a "Trump whisperer", said the move ran counter to efforts to bring Putin to the negotiating table.

"Peace will come when Putin is convinced there is a stalemate, that he cannot advance any further," her defence minister told the BBC at his ministry building in Rome.

Crosetto was a co-founder of Meloni's hard-right Fratelli d'Italia party, which has led a right-wing government coalition since 2022, shortly after the start of Russia's full-scale war.

"If [Putin] sees weakness on the Ukrainian side – and if the US deprives Ukraine of resources, that creates weakness – then he will believe he can win. So he will continue the war," Crosetto warned.

"I think that is completely wrong."

Despite widespread public scepticism, Meloni's Italian government has been a strong ally of Ukraine from the start, sending both military and humanitarian aid.

The specifics of those deliveries have always been classified.

In our interview, the defence minister vowed that Italian military support would continue "for as long as this government is in place", though he warned that getting parliament to approve further deliveries would be "more difficult" as elections approached.

The vote has to take place by the end of 2027 and opinion polls currently put a new far-right party, Futuro Nazionale, ahead of all Meloni's coalition partners.

That party's leader, former general Roberto Vannacci, is openly sympathetic to Russia and opposes aiding Ukraine, arguing that Europe is wasting its money as Russia's military "continues to advance" on the ground.

At a recent event in Tuscany, he described himself as "neither pro-Putin nor pro-Russian" but "pro-Italian".

Crosetto brushed off questions about Vannacci, including on whether his views reflected those of many Italians, saying he had more "serious matters to deal with".

But, perhaps to underline the difference, he was unequivocal on Russia.

"When one state crosses another state's border with tanks, when it bombs hospitals and schools, kills civilians and bombs power plants, and has been doing so for four years, I can only describe that as evil," he said.

But Italians, like many Europeans, are seeing prices go up, driven by the high cost of energy.

During street protests in Rome on Friday, where firecrackers were thrown, secondary school students complained that resources were being diverted to arms, instead of education.

Some chanted: "We want more classroom, not more bombs."

In southern Italy, truckers have begun blocking roads complaining at the hike in fuel prices.

Polls here regularly show that a majority of Italians want an end to military aid for Ukraine. One, conducted for the Ixè institute in September, put support for continuing to supply arms at just 18%.

There are many factors behind that, from a long-standing pacifist tradition to a history of strong business ties to Moscow. Unlike Poland or the Baltic states, Italy feels physically distant from the danger, too.

But the defence minister also blamed an active campaign of disinformation by Moscow – targeting, he said, "certain political figures... and narratives to weaken the political climate against Russia".

"In some way they shift public opinion," the minister argued.

"It's very hard to explain to a citizen who's having trouble at the petrol pump that we can't give any concessions to Russia right now. But that's the only way to defend the future of that very citizen who's complaining."

Italy has not been targeted for major acts of sabotage, unlike other allies of Ukraine in Europe.

The minister said a fire at an arms depot outside Rome in August was not arson, but "human stupidity".

A report last month that Russia was planning to launch drone attacks at Italy, France and Spain from the container ships in the Mediterranean was not proven, Crosetto also told us.

But cyber-attacks, which he linked to Russia, were now routine - "there are hundreds every day" - and he believed Europe had been too weak in its response.

"You can't win a war... if you don't fight back," the minister said.

With additional reporting from Rome by Davide Ghiglione. %!s()