Formula 1 returned to the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, this weekend. Audi's racing director, Allan McNish, said the team is focused on a long-term plan running to 2030. Audi, in its first year as an official constructor, is working on aerodynamic upgrades and power unit reliability. Kimi Antonelli won the race comfortably, extending his lead in the championship. Audi's drivers finished just outside the points after a penalty and a poor start.
Fleetwood Mac's The Chain, from the 1977 album Rumours, was built from fragments during a difficult period for the five members. John McVie's bass passage formed the basis of its closing section, which was later assembled through extensive studio editing. The song is credited to all five members, the only track on the original album to carry that credit. In 1978 the BBC adopted the closing section as its Formula 1 theme, and the association has continued through several broadcasters, with changes in later years.
Italian driver Kimi Antonelli moved to the brink of his first Formula 1 drivers' championship after winning the United States Grand Prix. The 20-year-old Mercedes driver leads with 365 points, 123 ahead of teammate George Russell and 124 ahead of Lewis Hamilton. With five races remaining, Antonelli needs to finish ninth or higher in Mexico to secure the title. Antonelli said he was very excited and aimed to clinch the title in style.
AU Now app
Your suburb’s news, alerts and Shorts — in one app
Alerts, Shorts and your saved stories — free on Google Play.
Kimi Antonelli won the United States Grand Prix from pole position, all but sealing his maiden F1 drivers' championship. The 20-year-old Mercedes driver finished more than 13 seconds clear of his rivals. Antonelli leads George Russell by 123 points and Lewis Hamilton by 124, with 125 points still available from the final five rounds. Antonelli can clinch the title at the Mexico City Grand Prix next week with a ninth-place finish or better, unless Russell or Hamilton wins the race. Charles Leclerc finished second and Max Verstappen third.
Kimi Antonelli has claimed pole position for the United States Grand Prix, beating Max Verstappen by 0.179 seconds. The 20-year-old Italian could become Formula One's youngest world champion if he wins Monday's race, AEST, and results go his way. Ferrari, which led all three practice sessions, again struggled in qualifying. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc qualified fourth and fifth, while Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris finished seventh and eighth. Antonelli holds a 102-point lead in the championship.
Leica and Formula 1 have released a special edition of the Q3 43 priced at AUD $14,190, which costs $1,590 more than the standard model. The camera keeps the same 60MP full-frame sensor and fixed 43mm f/2 lens, with the main visible change being a new Formula 1 Leica Look that alters JPEG rendering. The design adds German-made carbon-fibre parts, black Microvelour covering, red controls and an F1 logo on the lens cap. The package includes a wireless-charging hand grip, though a compatible charger is sold separately for AUD $340.
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, aged 20, can clinch his maiden Formula 1 drivers' championship with a win at this weekend's United States Grand Prix. If he succeeds, he would become the youngest F1 world champion. Antonelli leads teammate George Russell by 102 points and Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton by 111 points. He needs a lead of at least 125 points to seal the title, which requires Russell to finish ninth or lower and Hamilton fifth or lower. The race starts at 7am AEDT on Monday, October 26 in eastern states.
Rwanda will host the first Formula 1 grand prix in Africa since 1993, under a 10-year agreement. The race will be called the African Grand Prix and held at a circuit yet to be built at Bugesera, about 40 kilometres south of the capital Kigali. The first race could take place as early as 2030. Formula 1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali called the deal a landmark moment, saying the sport would race on every inhabited continent. The track is expected to be completed early in the next decade and will have a capacity of 100,000.
TAG Heuer has marked 10 years with Oracle Red Bull Racing with a new Formula 1 Solargraph special edition. The 38 mm watch has a blue dial, red minute track and yellow seconds hand, matching the team's colours. It is priced at AUD $3,350 and runs on solar power, offering up to 10 months of autonomy on a full charge. Australian early online access opens on 20 October 2026 at 6 pm AEDT through TAG Heuer's Australian website.
Max Verstappen won the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday night, leading from start to finish after taking pole position. George Russell crashed out of Saturday's sprint after misjudging a corner on a wet track. Lewis Hamilton overrode team instructions and stayed out on worn tyres, falling from third to sixth. Verstappen's win came after a strong run of results, and Kimi Antonelli remains the championship leader heading to Austin, Texas.
Max Verstappen won the Singapore Grand Prix on his 250th grand prix start, with Red Bull flying through the weekend. Oscar Piastri finished fifth for McLaren after a slow puncture forced a second pit stop. On the final lap he overtook seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton to take the position. Piastri said fifth was the maximum the team could have achieved, while Verstappen said the result was very good. Charles Leclerc finished second and Kimi Antonelli third, extending his championship lead over George Russell.
Lando Norris has apologised to McLaren after a final-lap collision with teammate Oscar Piastri at the Singapore Grand Prix sprint. Norris tried to overtake on the inside and clipped Piastri's rear tyre, sending both cars spinning. Piastri retired, one of nine cars that did not finish, a record for a Formula 1 sprint. Norris finished eighth. Both McLaren drivers were summoned to the stewards. Red Bull's Max Verstappen won the sprint.
Max Verstappen will start from pole position for Saturday's Singapore Grand Prix sprint race, ahead of Mercedes driver George Russell. Verstappen set a time of one minute 31.156 seconds, 0.120 seconds faster than Russell. Oscar Piastri qualified fourth, just ahead of McLaren teammate Lando Norris. Verstappen had been investigated by stewards for overtaking Lewis Hamilton under yellow flags, but they accepted his explanation. Russell faces a 40-place grid penalty for Sunday's race.
Oscar Piastri says he hopes McLaren will be more competitive in Singapore after a difficult weekend in Malaysia. Piastri finished sixth there after starting on slick tyres in wet conditions, and said sixth was about the best the team could have hoped for. He pointed to moments of strong pace but said the car has been hard to get into the right window over the last two weekends. George Russell, who retired in Malaysia with a power unit failure, must start the Singapore Grand Prix from the back of the grid after taking new power unit components.
Porsche Cars Australia is selling a one-off 911 Turbo S called the Land Down Under through an invitation-only sealed-bid process. The car was built by Porsche's customisation team to mark 75 years of Porsche in Australia. The automaker will also donate $75,000 to Make-A-Wish Australia, which grants wishes to children with critical illnesses. Prospective buyers must register interest by 5pm AEDT on Monday, November 16, 2026. The winning bidder will receive a Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix package and a hosted dinner with artist Werner Bronkhorst, who helped design the car's Australian-inspired paint and interior.
