Key Highlights:
- Kimi Antonelli enters the United States Grand Prix in Austin with an opportunity to secure his first Formula 1 World Championship and become the youngest champion in series history.
- Formula 1 fans in the United States can stream the race weekend at the Circuit of the Americas for free by leveraging trial offers through Apple TV and Prime Video Channels.
- To claim the drivers’ crown this Sunday, Antonelli must take the victory while George Russell finishes ninth or worse and Lewis Hamilton places fifth or lower.
High Stakes in Austin: Antonelli Eyes Historic F1 Championship
The 2026 Formula 1 championship battle reaches a critical juncture this weekend at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. Rising star Kimi Antonelli has put himself in contention to clinch his maiden F1 drivers’ title at the United States Grand Prix, the 18th round of the 2026 calendar. However, the path to an early coronation requires an exact sequence of finishing positions on Sunday afternoon.
Antonelli must secure an outright victory in Sunday’s Grand Prix to maintain any mathematical possibility of sealing the championship this weekend. Beyond his own performance, the Italian driver relies on unfavorable finishes for his primary rivals: George Russell must cross the line in ninth position or lower, and Lewis Hamilton must finish no higher than fifth. If this exact scenario plays out, Antonelli will rewrite the record books as the youngest champion in Formula 1 history and become the first Italian driver to capture the title since Alberto Ascari in 1953.
United States GP 2026 Weekend Schedule
Track activities at the Circuit of the Americas run across three days, beginning with dual practice sessions on Friday and culminating in Sunday’s Grand Prix. The complete track schedule (all times Eastern) includes:
- Practice 1: 1:30–2:30 p.m. ET on Friday, October 23
- Practice 2: 5:00–6:00 p.m. ET on Friday, October 23
- Practice 3: 1:30–2:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 24
- Qualifying: 5:00–6:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 24
- Grand Prix Race: 3:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, October 25
How to Stream the United States Grand Prix for Free via Prime Video and Apple TV
With Apple TV serving as the exclusive U.S. broadcast home for Formula 1 coverage, viewers have several promotional avenues to stream the complete United States GP weekend without upfront costs. Through Amazon Prime Video Channels, subscribers can add an Apple TV channel subscription with a seven-day free trial. This trial provides access to the full slate of live broadcasts from Austin, including all three practice sessions, qualifying, and the main race.
Following the seven-day promotional window, the channel add-on renews at $12.99 per month, though automatic renewal can be cancelled immediately to prevent billing while keeping full streaming access active through the weekend. Viewers who do not currently hold an Amazon Prime membership can pair this channel promotion with Amazon’s standard 30-day Prime free trial to avoid all subscription fees entirely.
Alternative Free Trial Workarounds for F1 Viewers
Motorsport enthusiasts who have previously exhausted an Apple TV trial through Prime Video Channels can utilize several other promotional routes to access the broadcast:
- Direct Standalone Trial: First-time Apple TV platform users can sign up directly through the native Apple TV app to claim an independent seven-day free trial.
- Apple One Bundle: New subscribers can activate a one-month free trial of the Apple One service. This bundle integrates Apple TV with Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness+, Apple News+, and 50GB of iCloud storage before rolling over to $19.95 per month.
- Hardware Purchase Promotions: Consumers purchasing eligible Apple hardware—including new models of iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV devices—receive three full months of complimentary Apple TV access, covering an extended portion of the racing schedule.
Why This Matters
The 2026 United States Grand Prix serves as a pivotal moment both on the track and in sports media distribution. On the competitive front, a title win by Kimi Antonelli would break a multi-decade championship drought for Italian drivers dating back to 1953 and reconfigure Formula 1’s historical benchmarks for youth achievements. Off the track, the race highlights the ongoing migration of major live sporting properties behind tech-driven subscription platforms, where strategic trial promotions and digital channel add-ons like Prime Video Channels remain critical gateways for fans accessing major live events.
Frequently Asked Questions
What results does Kimi Antonelli need to win the F1 title in Austin?
Kimi Antonelli must win the United States Grand Prix on Sunday, while George Russell finishes ninth or lower and Lewis Hamilton finishes fifth or lower. If any of these conditions are not met, the championship fight continues to the next round.
How can viewers stream the United States Grand Prix for free in the U.S.?
United States viewers can sign up for a seven-day free trial of Apple TV via Prime Video Channels or directly through the standalone Apple TV app. Eligible users can also stack Amazon’s 30-day Prime trial with the channel trial to watch the entire race weekend without paying subscription fees.
What time does the United States GP race start on Sunday?
The Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, October 25, following the qualifying session held at 5:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 24.
