F1 2025 United States Grand Prix Sprint Race: Full Starting Grid and Race Time Details
The excitement in Austin is reaching fever pitch as the 2025 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix Sprint Race kicks off today, Saturday, October 18. With the world championship entering its final stretch, the sprint race promises to deliver another thrilling chapter in the ongoing battle between Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, and Oscar Piastri.
Following an intense sprint qualifying session on Friday, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen came out on top, securing pole position ahead of the two McLaren stars. Verstappen’s final flying lap was a statement of intent — a reminder that the three-time world champion isn’t out of the title fight just yet. Sitting 63 points behind current leader Oscar Piastri, Verstappen knows that every race now counts, and Saturday’s sprint offers a valuable opportunity to claw back ground.
Lando Norris will line up alongside him on the front row in second place, while his McLaren teammate Piastri takes third, setting up a potentially explosive run into the first corner. With all three drivers in contention for the world title, fans can expect fireworks right from the start.
Behind the leading trio, Nico Hülkenberg pulled off a stunning performance for Sauber, grabbing fourth place — his best sprint qualifying result of the season. George Russell starts fifth for Mercedes, continuing his solid form, while Fernando Alonso will launch from sixth for Aston Martin, eager to capitalize on any chaos ahead.
Carlos Sainz, now racing for Williams, impressed once again with a seventh-place finish, ahead of Lewis Hamilton in eighth. It was a disappointing showing for Ferrari, as both of their drivers struggled to find pace around the Circuit of the Americas. Hamilton, still adapting to life at Maranello, could only manage eighth, while teammate Charles Leclerc slumped to 10th, behind Williams’ Alex Albon in ninth.
Further down the grid, rising stars continue to make their mark. Kimi Antonelli lines up 11th for Mercedes, ahead of Isack Hadjar in 12th for Racing Bulls. Pierre Gasly and Lance Stroll follow in 13th and 14th, with Liam Lawson in 15th, still finding his rhythm in the Red Bull sister team. Haas rookie Ollie Bearman starts 16th, just ahead of Franco Colapinto in 17th for Alpine.
In what was a frustrating session for Red Bull’s second driver, Yuki Tsunoda could only qualify 18th, having been eliminated in SQ1 after a team error left him stuck in pit lane traffic — a mistake for which the team has since publicly apologized. Esteban Ocon and Gabriel Bortoleto round out the grid in 19th and 20th, respectively.
Official Starting Grid for the 2025 United States Grand Prix Sprint Race
1. Max Verstappen – Red Bull
2. Lando Norris – McLaren
3. Oscar Piastri – McLaren
4. Nico Hülkenberg – Sauber
5. George Russell – Mercedes
6. Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin
7. Carlos Sainz – Williams
8. Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari
9. Alex Albon – Williams
10. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari
11. Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes
12. Isack Hadjar – Racing Bulls
13. Pierre Gasly – Alpine
14. Lance Stroll – Aston Martin
15. Liam Lawson – Racing Bulls
16. Ollie Bearman – Haas
17. Franco Colapinto – Alpine
18. Yuki Tsunoda – Red Bull
19. Esteban Ocon – Haas
20. Gabriel Bortoleto – Sauber
When and Where to Watch
Lights out for the sprint race is scheduled for 12:00pm local time (CDT) in Austin, with viewers around the world tuning in to see who will claim early weekend glory before qualifying for the main Grand Prix later in the day.
Here are the global start times for the sprint race:
CDT (Local time, Austin): 12:00pm, Saturday
BST (UK): 6:00pm, Saturday
CEST (Europe): 7:00pm, Saturday
EDT (US East Coast): 1:00pm, Saturday
PDT (US West Coast): 10:00am, Saturday
IST (India): 10:30pm, Saturday
SAST (South Africa): 7:00pm, Saturday
EEST (Egypt/Turkey/Saudi Arabia): 8:00pm, Saturday
BRT (Brazil): 2:00pm, Saturday
SGT/CST (China/Singapore): 1:00am, Sunday
JST (Japan): 2:00am, Sunday
AEDT (Australia): 4:00am, Sunday
With McLaren holding the constructors’ title and both Norris and Piastri locked in a fierce duel for the drivers’ crown, Verstappen’s charge from pole could be a turning point. The sprint in Austin isn’t just another race — it’s a high-stakes battle for momentum in the 2025 championship.
