MSC Cruises United States Grand Prix
Location: Austin, Texas
Course: Circuit of the Americas
Course Length: 5.51km
Laps: 56
United States Grand Prix Race Preview
McLaren wrapped up the 2025 Formula 1 constructor's title in Singapore with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri finishing third and fourth respectively. The team has been the class of the field all season and picked up the biggest prize of the year up with six races still remaining. The driver's title remains far from decided, though. While it is a two-horse race between the McLaren duo, Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing are closing the gap. The defending champion was helped in Singapore by George Russell leading all but two laps from pole to win while Verstappen raced home in second place and clear of the McLarens.
Piastri and Norris remain at the top of the standings separated by 22 points with Verstappen needing to make up 63 points to earn another season title. This weekend the series heads west to the United States Grand Prix and the Circuit of the Americas, which is the first of three remaining sprint-race weekends with extra points on offer. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc won this race from the second row last season, ending Verstappen's three-race streak of visctories at the circuit.
Key Stats at Circuit of the Americas
- Races: 12
- Winners from pole: 5
- Winners from top-5 starters: 11
- Winners from top-10 starters: 12
- Winners from 21st or lower starters: 0
- Fastest race: 197.212 kph
Previous 10 Circuit of the Americas Winners
2024 - Charles Leclerc
2023 - Max Verstappen
2022 - Max Verstappen
2021 - Max Verstappen
2019 - Valtteri Bottas
2018 - Kimi Raikkonen
2017 - Lewis Hamilton
2016 - Lewis Hamilton
2015 - Lewis Hamilton
2014 - Lewis Hamilton
Circuit of the Americas is a natural-terrain road course that features 20 turns and two DRS zones. The track design took inspiration from circuits around the world and combined it all into one challenging layout. The most distinct turn is likely the first, which features a 133-foot climb to the apex that leads into a series of fast downhill turns. Multiple points of heavy braking make for passing opportunities, and quick exits from other turns can set up chances in unlikely spots, too.
Teams will have a choice to make on tire compound this week as Pirelli is bringing non-consecutive options for the hard and medium choices. This, in theory, should create a bigger difference in both wear and lap time between the tires, which could enable teams to choose between one- or two-stop strategies versus last year's preference for just one. The last time Pirelli attempted this was at Belgium where rain interrupted the running and the field converged to wet tires. Ferrari and Charles Leclerc are the defending race winners after becoming just the second to not start on the front row and win after Max Verstappen and Red Bull won from the sixth starting spot in 2023 - the furthest back any driver has started and won this race.
DRAFTKINGS VALUE PICKS for the MSC Cruises United States Grand Prix (Based on Standard $50k Salary Cap)
DraftKings Tier 1 Values
Lando Norris - $13,000
Max Verstappen - $12,800
Oscar Piastri - $12,600
DraftKings Tier 2 Values
Charles Leclerc - $10,000
Kimi Antonelli - $7,000
Fernando Alonso - $6,000
Carlos Sainz Jr. - $5,800
DraftKings Tier 3 Values
Isack Hadjar - $5,000
Nico Hulkenberg - $4,800
Oliver Bearman - $4,200
DraftKings Constructor Values
McLaren - $14,000
Mercedes - $10,500
Ferrari - $9,500
Formula 1 DFS Picks for the MSC Cruises United States Grand Prix
Team Captain - Alex Albon - $8,100
Max Verstappen - $12,800
Carlos Sainz Jr. - $5,800
Isack Hadjar - $5,000
Oliver Bearman - $4,200
Constructor - McLaren - $14,000
With Max Verstappen returning to form with Red Bull Racing, it is hard not to have both him and McLaren represented for this week's United States Grand Prix. To do so, a compromise has to be made somewhere, and this selection opts to do so in the captain's choice. Alex Albon isn't a huge compromise, though. He sits eighth in the standings with 70 points, but he hasn't scored points since Monza. He does have two top-10 finishes at COTA and finishes of sixth at Belgium and eighth at Silverstone suggest he has the potential for a points finish at this track, too.
Verstappen is clearly the heavy-hitter of the lineup. Since Christian Horner's Red Bull departure, fortunes have changed for the defending champion. He hasn't finished lower than second in the last four races and is heading to a circuit he has been dominant at in the past. Given he and the team's past struggles at Singapore, where they finished second last race, COTA should be a comparatively bigger opportunity for them. Verstappen won three consecutive races at the track from 2021 to 2023, and he finished on the podium in third last year.
After scoring points in the last two races, Carlos Sainz Jr. also joins the lineup. The Williams driver has been getting more out of the car with every race and is just seven points behind ninth position in the driver's standings. Sainz has also only finished outside of the top 10 once at COTA. That ninth-place driver Sainz is chaing in the points happens to be Isack Hadjar, our fourth selection. The Racing Bulls driver continues to impress this season and has taken points from two of the last three races. This will be his first series race at this track, but new venues this season haven't held him back. Last time at Singapore he made it to Q3 qualifying to start eighth, but slipped backward in the race to finish 11th. His points-paying finishes at Japan, Imola, Spain, and Belgium all suggest he could get back into the points again this week.
Haas will be the home team again this week at the USGP. The American squad is rolling out a special livery for the weekend and Oliver Bearman will hopeto put it to good use. The series rookie has six finishes in the points so far this season including the last race at Singapore. Like other selections in this roster, Bearman has raced well at similar tracks this season, which suggest he has upside potential again this week at one of the team's home visits.
The driver choices above leave enough budget to claim McLaren as constructor. This is the top choice considering its two drivers are battling it out for the championship, and the team wrapped up the constructor's title last time out. This has been the best car all season and with the team title in pocket, the drivers may be free to race one another more aggressively than prior. Since there isn't much to choose from between the two drivers any given week, it makes sense in this lineup for fantasy players to take both with the team option. Another option in this slot is Ferrari, who put both drivers on the podium in this race last season, but the risk of having no McLaren representation this week is a big one for fantasy players to take.
Formula 1 Betting Picks for the MSC Cruises United States Grand Prix
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook as of 3:30 PM ET Thursday
Race Winner - Max Verstappen +225
Winning Constructor - McLaren -150
Sprint Winner - Max Verstappen +200
Red Bull Racing has found the right direction to overcome their 2025 struggles. The introduction of some new parts, including a revised floor, have now produced their best run of the season with four consecutive top-two finishes. Verstappen also claimed two pole positions in that span, which could prove to be a difference maker this week at COTA. The average starting position of the winner through 12 races at this track is 2.1. It obviously pays to start on the front row, and that is something Verstappen can deliver this week. Even better, the car seems to be overcoming the tire-wear concerns that have kept them behind the pace of the McLaren cars. It is unlikely that Verstappen can challenge for the driver's title this season. However, race wins are still on offer and they seem within Verstappen's reach each week again.
The alternative to going with Verstappen as winner in the United States Grand Prix this week is selecting McLaren as winning constructor. Odds for this option this week are improved from recent races thanks to Verstappen's resurgence. Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and Max Verstappen are the three favorites to win on Sunday and opting for McLaren as constructor gets bettors two of the three choices. This wager could also be used as a hedge for those who also choose to go with Verstappen. Though Ferrari put their drivers on the top steps of the podium in this race last season, both McLaren and Verstappen have had the upper hand on the Italian squad this season. Either as a hedge or alternative, choosing McLaren as winning constructor offers enticing odds.
For those opting to play things a little safer and watch how the on-track action plays out before Sunday, betting Verstappen to take the spring victory could be a good way to enhance the weekend's earnings. Prior to the cars hitting the track, indicators suggest another potential victory for the defending champion. By choosing him early to win on Saturday, wagerers can have a stake in his potential success with the more lucrative early odds and also save making choices for Sunday until there is more information at their disposal. This bet, coupled with the hedge of McLaren winning on Sunday, is a viable alternative that covers most bases this weekend.
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