Alex and Carlos head to the heart of Texas
Atlassian Williams F1 Team head to the Circuit of The Americas for Round 18 of the 2026 season
Published
22 OCT 2026
Est. reading time
2 min
Formula 1 heads to the United States for Round 18 of the 2026 season, as the grid returns to the Circuit of The Americas for the United States Grand Prix.
With its combination of dramatic elevation changes, high-speed sequences and challenging corners, Austin offers plenty of opportunities for the drivers to make their mark. The circuit’s open layout can also leave car balance at the mercy of the wind, adding another variable for Atlassian Williams F1 Team to manage as the team looks to build momentum across this second triple header.
Carlos Sainz is looking forward to returning to Austin, where the circuit’s flowing layout and opportunities for overtaking could make for an exciting race.
“Austin is one of those tracks I always look forward to, and the city has a great energy. The circuit is fun to drive with the climb up to Turn 1 and then the high-speed sequence from Turn 4 to 8 where you're flat out. It’s quite exposed to the wind, so we’ll need to keep a close eye on how the balance changes through the weekend. Overtaking should be easier here than at most tracks, so the race could be interesting. Let’s see what we can do.”
Think you could be a strategist?
Prove it in our free game and lock in your answers before Saturday! Climb the global leaderboard, or join private and public groups!
Play Now
Earn WClub points
Alex Albon is equally enthusiastic about heading back to Texas.
“I always look forward to coming to Texas. The food is incredible, the atmosphere is unlike anywhere else and the fans really get into the weekend. It’s great to be back on this side of the world for the triple header. The run up the hill to Turn 1 is special, and it is always a challenge with the elevation changes and the mix of high and low-speed corners. After Singapore, we focussed on debriefing, rebuilding some of our spare parts, and getting ready to go again. With three races in a row, we need to get up to speed quickly on Friday and make the most of this triple header.”
Shop our Austin style:
2026 Austin Car Graphic Tee
···
2026 Austin Belt Buckle Tee
···
2026 Austin Denim Jacket
···
Sainz
2026 Race Special Austin Sainz E-Frame Trucker Cap
···
Albon
2026 Race Special Austin Albon E-Frame Trucker Cap
···
2026 Race Special Austin E-Frame Trucker Cap
···
2026 Austin Cowboy Hat
···
Latest
Trending
© 2026 The Williams Group, under licence to Williams IP Holdings LLC
Williams Grand Prix Engineering Services LLP, a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with company registration number OC456938 and whose registered address is at Station Road, Grove, Wantage, Oxfordshire, OX12 0DQ.
Powered By