Franco Colapinto returns to Formula 1 action this weekend at the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, according to Clarin.com. The Argentine driver arrives after a difficult Singapore round in which he retired from both the sprint and the main race because of separate car problems. The same weekend carries a larger storyline: Andrea Kimi Antonelli could secure his first world championship on Sunday.
Why it matters
Antonelli enters the event with 340 points and the first title chance of his career, Clarin.com reports. The Italian can clinch the crown mathematically on Sunday, but only if he wins the race and George Russell and Lewis Hamilton both have quiet afternoons. The combination is demanding, yet the fact that it is possible at all underlines how large his points cushion has grown over the season.
For Colapinto, the stakes are narrower but immediate. He sits 12th in the standings with 27 points and wants to end a run of unreliability in Singapore. Clarin.com describes him as one of the paddock's most closely watched young drivers, and a clean weekend in Texas would put him back in the fight for points.
Verstappen arrives as the form driver
Although the championship picture points toward Antonelli, Max Verstappen has been the central figure in recent rounds, according to Clarin.com. The Dutchman won in Sepang, triumphed again in Singapore and produced several strong showings in sprint races. Red Bull reaches Austin with a car that is clearly more competitive than it was a few weeks ago, and Verstappen will try to repeat the victory he took at this circuit last year.
That makes the weekend a test of two trajectories: Antonelli's season-long consistency against Verstappen's late surge. Clarin.com frames the title as still leaning toward the Italian, but notes that Verstappen has become the story of the closing races.
Colapinto's weekend and a helmet tribute
Colapinto's preparation included some downtime before the competitive sessions began. Clarin.com reported that the Alpine driver spent part of the build-up riding a horse named Smoke, a moment the team shared on social media. He has also prepared a special helmet for Formula 1's American swing, featuring an Argentine detail that drew attention, according to TN.
On track, his first duty is Friday's opening free practice, with Argentine broadcast details carried by Infobae and TyC Sports, the latter noting Disney+ coverage of the session. Clarín's live coverage lists first practice at 06:00 Argentina time on Friday, October 23.
A MotoGP demonstration at COTA
Saturday's schedule includes more than F1 running. According to Clarin.com, a motorcycle exhibition will take place from 13:40 to 14:00 Argentina time on Saturday, October 24, with riders completing high-speed laps at COTA before the third free practice session. Dani Pedrosa, test riders Andrea Dovizioso and Lorenzo Savadori, and Nicolo Bulega — the Superbike champion who will step up to the top class in 2027 — are set to take part. The four machines will be on display at the circuit's Fan Zone throughout the weekend, Clarin.com reports.
FIA president addresses Middle East races
Separately, Clarin.com reported comments from the FIA president, who was born in Dubai 64 years ago, about races in a region affected by missile and drone attacks that began in February. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, in remarks published by The Race, he said his children are in the Emirates and asked whether people would believe he would leave them there if it were dangerous. He added that there is no problem at present and that both races will go ahead.
Argentina's Grand Prix ambitions
The weekend also revived talk of a future Argentine round. Clarin.com reported that a scale model of Colapinto's Alpine sits outside the president's office at the Automóvil Club Argentino — not a car belonging to Juan Manuel Fangio or Carlos Reutemann, Argentina's two greatest F1 figures. César Carman, the ACA president, told Clarin.com he is certain Argentina's future includes a Formula 1 Grand Prix, adding that a rally comes first.
What to watch
First practice at COTA is the first checkpoint: whether Colapinto's Alpine is competitive after Singapore, and whether Red Bull's improved form carries into the weekend. Sunday then brings the bigger question — whether Antonelli converts his points lead into a title, or Verstappen's late run keeps the championship alive.
