F1 United States GP: The Key Storyline for Every Team in Austin

Formula 1 returns to the Circuit of The Americas for the first leg of another blockbuster triple-header.  Max Verstappen has won the last two races of the season, and he has won four of the last five United States Grands Prix. 

Red Bull could be the team to beat this weekend, but the spotlight shines on one young Italian driver.

To clinch the Drivers' Championship in Austin, Kimi Antonelli must win the race. Moreover, he needs his teammate George Russell to finish ninth or lower, and Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton to finish sixth or lower. However, Verstappen and the peaking Red Bull car are standing in Antonelli's way.

Ferrari is shipping its final aerodynamic upgrade of the season. They'll bring a new floor, along with revised sidepods and bodywork. Remember, Charles Leclerc is coming off a P2 finish in Singapore. This performance upgrade could position them for a better fight at the front.

Following Verstappen's back-to-back victories, McLaren saw its third-place lead over Red Bull trimmed to just seven points. The team did confirm floor and brake upgrades for the US GP, so they might have a better performance this weekend.

Verstappen has been dominant in COTA, having won four of the last five races here. Plus, the Dutchman emerged victorious in the last two races in Malaysia and Singapore. Red Bull is on an upward trajectory, especially with Verstappen delivering elite performances almost every weekend.

Liam Lawson is the best midfield driver this season, and yet, he still has no confirmed seat in 2027. Another solid showing in Austin could change that, but honestly, Lawson's 2027 seat should've been long confirmed.

Franco Colapinto's risky Baku dive that also ended Pierre Gasly's Azerbaijan race foreshadowed Alpine's woes in the Asian triple-header. The team failed to score in the last three races. In this upcoming race, Colapinto vows to turn Alpine's season around.

Haas has been relatively strong in front of their home fans, having scored in three of the last four US GPs. It's not confirmed if the American outfit will bring upgrades to COTA, but their new Godzilla-themed livery is already making rounds.

Nico Hulkenberg had a very productive weekend in Singapore, finishing in the points in the Sprint and in the main race. But his teammate had a horrific one, as he DNF'd in both events due to gearbox and mechanical failures. Bortoleto's misery can't happen again this weekend.

It's an important weekend for Williams, if they want to secure ninth place in the Constructors'. Imagine if Williams lose out to Aston Martin towards the end of the year. That would be a disaster for a team that had high expectations at the beginning of the season.

Lance Stroll says that their power unit is the biggest question mark of the season and of the next. We're monitoring what kind of power unit feedback the Aston Martin drivers will provide this weekend.

Cadillac - Can they achieve a milestone in their home race?

Cadillac will be dressed in a new embroidery-looking, Texas-themed livery for their home race. But the question still remains: can Cadillac score a championship point in their debut F1 season?