WHAT TYRES WILL THE TEAMS HAVE FOR THE UNITED STATES GP?

Pirelli will bring C2, C3, and C4 compounds to Austin — a step softer overall than last year's C1, C3, C4 allocation for what was then a Sprint weekend. With the full Grand Prix format back at COTA, teams get the standard allotment: two sets of hards, three mediums, and eight softs.

The 3.4-mile circuit puts different demands on each axle. Sector 1's high-speed direction changes — inspired by Europe's classic layouts — hammer the fronts, while the slow-corner exits in sector 3 cook the rears. A fresh patch of asphalt between Turns 9 and 11 will offer more grip than the aging surface elsewhere, where wear typically runs high. Last year several drivers pushed tires to the edge.

Strategy points to a one-stop race, with the C2 hard enabling long stints. But Texas heat could scramble that script. If degradation spikes in the afternoon sun, expect teams to get creative.