26 October 2026 12:25 (UTC)
Country music knowledge put to the test, an anniversary celebrated, and Stateside sports stars shining in the paddock
Allow us to take you behind the scenes of the United States Grand Prix and deep into the paddock, with our regular post-race wrap-up. Covering all the action you might have missed, we'll explore everything from the outfits that caught our attention to the strongest snaps and the standout quotes.
Think of Texas and what comes to mind? Cowboys, BBQs, country music.... and for the last 14 years: one of Formula 1's favourite races.
The Circuit of the Americas kicked off a transatlantic swing in style, and we made sure to sample all of Austin’s cultural highlights during our stay, while Lando and Oscar secured a solid haul of points on the track.
Here are some of the best bits as we take you inside the paddock in Austin…
Lando and Oscar are used to finding the solutions to tricky questions asked of them on the track – and this weekend they also had to do so off it.
A trip to Austin meant country music was filling the air, and we challenged our drivers to see if they could separate country lyrics from Formula 1 drivers’ quotes. The results were, shall we say, mixed.
Our papaya team were also put to the test in true Texan style over the weekend, as we sought to discover whether we had any secret artists in our midst. We’ll let you be the judge of that as you weigh up these cowboy hat masterpieces…
And for the thrill-seekers out there, check out this POV from one of the epic rollercoasters at COTALAND, on the same complex as the racetrack. Not for the faint-hearted…
The steep ascent into Turn 1 at COTA has to be seen to be believed – but a photo is the next best thing.
This shot, complete with packed grandstands in the background, gives some idea as to the gradient and shows Oscar doing what he did so stubbornly throughout the race – holding off the threat of George Russell.
This weekend provided a chance to remember one of our sport’s most iconic figures, with Saturday representing the 50th anniversary of James Hunt’s World Championship triumph.
Known for his style away from the track, we felt that a fashion range inspired by his look and likeness would be a fitting way to mark the occasion. Lando and Oscar were both all smiles as they rocked up to the track on race day sporting garments from the James Hunt Collection. Lando was sporting the T7 Jacket, with Oscar in the Graphic Hoodie.
And of course, it wouldn’t be a trip to Texas without a cowboy hat. Oscar and Lando used Friday’s Fan Forum as a chance to pay homage to the traditional headpiece.
On a similar theme, a tip of the Stetson to this member of the Papaya Family, who designed and wore her own Lando-inspired cowboy boots.
Baseball, basketball, American football… the three sports are synonymous with the States, and we had representatives from each of them in the garage with us this weekend.
Five-time WNBA All-Star Kelsey Plum stopped by on Thursday, taking part in some fun challenges with Oscar during her visit, while San Antonio Spurs’ Harrison Barnes, a 2016 Olympic champion, visited prior to the race on Sunday.
Also taking the chance to have a look around were players from the Texas Longhorns football team and Chicago Cubs centre-fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, with the latter a guest of our CEO, Zak Brown.
We were joined by a very special young guest on Saturday as little fighter Adriano joined us thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Adriano met his hero, Oscar, and gifted him a poster he created, before getting an insight into what goes on during a race weekend. An experience we are sure he’ll never forget – and a reminder to our drivers and the team to never lose sight of the difference they can make to those who idolise them.
“There’s no ocean we cannot cross. There’s nothing we can’t achieve if we are aligned.”
Vinh Quang Giang is among the best in his field when it comes to motivational words. An award-winning communication coach, public speaker, and entrepreneur, Vinh provided the voiceover for our pre-race hype video this weekend, where he touched on a metaphor in a painting his Vietnamese father hung on the wall of his childhood home.
As pulse-raisers before a race go, this is right up there.
A short hop over the border to Mexico City awaits, with the iconic Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez staging next weekend’s racing.
Lando won convincingly there last year and in front of one of the loudest trackside fanbases on the circuit, a drive he ranks among the best of his title-winning campaign, and will hope for a case of déjà vu upon his return.
