Oscar Piastri said he is "focused totally on performance" as he looks to gain maximum points during the sprint weekend at the United States Grand Prix.

The Australian driver still leads the Formula One drivers' championship, currently 22 points ahead of McLaren team-mate Lando Norris and 63 in front of Max Verstappen.

Norris has cut Piastri's lead in each of the last two races in Azerbaijan and Singapore, but failed to win either race as Verstappen and George Russell led the way on the street circuits.

The extra points on offer at the upcoming sprint weekend in Austin could allow Piastri to pull away from Norris, or Verstappen to close in on the McLaren duo.

Both McLaren drivers are excited ahead of the popular event in the USA, with Piastri hoping the make the most of an important weekend.

"I'm really looking forward to taking on the Circuit of the Americas, especially with this being a Sprint weekend," Piastri told the team website.

"I'm focused totally on performance and extracting the maximum from both races.

"The track has some cool sections, in particular the high-speed esses, and the layout allows for some good racing. I always enjoy it there, and this weekend should be fun too."

Having a rootin' scootin' time #McLaren pic.twitter.com/0mHB5wLcwE

— McLaren (@McLarenF1) October 16, 2025

Norris added: "It's amazing to be heading to Austin as constructors' champions. But we still have six races left and a lot of important points up for grabs as we go for the drivers' championship.

"The United States Grand Prix is always a fun one, especially as it's a sprint weekend.

"The fans always bring an incredible vibe, and I really enjoy driving around COTA [Circuit of the Americas]. It's fast with some good opportunities to overtake. I'm excited to get going again."

DRIVERS TO WATCH

McLaren – Lando Norris

Norris was on pole position at the last United States Grand Prix in 2024. The Briton could become the second McLaren driver to take pole at this track in two consecutive editions, after James Hunt, who did so in 1976 and 1977.

He could also become the sixth McLaren driver to win 10 F1 races, and the 36th overall, after Ayrton Senna (35), Alain Prost (30), Lewis Hamilton (21), Mika Hakkinen (20) and David Coulthard (12), but Piastri could do the same.

Both McLaren drivers have been on the podium 14 times in F1 in 2025.

If they finish in the top three in Austin, they could become the 19th and 20th drivers to achieve at least 15 podiums in a single year in the history of the competition.

Red Bull – Max Verstappen

Verstappen achieved the 121st podium of his F1 career last time out, putting him just one behind Sebastian Vettel's third-best record in the competition (122).

The Dutchman has nine in 2025, his worst record in a year since also achieving nine in 2019, although he has recorded at least ten in each of his last five F1 seasons.

Twelve of the last 14 winners of the United States GP have started from the front row of the grid, seven from pole position and five from second position, with Verstappen (sixth in 2023) and Charles Leclerc (fourth in 2024) being the exceptions to this streak in the last two Grand Prix held in Austin.

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

Drivers'

1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 336

2. Lando Norris (McLaren) – 314

3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 273

4. George Russell (Mercedes) – 237

5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 173

Constructors'

1. McLaren – 650

2. Mercedes – 325

3. Ferrari – 298

4. Red Bull – 290

5. Williams – 102