Off-track moments you may have missed at the 2025 United States Grand Prix

Austin never disappoints. With cowboy hats, star-studded guests and a paddock full of Texan flair, the 2025 United States Grand Prix weekend was as lively off the track as it was on it during this bumper Sprint weekend.

From drivers embracing their inner cowboys to Hollywood A-listers and record-breaking athletes lighting up the paddock, here are some of the standout moments you might have missed at the Circuit of The Americas – yeehaw!

Drivers going full Texan

Each year when Formula 1 heads to COTA, you can always count on the grid to get into the spirit. Again, this year the drivers went all in – cowboy hats, BBQ, dirt bikes and all the frills. When F1’s resident cowboy, Daniel Ricciardo, left the grid, some wondered who would carry the Texan torch in the paddock and keep the magic alive. But it turns out plenty of the current crop have happily stepped into the boots.

With an allergy previously keeping him away, Lewis Hamilton was able to swap his horsepower for the real thing, trying out horse riding for the very first time (and mind you – he looked impressively at home in the saddle).

Championship leader Oscar Piastri kept it relaxed and made sure to sample some proper Texas barbecue, the Aussie suggesting that he “could get used to Austin”, while Lando Norris took a more on-brand high-energy approach, jumping in a Hoonitruck and hopping on dirt bikes for some pre-weekend fun.

By Thursday, the paddock was already starting to look like a rodeo, with some of the drivers even heading out to local boot stores to complete their cowboy transformations. Liam Lawson proudly showed off his new cowboy gear entering the paddock, as did Pierre Gasly – both nailing the Western look like they’d been locals all along!

However, there was one member of the paddock who took to the Austin vibe like a duck to water... little Leo Leclerc stole the show yet again!

Yuki the personal trainer

Yuki Tsunoda had a little company for his pre-race weekend warm-up as he dropped into a nearby F45 gym to join – and at times lead – a workout class. Vibes were high, smiles all round, and being a motivator is clearly another addition to Tsunoda’s growing list of talents.

Let’s just hope it wasn’t an early-morning session – after all, Tsunoda’s previously admitted that early morning workouts can ruin his day! Clearly, though, this one worked a treat, as the Red Bull driver went on to score points in both the Sprint and the Grand Prix.

Celeb spotting

Everything’s bigger in Texas, including the COTA guest list. The United States Grand Prix once again brought out a glittering mix of stars from music, film and sport.

Actors Glen Powell and Matthew McConaughey returned to their home state and spent much of the weekend trackside mixing it with the drivers and teams, while Chase Crawford spent his time with Red Bull, and Adele had a blast in the Mercedes garage.

They weren’t the only famous faces either, as plenty of athletes swarmed into the paddock – Olympic swimmer and record holder Leon Marchand, World Champion decathlete Leo Neugebauer, and track and field power couple Tara Davis-Woodhall and Hunter Woodhall were all spotted soaking up the atmosphere and presenting the podium sitters with their trophies after the Sprint.

Country music had its moment too, as it took centre stage over the course of the weekend. Drake Milligan kicked off the inaugural Grid Gigs with a performance of his hits, and rising star Shaboozey had the honour of waving the chequered flag as the drivers concluded their race. Meanwhile, Warren Zeiders and Kane Brown were spotted enjoying the weekend, wandering round the paddock and in and out of garages.

Helmet watch: Austin edition

When it comes to one-off helmet design, the US Grand Prix always inspires something special – and this weekend continued the trend. Plenty of teams unveiled one-off liveries and race suits to mark the occasion, but some drivers – especially the McLaren duo – two-stepped even further.

Norris went for a playful twist on a beloved American sport, showing off a bright and bold football jersey-themed design that quickly became a fan favourite. Piastri kept things cool with a circuit board-inspired lid, nodding to both McLaren’s tech sponsors and Austin’s 'Silicon Hills' hub.

And for Haas, their home race called for something special, as Ollie Bearman ran with a bold, stars-and-stripes design that made him easy to spot for the plenty of home-team fans as he held onto a fantastic points position.