Harry the petrolhead! Duke of Sussex looks cool in aviators as he goes behind-the-scenes at the US Grand Prix ahead of the Circuit of The Americas

Prince Harry looked enthusiastic as he was spotted at a race track in Austin, Texas this afternoon ahead of the Grand Prix of the United States.

The Duke of Sussex, 39, wore a black polo shirt and a pair of sunglasses as he went behind the scenes to meet the Mercedes and Red Bull teams

Spotted in the garage while wearing his lanyard, the Prince, who has previously revealed he used to race grand prix winner Johnny Herbert in go-karting, looked animated while chatting to the team. 

Harry’s arrival at the racing track comes ahead of the Circuit of the Americas, which will see Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton attempt to deny Max Verstappen victory. 

It comes after the Duke and Meghan Markle, 42, were spotted touching back down in the US following a trip to the island of Canouan in the Grenadines.

Prince Harry looked cool in aviator-style shades as he arrived at the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, to watch the Circuit of The Americas

Prince Harry speaks to Racing Team Principal Christian Horner in Austin, Texas

It was recently revealed that the Sussexes’ trip Canouan was taken in a private jet – just days after the couple had spoken at a conference discussing the impact of climate change on mental health.

Harry and Meghan used a Dassault Falcon 7X jet to fly from New Jersey to Canouan after attending the summit in New York on October 10, and again for the four hour hop between the exclusive retreat and Atlanta, Georgia. 

They attended the conference organised by Project Healthy Minds, during which Zak Williams, the son of comedian and actor Robin Williams told attendees that climate change was adversely effecting mental health, particularly in young people.

The couple have in the past been keen to highlight their green credentials. When interviewed by Oprah Winfrey two years ago, Harry identified climate change and mental health as the two ‘pressing issues’.

The Duke of Sussex smiled as he shook hands upon leaving the Mercedes Benz Garage at the racing track

The Duke of Sussex looked cool as he donned his aviator-style shades upon arrival at the US Grand Prix

The man of the moment! Prince Harry waved to fans as he was escorted through the paddock at the racing track

Prince Harry looked animated as he attended the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, this afternoon

Prince Harry, 39, looked animated as he went behind-the-scenes at the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas this afternoon

The Duke of Sussex, 39, went behind-the-scenes at the racing track to meet members of the Mercedes team

The royal has recently returned to the US following a getaway with his wife Meghan Markle to the Grenadines

It was revealed today that Prince Harry (pictured) flew to the Grenadines on a private jet, days after speaking about the impact of climate change on mental health 

The royal father-of-two looked cool in sunglasses as he arrived at the racecourse and walked into the garage

Harry appeared deep in conversation as he chatted to members of the Mercedes team within the garage

But the pair aren’t strangers to private jets either. In 2019 Harry and Meghan came under scrutiny for racking up four flights by private jet in the space of just 11 days, including one to Sir Elton John’s home in Nice.

Private flights emit more fuel per passenger than their commercial counterparts.

The Sussexes private flights totalled over 4,000 miles, burning 9.6 tons of CO2 emissions.

A source close to Harry said the Falcon 7X belonged to a friend who has a property on Canouan, the Mirror reported.

Harry has previously said that he takes commercial flights ‘99% of my life’

Petrol-head Prince Harry smiles in the behind the scenes of the Forumla One in Austin Texas

The Duke of Sussex is pictured waving to fans on October 22, 2023, during the F1 Grand Prix

They added that the couple had used a commercial flight to reach the mental health summit in New York.

Harry has previously said that he takes commercial flights ‘99% of my life’, while implying that he sometimes uses private jets to ‘ensure my family are safe’.

Prince Harry wasn’t the only celebrity spotted at the F1.

At the F1 Academy race, Chloe Grace Moretz was given the honour of waving the checkered flag.

In addition to Moretz and McIlroy, longtime television host Gayle King was on hand in Austin.

Also, Hollywood actress Drew Barrymore was spotted in pit row at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin Texas on Thursday.

She took part in Red Bull Racing’s pit stop practice and even donned an Oracle/Red Bull Racing fire suit during her time in the pit.

Red Bull’s triple Formula One world champion Max Verstappen won a U.S. Grand Prix sprint race from pole position on Saturday after an early challenge from Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton.

The Dutch 26-year-old finished 9.465 seconds ahead of Hamilton, who seized second at the start and gave chase before dropping back, in the 19-lap stand-alone race at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas.

The Duke of Sussex, conducts an interview during the Formula One U.S. Grand Prix auto race at Circuit of the Americas

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex speaks to Mercedes GP Executive Director Toto Wolff in the garage prior to the F1 Grand Prix

The Duke of Sussex , 39, wore a black polo shirt and a pair of sunglasses as he went behind the scenes to meet the Mercedes team

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc took third after being passed by Hamilton at the start of a race that paid points to the top eight finishers.

The main event at the Texas track is on Sunday with Leclerc starting on pole position and Verstappen chasing his 50th grand prix win from sixth on the grid.

A front row starter has always won in Austin but there would be no great surprise if Verstappen proves an exception to the rule.

‘Starting P6 is going to be a bit different than today,’ said Verstappen, who controlled the race from start to finish and extended his unassailable lead in the championship to 213 points.

Prince Harry wasn’t the only spotted at the F1, other celebs include Hollywood actress Drew Barrymore

Prince Harry pictured ahead of the race looking cool in his shades. He was pictured alone without Meghan Markle

Prince Harry poses Mercedes GP Executive Director Toto Wolf, Alexi Robichaux and George Russell of Great Britain

‘But it makes it interesting and hopefully we can have a bit of fun out there tomorrow.’

Dominant Red Bull and Verstappen have already secured both the constructors’ and drivers’ world championships with a fistful of races to spare.

Red Bull have also won 16 of 17 races this year.

Verstappen chopped Leclerc aggressively towards the pitlane exit on the opening uphill run to turn one, with Hamilton then forced wide over the kerbs but passing the Ferrari around the outside.

In the early laps Verstappen and 2021 title rival Hamilton ran close enough for the Briton to have a drag reduction benefit, and perhaps dream of a first win of any sort in two years.

Then the Red Bull pulled away and it was game over.