Formula 1, Round 19: The United States Grand Prix

A World Class Event

Austin’s been the home of the US Grand Prix since 2012, and it’s grown into one of the biggest races on the F1 calendar. The crowds have been huge, with nearly half a million people attending over the weekend in recent years. This year looks like it’ll be no different, with big concerts lined up, featuring Sting and Eminem, plus a major college football game happening in the city on Saturday.

Track Stats:

• Track construction and opening: – Designed by Hermann Tilke in collaboration with American architectural firm HKS. – Construction faced several setbacks but was completed successfully. – The track was opened by 1978 F1 champion Mario Andretti on October 21, 2012.
• First Grand Prix: – The first F1 race at the Circuit of The Americas was held in 2012. – It marked the return of the United States Grand Prix since the 2007 race at Indianapolis. – Over 100,000 spectators attended, watching Lewis Hamilton win his last race with McLaren before joining Mercedes in 2013.
• Circuit layout: – Turns 3-6 resemble Silverstone’s Maggotts/Becketts and Suzuka’s S Curves. – Turns 12-15 mimic the stadium section of Hockenheim. – The uphill run into Turn 1, known for being wide, has created exciting overtaking opportunities.
• Why attend? – Austin is known for its great food, vibrant nightlife, and unique culture, encapsulated by the city’s unofficial slogan, “Keep Austin Weird.” – The Circuit of The Americas is regarded as one of the great modern race tracks. – The atmosphere is amplified by the American enthusiasm for partying during race weekends.

Return of The Sprint Weekend

With the Sprint race format, fans will get to see competitive racing on all three days, starting from Friday. The COTA circuit has hosted some truly thrilling races recently, and with the championship battle heating up and a super close midfield fight, we could be in for another exciting race when the lights go out on Sunday. After a full month since the last race in Singapore, it’s time to dive back into the action as the final stretch of the 2024 season kicks off. With the title race tightening and a familiar face returning to the grid, here are some key things to watch as the F1 circus rolls into Austin…

Resuming The Title Fight

When the summer break ended, Lando Norris had a 78-point gap to close on Max Verstappen in the drivers’ championship. Since then, he’s managed to outscore Max in the four races that followed.

Norris took dominant wins in Zandvoort and Singapore, but Verstappen played it smart, finishing second in both to limit the damage. In Monza, Norris gained eight more points even though he only finished third, while in Baku, the gain was smaller with Norris cutting the lead by just three points. It’s been a steady comeback for the McLaren driver since August.

The upcoming race at COTA could be pivotal, especially with new upgrades on the way (more on that soon) and the fact that it’s a Sprint event, which offers an extra eight points for the winner. There’s potential for a 34-point swing this weekend.

If Norris can make another gain, the chances of the title fight going down to the final race in Abu Dhabi increase dramatically. But if Verstappen can halt McLaren’s momentum, he could tighten his grip on the championship.

Lawson Steps in as Ricciardo is Replaced

Singapore marked what might be the final race in F1 for Daniel Ricciardo, and whilst we can look back at his amazing career in awe, he’s been replaced by Red Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson for the rest of the season. Lawson has a shot at securing a full-time seat for 2025 after impressing with some strong performances late last season.

Lawson had five solid outings in 2023, but his run ended when Ricciardo returned from his hand injury at COTA. Now, Lawson’s back, making his debut at the Texas track, and getting to grips with a car he hasn’t raced this year.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner mentioned on the F1 Nation podcast that Lawson’s promotion is with the future in mind, as the team looks to keep its options open if they need to replace Sergio Perez down the line. So, the pressure is on for Lawson to perform alongside teammate Yuki Tsunoda, especially with the Sprint format allowing very little time to get up to speed.

Incoming Upgrades

Austin kicks off a hectic stretch of six races in eight weeks, with two triple-headers and a short two-week break between Brazil and Las Vegas.

Even though we’re in mid-October, there’s still a full quarter of the season left, and the schedule includes three Sprint weekends at COTA, Interlagos, and Lusail. That means it’s still worth it for teams to bring upgrades to their cars, even this late in the season.

With only one practice session under the Sprint format, many teams have been targeting Austin for their new parts. The four-week gap since Singapore gave teams plenty of time to manufacture upgrades without worrying about needing spare parts immediately. Plus, they’ll get to use those upgrades for six Grands Prix and three Sprints if they bring them this weekend.

Most teams are expected to bring upgrades, and it could make all the difference in the championship race. If McLaren keeps their edge over Red Bull in Austin, they could carry that momentum for the rest of the season, giving Norris a real shot at the title.

But if Red Bull sorts out the handling issues they’ve been facing recently and return to their winning ways, the drivers’ and constructors’ championships could well be staying in Milton Keynes.