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Formula 1 Lenovo United States Grand Prix 2023 Race Start, Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas, United States of America. Image credit to Mark Thompson/Getty Images. 2024 US GP Preview, United States GP Preview, F1 US GP Preview, 2024 United States GP Preview, Formula 1 US GP Preview.
2024 US GP Preview – After Lando Norris cruised to a dominant victory on the streets of Marina Bay in Singapore, round 19 of the 2024 FIA Formula One World Championship returns to the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas for the Formula 1 Pirelli United States Grand Prix 2024. This marks the 45th time that the United States Grand Prix has been run as a round of the World Championship since its inception in 1950 and the eleventh time being held in Austin, Texas. This will be the fourth Grand Prix of the season that will feature the Sprint format. This will be back-to-back-to-back race weekends with Mexico and Brazil.
2024 US GP Preview – A look at the Circuit of the Americas
Circuit of the Americas is a permanent racing circuit located in Elroy, Travis County on the south-eastern periphery of Austin city limits in Central Texas. The circuit and Grand Prix were proposed in 2010 and was the first in the United States to be purposely built for Formula 1. The layout was conceived by Tavo Hellmund and 1993 World Motorcycle Champion Kevin Schwantz with assistance from circuit designer and architect Hermann Tilke. The circuit was opened on October 21, 2012. The Circuit of the Americas is also used for MotoGP, the FIA World Endurance Championship and the Tudor United SportsCar Championship.
The circuit draws inspiration from some of the best circuits in the world, as well as taking advantage of the site’s natural contours which features dramatic elevation changes of up to 40 metres.
There is a steep, uphill run into the first corner hairpin, which quickly became the track’s signature corner. Turns three to six looks nearly similar to Silverstone’s high-speed Maggotts/Becketts/Chapel complex; turns 12 through 15 is similar to Hockenheim’s stadium section; and turns 16 through 18 mirrors the popular turn eight at Turkey’s Istanbul Park Circuit.
Support buildings include a medical facility, 14 executive meeting suites, a conference centre, a banquet hall, as well as an outdoor live music space.
The Circuit of the Americas is 5.513km (3.427 miles) in length with 20 corners and runs in an anti-clockwise direction.
Race distance is 308.405km (191.634 miles) in length with 56 laps in total.
Charles Leclerc holds the fastest lap record at the circuit with a 1:36.169 set at the 2019 event in his Scuderia Ferrari SF90.
Lewis Hamilton holds the record for most United States Grand Prix victories with six.
Scuderia Ferrari are the most successful constructor at the United States Grand Prix with ten victories.
2024 US GP Preview – Onboard Pole Lap Of The Circuit of the Americas
Here is the onboard pole lap of the Circuit of the Americas set at the 2023 United States Grand Prix by Charles Leclerc in his Scuderia Ferrari SF-23, with the Monegasque driver posting a 1:34.723. You can watch the video right here at the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSbF9FlU_bE
2024 US GP Preview – The Last Five United States Grand Prix Winners
2023: Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing. 2022: Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing. 2021: Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing. 2020: Not Held. 2019: Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG F1. 2018: Kimi Raikkonen, Scuderia Ferrari.
2024 US GP Preview – Tyres
Pirelli will be bringing with them to Texas the white side-walled C2 Hard rubber, the yellow-branded C3 Medium compounds and the C4 red-marked Soft tyres due to the Circuit of the America’s combination of fast corners and more technical sections along with the green-branded Intermediate and blue-marked Full Wet tyre compounds in case of rain.
Drivers will have eight sets of the softs, three sets of the mediums and two sets of the harder tyres.
2024 US GP Preview – DRS Zones
There will be two DRS Zones at the Circuit of the Americas with the first detection point 150 metres after turn 10 with the activation point 320 metres after turn 11. The second detection point is 65 metres after turn 18 with the activation point 80 metres after the final corner on the main-straight.
2024 US GP Preview – Pitlane Speed Limits
Pitlane speed limits will be 80km/h during practice, qualifying and the race.
ICYMI: Norris cruises to dominant Singapore GP victory
Lando Norris cruised to a dominant third-career victory at the Singapore GP ahead of championship rival Max Verstappen as Oscar Piastri completed the top three.
The win sees Norris reduce the gap to Verstappen in the World Drivers’ Championship standings to 52 points.
When the 62-lap Singapore GP began, pole-sitter Norris got s solid getaway into the first corner as Hamilton almost jumped Verstappen, but the latter covered the Silver Arrow.
Behind them, there was some chaos with a few running wide and had to use the polystyrene arrow to go around at turn three.
At the beginning of lap two, Norris held a 0.700 second lead over Verstappen with Hamilton third, Russell fourth, Piastri fifth, Hulkenberg sixth Alonso seventh, Leclerc eighth, Colapinto ninth as Perez rounded out the top ten runners.
Perez made his way into P1 on the opening tour, as Colapinto made his way into the points, whilst the latter’s team-mate Alexander Albon ran wide at the turn one and fell into 15th place. Ricciardo remained in 16th on the softer compounds.
Norris successfully lead the first tour from pole and was over 1.668 seconds clear of Verstappen and Russell also had DRS on his Mercedes’ team-mate Sir Lewis Hamilton who started on the C5 softer compounds like Ricciardo. The pairing dropped back from the top two runners.
On the fourth lap, Russell is quicker than Hamilton who does not look comfortable on the softer rubber as the former reported to his team, he is much quicker than his fellow British-compatriot, whilst Piastri is trying to close back up to Russell.
Lap five saw Norris 1.8 seconds clear of Verstappen with Hamilton third, Russell fourth, Piastri fifth, Hulkenberg sixth, Alonso seventh, Leclerc eighth, Colapinto ninth as Perez completed the top ten.
Replays showed on lap one, Russell push Piastri wide, which cost the Australian momentum and that’s how he fell behind Hulkenberg. Alonso and Sainz took avoiding action with Piastri as the McLaren driver struggled on the dirty side of the track, and they both ran wide.
Albon was overtaken by his team-mate Colapinto, which sent the Thai-Briton driver wide, and he found the dust, completely stalling and losing so much pace – falling into 15th.
On the sixth lap, it looked like race leaders Norris and Verstappen were not managing their tyres at this stage of proceedings, Both Mercedes drivers and those behind are hoping the race will comeback to them. They were exchanging fastest laps as Hulkenberg got within DRS range on Piastri in the battle for fifth.
Leclerc reported on his radio on the seventh tour that he ran over some debris, but the team responded that his SF-24 entry was ok.
On lap ten, Norris’s gap was up to 4.221 seconds with Hamilton third, Russell fourth, Piastri fifth as Hulkenberg rounded out the top six.
Norris was told by his team that he needs a five-second gap over Verstappen by the mid-teens to try and remove the undercut window from Red Bull and to ensure when he re-emerges on track, the Briton will be in clear air.
Colapinto in ninth place was being pressured by Perez with the Argentine managing to cover the Red Bull driver well. Meanwhile Piastri was told “Plan B” for his strategy potentially being a longer stint for the Australian.
On the 11th lap, Ricciardo was the first to pit and came out at the rear on his fresh set of the C4 mediums.
Albon then pitted a lap later to cover the RB and done so – coming out in 19th place on a fresh set of the C3 harder tyres.
Norris’s lead was up to 7.807 seconds over Verstappen and continuing to lap much faster than the RB20 entry as Hamilton was continuing to fall-back behind the top two, his softer tyre run not expecting to run much longer.
Sainz pitted from 12th on the 14th tour for his fresh set of the C3 hards and emerged in-front of Albon in 18th place.
In the battle for the lead, Verstappen can’t undercut Norris, as his gap grew to 10.129 seconds. Meanwhile behind them, Hamilton was making his softer rubber last, but he’s only 2.3 seconds ahead of his Mercedes’ team-mate Russell.
Further back, Albon was the first retirement of the Grand Prix parking it in the garage as the Thai-Briton reported his FW46 racer was overheating.
On the 18th tour, Hamilton stopped from third for his fresh set of the C3 white side-walled hard tyre and came out in 13th place behind Haas’s Kevin Magnussen.
Lap 20 saw Norris’s gap to Verstappen increased to 13.950 seconds with Russell a bit further back in third, Piastri fourth, Hulkenberg fifth, Alonso sixth, Leclerc seventh, Colapinto eighth, Perez ninth as Tsunoda completed the top ten runners.
A lap later, Hamilton overtook Magnussen as Sainz passed Stroll with the former reporting that he clipped the wall and asked his team to take a look.
On the 23rd lap, Hamilton asked “did I stop before the others?” to which his race engineer Pete Bonnington responded yes, and he is on an alternate strategy – but the Briton thought they stopped too early.
Leclerc was holding seventh and cannot find his way ahead of Alonso and complained “how long do we have to remain like this?” as he was told by his team to “remain calm.”
On the 25th tour Norris’s lead over Verstappen was up to 19.126 seconds, Russell was third, Piastri fourth, Hulkenberg fifth, Alonso sixth as Leclerc rounded out the top seven.
On the 26th lap, Leclerc finally made his way ahead of Alonso as the Aston Martin driver pitted from sixth and the Spaniard came out in 15th place behind Alpine’s Pierre Gasly as Hamilton complained again of his off-set strategy and that his tyres are falling off.
Hamilton then reported that something was wrong with his F1 W15 racer as replays showed he could not get his car turned at all after trying to overtake Tsunoda.
On the 28th tour, Russell stopped from third for his fresh set of hards and came out in-front of his Mercedes’ team-mate Hamilton as Piastri was given the hurry up by his McLaren team.
Verstappen reported his tyres were starting to go and his race engineer Giampiero Lambiase replied “shouldn’t be too long”
Leclerc finally made his way ahead of Hulkenberg into fourth as Perez pitted from tenth for is fresh set of C3 hards and came out in 13th place behind Gasly.
On the 30th lap Verstappen made his stop for his fresh set of hards and came out just behind Leclerc in fourth place.
Verstappen had a look with DRS assistance down Raffles Boulevard, but Leclerc covered the Dutchman to remain in fourth.
Race leader Norris reported damage to his front wings after locking up and tapping the wall at turn 14.
Norris then stopped a lap later for his fresh set of hards and came out comfortably ahead of McLaren team-mate Piastri who is yet-to-stop.
Verstappen quickly cleared Leclerc to move up into third place as Hamilton was back up into sixth, behind Russell but ahead of Tsunoda who had not pitted yet.
Second-placed Piastri was beginning to lose time to Verstappen, who is on the fresher rubber. But he is gaining on Hamilton, whilst Russell called on his race engineer to give him encouragement.
Piastri was told they are going for “Plan C” – as the Australian’s front-right was giving up and was lapping almost two seconds slower than his team-mate.
On the 35th tour Norris’s lead over team-mate Piastri was at 8.176 seconds with Verstappen third and 13.353 seconds adrift, Leclerc fourth and Russell close behind in fifth.
Russell was having a look at Leclerc as the latter covered the former who ran wide into turn 16.
Leclerc finally pitted for his fresh set of the C3 hards a lap later and emerged in eighth place behind Alonso.
Norris held an 11-second lead to team-mate Piastri with the latter having yet to stop. Verstappen was a net second.
On the 39th tour Piastri stopped from second with a quick 2.2 second stop on his fresh set of hards and came out in fifth place behind Hamilton.
The 40th lap saw race leader Norris’s gap to second-placed Verstappen at 23.130 seconds with Russell a distant third, Hamilton fourth, Piastri fifth.
The short fight for fourth, with DRS assistance, Piastri made a move on the outside of Hamilton at Raffles Boulevard to take the place from the Mercedes driver.
In the battle for third, Piastri was 3.331 seconds behind Russell whilst further behind, Leclerc overtook Alonso for seventh place.
Further back, Tsunoda was complaining about Ricciardo not letting him through then a tour later, the Australian obliged with the Japanese driver on 20 lap fresher softs.
Ferrari also implemented team orders as Sainz let Leclerc by to take sixth place.
On lap 45 in the battle for third, Piastri was even closer to Russell and with DRS assistance on Raffles Boulevard made a move on the outside into turn seven to take the final podium place.
Russell was warned by his team that there is a chance that Leclerc could catch him by the end if the Ferrari driver continued to keep that pace up.
With 14 laps remaining, Norris’s lead was at 25 seconds over Verstappen with Piastri a distant third, Russell fourth, Hamilton fifth, Leclerc sixth, Sainz seventh, Alonso eighth as Hulkenberg and Perez rounded out the top ten.
Norris suffered a scary moment as the race leader clipped the wall at turn 12 but luckily no damage.
William Joseph said the gap Norris had to second-placed Verstappen and to relax and take a drink.
Norris put his head down and posted the fastest lap.
Behind them on the 51st lap, Leclerc made his way up into fifth place with DRS assistance and making the overtake on Hamilton just before the turn four left hander.
With ten laps left, Norris’s lead was at 28.741 seconds over Verstappen with Piastri third, Russell fourth as the Briton reported he tapped the wall, Leclerc fifth, Hamilton sixth as Sainz rounded out the top seven runners.
Third-placed Piastri was not making any more grounds in second-placed Verstappen’s gap and looked to be bringing his MCL38 home in one piece as his race leading team-mate Norris is told the same thing with his comfortable lead over the Dutchman.
On lap 57, Leclerc’s gap to Russell in the fight for fourth was at 1.769 seconds and found eight tenths a tour before as further behind them, Hulkenberg was forming a three-car train with Perez and Colapinto.
Norris was told by his team to “be careful” as he laps the three-car train of Colapinto, Perez and Hulkenberg.
Norris cleared Colapinto as the latter falls to three seconds behind Perez.
Lap 59, Leclerc was right in DRS range of Russell, but the latter covered the Ferrari.
On lap 60, Magnussen was told to retire the car as Ricciardo put on a set of softs to go for the fastest lap even though he is outside the top ten.
On the penultimate tour with DRS assistance, Leclerc was gaining on Russell, but the Mercedes driver kept the Monegasque driver at bay once again.
Russell once again covered the Ferrari again into turn 16 as the duo reached the line to start their final tour.
Norris reached the chequered flag to take victory at the Singapore GP by 20.945 seconds with Piastri settling for third and a further 20.878 seconds from the Dutchman.
Russell fended off the charging Ferrari of Leclerc to finish fourth as Hamilton took sixth ahead of Sainz.
Aston Martin’s Alonso was eighth as Haas’s Hulkenberg and Red Bull’s Perez completed the final points places.
Williams’ Colapinto finished outside the top ten in 11th place and in-front of RB’s Tsunoda who placed 12th and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon who came home 13th.
Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll ended the Grand Prix 14th and ahead of Sauber duo Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas who followed in 15th and 16th respectively.
Alpine’s Gasly and RB’s Ricciardo brought up the rear as the latter set the fastest lap in what will be his final race before Liam Lawson takes his place from the United States Grand Prix onwards.
2024 US GP Preview – The Situation
After almost four weeks away since McLaren’s Lando Norris’s triumph on the streets of Marina Bay and strengthened the Briton’s title aspirations against Max Verstappen, the sport returns with a tantalising taste of what’s to come over the next two months with the battle for top spot in the World Driver’s and Constructor’s Championship up for grabs.
And the return of the Sprint format for the fourth time this campaign means that in addition to Sunday’s Grand Prix, Saturday sees the shorter 100km Sprint race take place where there are crucial points available too.
Norris and McLaren head to Austin with momentum as the Woking based-squad having stormed to a 41-point advantage over Red Bull in the Constructor’s and the Briton reducing Verstappen’s Driver’s Championship points lead down to 52 points.
Indeed, having threatened to run away with the championship in the early months of the campaign, Verstappen has gone eight Grands Prix without a victory.
The Dutchman has won the last three races in Texas – including a crucial one in the 2021 event late in his thrilling title fight with Mercedes’ Sir Lewis Hamilton – and will be hoping the upgrade Red Bull will be bringing to COTA takes him back to victory contention after finishing 21 seconds behind Norris in Singapore.
He may not have won the event since 2017; Hamilton remains the most successful driver in the history of the United States Grand Prix with six victories and featuring on the podium nine times in Austin – although the Briton ended up losing his second-placed finish last year when his F1 W14 racer was disqualified for excessive plank wear.
With Ferrari not out of the title-fight for the Constructor’s just yet, Liam Lawson making his return to a race seat at RB at the expense of Daniel Ricciardo and talking points both on and off the track in F1 currently, you won’t want to miss this weekend’s United States Grand Prix.
Defending US GP winner Verstappen returns to Texas on top of the World Driver’s Championship standings with 331 points and a 52-point advantage over McLaren’s Norris who is second on 279 points whilst Ferrari’s Leclerc is third and a further 86 behind the Dutchman on 245 points.
McLaren Formula 1 Team returns to the Circuit of the Americas on top of the World Constructors Championship standings with 516 points and a 41-point gap over nearest rivals Oracle Red Bull Racing who are second on 475 points whilst Scuderia Ferrari are a further 75 behind the Woking based-outfit in third on 441 points.
2024 US GP Preview – F1 Quickfire News
- MoneyGram Haas F1 Team enters technical partnership with Toyota Gazoo Racing – On Friday October 11, it was announced that the Banbury-Kannapolis based-outfit entered into a technical alliance with Toyota Gazoo Racing. Under the new multi-year agreement both parties will share expertise and knowledge, with Toyota providing design, technical and manufacturing services, whilst Haas will provide technical expertise and commercial benefits in return. With an objective to advance Haas’s development and competitiveness within Formula 1, Toyota will further develop it’s own knowledge and skills in a variety of areas throughout it’s involvement with the American team competing in the pinnacle of motorsport. MoneyGram Haas F1 Team Principal Ayao Komatsu stated: “I’m hugely excited that MoneyGram Haas F1 Team and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing have come together to enter into this technical partnership. To have a world leader in the automotive sector support and work alongside our organisation, while seeking to develop and accelerate their own technical and engineering expertise – it’s simply a partnership with obvious benefits on both sides. The ability to tap into the resources and knowledge base available at TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, while benefiting from their technical and manufacturing processes, will be instrumental in our own development and our clear desire to further increase our competitiveness in Formula 1. In return we offer a platform for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing to fully utilize and subsequently advance their in-house engineering capabilities. I’m naturally pleased that we’ve had the support of the likes of Formula 1 and our long-term partner, Scuderia Ferrari – who we announced our further continuation with earlier in the season, in the formation of this new technical partnership – designed to achieve continued success in our Formula 1 endeavours. Together with Gene Haas, I’d specifically like to thank Stefano Domenicali (CEO – Formula 1) and Fred Vasseur (Team Principal – Scuderia Ferrari) on that front, and with Toyota I’d like to thank Akio Toyoda (Chairman – Toyota Motor Corporation), Tomoya Takahashi (President – GAZOO Racing Company) and Masaya Kaji (Project Manager – GAZOO Racing Company). Everyone at MoneyGram Haas F1 Team is looking forward to the collaborative results of this new relationship, we can’t wait to get started and fulfil our combined ambitions.” Komatsu concluded, credit to MoneyGram Haas F1 Team for the quote.
- Drugovich to drive Aston Martin in Mexico – Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team announced on October 9 that test and reserve driver Felipe Drugovich will pilot the AMR24 in Free Practice 1 at the upcoming Mexico City Grand Prix. The Brazilian will the drive two-time world champion Fernando Alonso’s car during opening practice partially fulfilling the requirement for each team on the grid to run a rookie in two Free Practice 1 sessions per season.
- McLaren sign Lloyd to Driver Development programme in F1 Academy – On October 8, McLaren have announced that Ella Lloyd will be driving for the team in F1 Academy next season, with the 19-year-old also joining the Woking based-outfit’s Driver Development Programme. Lloyd also has one round of F1 Academy experience competing as a wildcard entry recently in Singapore where she achieved back-to-back point-scoring finishes. She is also Vice Champion in the Pro Class of the Ginetta GT Championship, scoring 10 victories and eight podiums. Her debut season in 2022, saw the Welsh driver make an immediate impact achieving points in 15 of the Ginetta junior Championship’s 25 races that campaign.
- F1 announces multi-year deal with Hot Wheels – Formula 1 and Mattel Inc. revealed on October 9 that they have a new global licensing deal that will involve the creation F1-themed Hot Wheels products to bring the thrill of racing to 1:64 scale. The partnership begins this year with the release of a one-of-a-kind F1 car, before the full Hot Wheels range – featuring team’s cars and products to cater for both the sport’s growing young audience and collectors – is released in 2025.
- Ex-F1 racer’s son Badoer joins McLaren Driver Development Programme – On October 7, Brando Badoer, son of ex-F1 driver Luca Badoer, has joined the McLaren Driver Development programme as he continues his motorsport career. Badoer made his single-seater debut in 2022, competing in full seasons in both UAE and Italian F4. The Italian continued in both championships for 2023, achieving five podium finishes in the Italian series and placed sixth overall in the standings. Badoer clinched three podiums during the 2024 pre-season in the Formula Regional Middle East Championship, whilst his latest move to FRECA with Van Amersfoort Racing has scored seven podiums and leaves him fifth overall ahead of the final round in Monza.
The Formula 1 Pirelli United States Grand Prix 2024 weekend kicks off Friday October 18 with Free Practice 1 and Sprint Qualifying, followed by the 100km Sprint and Qualifying Saturday October 19 and the 56 lap Race Sunday October 20.
