October 19, 2023
It is time to jump in the saddle for the final triple-header of the season, and we are starting in good ol’ Austin, Texas. Here is everything you need to know for the 2023 United States Grand Prix:
Weekend Schedule (in EST):
Practice 1: Friday 10/20, 1:30-2:30 PM
Qualifying: Friday 10/20, 5:00-6:00 PM
Sprint Shootout: Saturday 10/21, 1:30-2:15 PM
Sprint: Saturday 10/21, 6:00-7:00 PM
Race: Sunday 10/22, 3:00 PM
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| Circuit of the Americas |
The Circuit of the Americas (COTA) has been home to the US Grand Prix for the past 11 years. Modeled after a number of iconic F1 tracks like Silverstone, Hockenheim, and Suzuka, COTA has a mix of low, medium, and high speed corners with 2 DRS zones and multiple elevation changes. The run to Turn 1 is an uphill climb before it throws drivers into T3-T6, a high-speed, left-right-left section like the Maggots & Becketts sequence at Silverstone. Drivers then slow down as they make their way around the rest of the track, with overtaking opportunities sprinkled throughout. Teams will opt for medium-high downforce setups, but also have to find the perfect balance between the high speed start and low speed end of the track.
This weekend gives us the fifth Sprint weekend of the season. It will be interesting to see how the changed weekend format affects teams, especially because so many of them are bringing updates to Texas. I know I have historically been a Sprint hater, but I think having more points up for grabs over the next 5 races could make the championship more interesting. The winners have already been decided with Red Bull winning the Constructors in Japan and Max Verstappen winning the Drivers in Qatar, but the rest of the positions are quite close. A few points picked up in the Sprint could be the difference between P2 and P3 in the championship.
Last time out, Ferrari had a disappointing weekend. Although Charles Leclerc finished in P5, he ended up behind the Mercedes of George Russell and his teammate Carlos Sainz didn’t even start the race. In the last two weeks, the Italian team has been working hard to address the reliability issues Sainz faced when an issue with his car’s fuel system prevented his participation in the Qatar Grand Prix. With Ferrari just 28 points behind Mercedes in the fight for P2 of the Constructors, they can’t afford to make any mistakes in these last five races.
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| The two McLaren drivers were very happy after the Qatar Grand Prix |
McLaren has been on a roll recently. The papaya team scored an impressive 104 points and 7 trophies in the last three race weekends, more than any other team on the grid. And even though they are only in P5 of the Constructors Championship, McLaren is on track to threaten Ferrari’s P3. However, their impressive form might be thwarted by the slower-speed tracks in this last part of the season. Let’s hope Lando Norris’s 100th F1 race can end with a fourth consecutive podium, and maybe even a first career win.
The second US race of the season also marks Logan Sargeant’s second home race. The American drove COTA last season during his FP1 outing with Williams, so he has more experience than the other rookie on the grid, Oscar Piastri. Sargeant has been on a journey to secure his seat at Williams for next season, but still hasn’t scored points. Personally, I feel like he already has a contract extension in the works and F1 is trying to create drama in the driver market by pretending Sargeant’s seat is at risk. If Williams didn’t want him, I feel like they would have tested another driver by now. I’m calling it now, Williams is going to announce a contract extension at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
The Honey Badger (Daniel Ricciardo) is back! After missing five races due to a broken hand, the Australian will return to his AlphaTauri for one of his favorite races. Ricciardo is somehow more American than most Americans, and will get decked out in the cowboy gear and put on a southern accent to fully immerse himself in the Texas culture. It will be exciting to see that smile and energy back in the paddock, but we will miss Liam Lawson at the same time. The Kiwi has proven that he is more than deserving of an F1 seat in his five race run with AlphaTauri, and I fully expect to see him in a seat as a full time driver in the next two years.
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| Haas will also have special Stars & Stripes livery for the USGP |
Haas will finally debut their highly anticipated upgrades package this weekend. After struggling to find consistent pace, they have changed concepts and modeled their car after this season’s Red Bull. The goal is to improve aerodynamics by revising the entire bodywork of the car. These changes could help the American team in their fight for seventh in the Constructors, and allow them to test ideas for the 2024 season. Keep an eye out for Haas’ performance this weekend.
That’s it for now! I typically despise the fanfare of F1 in the US, but I have to admit, the Circuit of the Americas is a pretty cool track. Hopefully this weekend can give us yet another shock winner, preferably Lando Norris and McLaren.
I will be back after the race!
Happy Race Weekend!
- Divya
Where I got these
from:
https://www.formula1.com/en/racing/2023/United_States/Circuit.html
https://www.mclaren.com/racing/formula-1/2023/united-states-grand-prix/guide-to-the-united-states/
https://www.ferrari.com/en-US/formula1/articles/united-states-grand-prix-2023-preview
https://www.astonmartinf1.com/en-GB/races/2023-united-states-gp