October 18, 2024
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Pinterest @Louise⁴⁴ |
Welcome back! After four weeks of rest, F1 is returning to our screens with the extravaganza that is the United States Grand Prix. The Texas race is always a good time, so here is everything you need to know for the 2024 United States Grand Prix:
Weekend Schedule (in EST):
Practice 1: Friday 10/18, Already Happened
Sprint Qualifying: Friday 10/18, Already Happened
Sprint: Saturday 10/19, 2:00-3:00 PM
Qualifying: Saturday 10/19, 6:00-7:00 PM
Race: Sunday 10/20, 3:00 PM
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Circuit of the Americas via formula1.com |
Circuit of the Americas was made for hard racing. With its complex chicanes and mix of low and high speed corners, COTA is an incredibly technical track that challenges both the drivers and the cars. Cars place equal pressure on the left to right and front to rear, making tire degradation even, but high. The Texas heat adds to the difficulty as it can leave engines overheating and tires slipping around on track. Most teams will opt for the three stop strategy, choosing to prioritize tire life over driving style. Despite this technical challenge, the track is one of the most fun for drivers to race. 20 corners, two DRS zones, and several elevation changes spanning a 133 ft. inclination mean COTA has numerous overtaking opportunities. And since the USGP kicks off a leg of six races in eight weeks, teams are bringing some major upgrades from the four week break. It’ll be interesting to see how these new packages go around an extremely demanding track.
McLaren has really made a comeback this season. Norris’ win in Singapore, along with Piastri’s win in Azerbaijan, gave McLaren the lead of the Constructors Championship. The papaya team now sits in first with 516 points, while Red Bull trails with 475 points. Lando Norris also caught himself up to Max Verstappen in the last leg of the season, putting himself just 52 points behind the Dutchman in the WDC. Red Bull didn’t seem to have any answers for McLaren’s rapid development, but this four week break might have done them some good. These next six races will be key in determining if a new era of dominance has dawned.
Also in Singapore, Daniel Ricciardo said goodbye to F1 in what was likely his final Grand Prix. VCARB later announced that Liam Lawson will be replacing Ricciardo for the rest of the season, starting this weekend in Austin. The Honey Badger will be missed dearly, but I am excited to see Liam Lawson shine again. He had a good run last year when Ricciardo broke his hand, so I think Lawson knows how to make the most of his opportunities. Plus, since nothing is confirmed for next year, he knows he has to prove himself to solidify his spot on the team. I’m ready to cheer the Kiwi on!
Another reason for Liam Lawson to “drive like a lion” is the rumor about a possible demotion for Sergio Perez at Red Bull. Christian Horner went on a podcast recently and explained that the decision to replace Ricciardo with Lawson was partially influenced by the prospect of pulling one of the VCARB drivers up to Red Bull if Perez didn’t up his game. If Lawson impresses the teams as he did lat year, we might see him in the Red Bull livery instead next year.
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Will former F2 Champion Theo Pourchaire land a seat in F1? via indycar.com |
Sauber is the only other team on the grid with an open seat. With Nico Hulkenberg’s move to the team confirmed, only one seat is open. No one knows whether Sauber will choose Bottas, Zhou, or a completely different driver to guide the team through its transition into becoming Audi in 2026. I think Bottas and Zhou both have a lot to offer: Bottas has experience while Zhou has the appeal of a young career and Chinese sponsorships. However, if the team were to pick a different driver, my money is on Theo Pourchaire. Rumor has it that Gabriel Bortoleto – reigning F3 champion and F2 championship leader – is Sauber’s favorite at the moment, but Bortoleto is part of the McLaren Diver Academy and it might cost Sauber more to buy him out of his McLaren contract and sign him. Theo Pourchaire, on the other hand, is the Sauber Academy’s most successful driver to date and is currently signed as their reserve driver. Extending a contract to the 2023 F2 Champion won’t be quite as difficult as signing Bortoleto, but both might not stand a chance due to their inexperience.
There is a lot riding on this last leg of the season. McLaren and Red Bull’s title fight is only just heating up, Liam Lawson could score more points than his new teammate Yuki Tsunoda has all season, and the 2025 grid is still incomplete. Let’s get this Rodeo on the road!
Happy race weekend!
- Divya
Where I got these
from: