The 2024 Formula 1 season roars back to life this weekend at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, with the 18th round of the championship. With the Sprint format in play, teams are facing added pressure to get their setups right in limited time. After a three-week break, the excitement is palpable, and the Sprint qualifying session has already delivered surprises that set the stage for a thrilling United States Grand Prix.
During the only practice session before the Sprint qualifying, Ferrari showed strong pace with Carlos Sainz leading the timesheets, narrowly edging out teammate Charles Leclerc by just 0.021 seconds. This impressive performance confirms the Italian team’s recent form as they continue to build momentum. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, the championship leader, was not far behind, clocking the third fastest time, 0.253 seconds off Sainz. McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who have been the standout drivers of the season, secured fourth and fifth spots respectively, while Mercedes struggled, with Lewis Hamilton finishing sixth and George Russell seventh.
Red Bull entered Austin under scrutiny following rumors of an alleged ride height adjustment device on their RB20. Although the team denied any wrongdoing, they agreed to make changes after discussions with the FIA. Despite the controversy, Verstappen demonstrated his dominance, securing pole position for the Sprint race. However, his victory was hard-fought, with Mercedes’ George Russell only 0.012 seconds behind. Verstappen, who admitted struggling with the car on the bumpy surface of COTA, managed to edge out the competition, solidifying his position at the top.
While Verstappen shone, his teammate Sergio Perez continued to struggle, failing to make it past SQ2 and will start the Sprint from 11th. This disparity in performance has been a recurring issue for Red Bull this season, raising concerns about their ability to maintain a strong team front.
Mercedes arrived in Austin with high hopes, bringing significant updates for their W15. These upgrades appeared to work well for Russell, who nearly snatched pole from Verstappen. He showed confidence and comfort with the updated car, a promising sign for the Brackley-based team that has faced difficulties staying competitive this season. However, Hamilton seemed to struggle, finishing only seventh. His issues with car balance, particularly in high-speed corners, highlighted a contrast between the two Mercedes drivers’ performances. Team principal Toto Wolff remained optimistic, praising Russell’s efforts and expressing confidence in improving Hamilton’s setup before the Sprint.
McLaren has been a revelation this season, and expectations were high heading into Austin. Lando Norris continued his consistent form, securing fourth on the grid for the Sprint race. While not a pole, the position allows him to challenge the leaders, given McLaren’s impressive race pace. However, the biggest shock came from Oscar Piastri, who had his fastest time deleted due to a track limits violation, forcing him to start 16th. Piastri’s setback underscores the pressure of the Sprint format, where teams have only one practice session before qualifying, leaving little room for error. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella acknowledged the disappointment but remained confident in Piastri’s ability to recover and praised Norris’s position, which provides a solid platform to fight for crucial points.
Ferrari’s focus this weekend was on assessing previous updates rather than introducing new ones. Leclerc once again demonstrated his ability to maximize the car’s performance, securing third on the grid for the Sprint race, while Sainz was close behind in fifth. Their solid showing puts Ferrari in a strong position to collect vital points, as the battle for the Constructors’ Championship heats up.
As the teams prepare for the Sprint race, all eyes are on the front of the grid. Verstappen and Russell’s rivalry promises a thrilling contest, with Leclerc ready to seize any opportunity that comes his way. Norris, starting from fourth, will aim to insert himself into the podium fight, while Sainz looks to maintain his top-five standing. However, much of the excitement will also come from further down the grid. Piastri’s quest to recover from 16th place and Perez’s attempts to salvage a disappointing weekend from 11th are bound to keep fans on the edge of their seats.
With championship points still very much at stake, every result this weekend could have significant implications for the title race. The Circuit of the Americas is set to deliver another memorable chapter in what has been an unpredictable and thrilling Formula 1 season.
