After an unusual break of nearly a month, Formula 1 returns to the track at Austin for the United States Grand Prix. This weekend is shaping up to be especially packed for motorsport fans, with F1, MotoGP, Superbike, and WRC all scheduled at the same time. Perhaps better coordination between the various organizations could have avoided this overload of events.
Austin marks the first of six races that will conclude the F1 season, on a technical and demanding track. The conditions will be made more challenging by the new asphalt and forecasts of intense heat, which could create difficulties in tire management, especially during the main race. It’s also worth noting that this weekend includes a sprint race, which will further reduce the time available for free practice.
On the championship front, it remains to be seen whether the title fight is truly over. Verstappen still holds a 52-point lead over Norris, but he has struggled in recent races, while Norris has the most competitive car at the moment, even though he hasn’t fully capitalized on it.
Red Bull has gone through a rough patch in the last few races, and the long break was an opportunity to analyze problems and find solutions. The team comes to Austin confident they’ve resolved most of their issues, although for now, their main certainty remains Verstappen. The rest will depend on how much the car has improved.
At McLaren in Woking, there’s hope that Ferrari and Mercedes can challenge Red Bull. Although it’s unlikely that the break has completely erased the Austrian team’s advantage, reopening the championship race will require other teams to push Verstappen further back.
Ferrari comes in with hopes but few certainties: they will soon introduce a bold new front wing, while the new floor is set to debut in Mexico. The team is working hard to close the gap this year, with the goal of transferring successful solutions to their 2025 car.
Mercedes is in a similar position: they have updates for the W15, but they’ll need to be tested on the track. Expectations are high, but there’s still uncertainty about how well the changes will perform.
The limited time for free practice will be a challenge for everyone, but perhaps less so for McLaren, who arrives with a more refined car compared to their rivals. All teams will bring updates, but they’ll need to quickly find the right setup given the limited time. The sprint race could even be used as a testing opportunity to prepare the car for the main race.
Austin could be a turning point in the title race, both in terms of the points at stake and performance. The Circuit of the Americas (COTA) is one of those tracks that tests every aspect of a car, and a good result here could ensure competitiveness in the remaining races of the season.
Finally, a farewell to F1 racing for Daniel Ricciardo, who will be replaced by Lawson at Racing Bulls. The Australian, regarded as one of the most talented drivers of his generation, saw his career slowed down by a few questionable decisions, such as turning down Ferrari to join Renault. He’s now enjoying an early retirement, though with hindsight, he might have made different choices.
As for Lawson, he faces the challenge of securing a seat at Racing Bulls for 2025 over the next six races, a task made even more difficult by the fact that his future will be decided by Dr. Marko.
© Simone Marchetti