Formula 1 is back in the USA!
After a hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the series has returned, bringing with it the drama of a close title fight. Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen may steal the spotlight, but that doesn’t mean the lights aren’t shining on other parts of the series.
Take, for example, Sergio Perez and Lando Norris were the first two on the leaderboard after FP2. Neither name comes as a surprise, and it shows that Hamilton and Verstappen may have some company to grab pole for Sunday, October 24th race.
The bright spots for everyone are that the crowds are plentiful on the Circuit of the Americas and that Sunday’s race is sold out. It doesn’t matter whether fans missed the race, new fans come because of the Netflix show Drive to Survive or because it’s more exciting racing, it doesn’t matter. Because a successful weekend like this will encourage the sport to hold more races in the US beyond Texas and Miami next year.
Odds & Sods for the USGP weekend
– Has Mercedes come up with a new trick? According to Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, Mercedes has found a way to increase its speed on the straights and Red Bull cannot keep up. He noticed the change in Turkey, but feels more evident in Texas.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Horner said, “I think Mercedes is obviously optimizing a no-nonsense device that they can run on this type of track. If you look at the rear of your car, you’ll know how it lowers. I think [Turkey] played out their strengths. “
Innovation is hot, but it would be pretty breathtaking for Mercedes to bring out what Horner calls it. Investing resources in developing such a device would run counter to their focus on 2022 and deplete resources while also opening up to penalties that could derail in 2021.
Whether the team has found a way to bring about such a move or Red Bull is just blowing hot air is still up for debate. Mercedes was smart before, note the implementation of the dual-axis steering component in 2020, but Red Bull has been doing everything possible all year round.
Maybe both teams just play to their strengths.
– The long season is draining resources and can be seen from the number of engine changes that were due at the beginning of the USGP weekend. Valtteri Bottas will take his third engine swap penalty in four races. While Bottas will only move five places down, Sebastian Vettel from Aston Martin and George Russell from Williams start from behind after taking over new Mercedes units.
Mercedes is nervous about the reliability of the engine and taking the steps is the best way to protect yourself from DNFs, but it hardly gives Hamilton any confidence as it moves forward. Another blow to the team was that Bottas finished the first FP1 and will be disappointed that he won’t be able to capitalize on the seemingly strong car.
– Fernando Alonso, the only F1 driver in the field with NTT IndyCar Series experience, was asked what he thought of Colton Herta, the 21-year-old who claimed three wins in the 2021 season. Herta fought for the Astor Cup herself, but retired three races to go and finished fifth. He drives for Andretti Autosport and appears to be the team’s new star.
Rumors continue to circulate that Andretti is about to acquire Clean – Alfa Romeo. The move would be through Islero Investments, who runs the team, but would result in Andretti being the controlling force behind the team.
Bottas has stated that he didn’t know Andretti could take over the team, but he was amazed when he said, “… as long as the team has the right people, key people who I think can do a great job – that is the main thing for me. “
Bottas focuses on the things that matter to him and in this case S-AR is a sub-par team, currently ranked ninth overall with just seven points. The goal is to get the team up from the depths of the grid and make it competitive, and with a new owner ready to make the resources for it, this is what any driver would want.
His comments on the matter avoid another element of surprise for Herta joining the team should the Andretti acquisition take place. Bottas doesn’t mention the idea. But Alonso was happy to share what he thought of the idea.
“He would certainly fit well into Formula 1,” said Alonso. “But each of us has a different plan for our career, and I don’t know what Colton has on his mind right now. Because I am sure that he is just as satisfied with IndyCar as Alex Palou, who won the championship this year, and that he is very dedicated to US racing and enjoys driving here in the States. “
Alonso touches on the big question surrounding such a curious idea: What are Herta’s plans? He still has to talk about the takeover of Andretti or the possibility of driving in F1. His silence may not come as a surprise, but there is another question surrounding such a move.
Would he really want to go? Marshall Pruett questions such a move, noting that driving for Andretti in IndyCar gives him the opportunity to win every time he shows up on the track. However, when he drives for Alfa Romeo he is forced to drive and scrap positions outside the top 10 just to see all the points in the season.
If the goal is a long career in Formula 1, AR may be a good stepping stone, but when it comes to winning races and cementing yourself as the mega-talent it appeared to be, then IndyCar is your best bet .
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