Max Verstappen won a hotly-contested US GP, whilst post-race inspections resulted in Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc being disqualified.
Max Verstappen claimed another victory in COTA, but not without an intense battle with Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris. There was very little separating Verstappen and Hamilton in terms of performance, with fine margins in strategy and pit-stops making the difference. However, post-race DSQs for Hamilton and Leclerc promote Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz into the points.
Lewis Hamilton was electrically fast throughout the race, showing encouraging signs for Mercedes and the W14 updates. The British driver was several steps ahead of teammate George Russell, as the 7-time Champion displays his best form.
Although the post-race disqualification will be a tough pill to swallow, the Brackley garage can be encouraged by their performance. Their recent updates don’t just have implications for the last races of 2023 but for next year as well.
Impressive performances across the field
Lando Norris led several laps in Austin, so there may be some frustrations at McLaren to miss out on victory. However, Red Bull and Mercedes were ultimately a few steps ahead of the Woking-based team. It was still a positive weekend for McLaren, who jumped Aston Martin in the F1 team standings.
Ferrari issued team orders to Charles Leclerc late in the race, on an afternoon when the Monagasque’s strategy was sub-optimal. The Italian outfit was unable to commit to a strategy in COTA, although Sainz will still claim a podium for the Maranello squad.
George Russell and Sergio Perez were slightly behind in the battle at the front. Perez showed great competitiveness on the medium tyres at the halfway stage – but couldn’t maintain this speed in the RB19. In any case, Lewis Hamilton’s retirement means the Mexican is comfortably 2nd in the drivers’ standings.
Crucial results further down the field
Pierre Gasly crossed the line P8 before being promoted to P6, concluding a very impressive weekend in Texas. The Frenchman was in the top 10 in both qualifying sessions and on the Sunday race, showcasing good pace in the A523.
Lance Stroll was just behind in the upgraded AMR23. After making set-up changes and starting from the pit lane, the Canadian driver gave Aston Martin some hope for their latest update package.
Yuki Tsunoda fought valiantly for AlphaTauri, and secured vital points in P8. The 23-year-old also claimed his first fastest lap in F1, helping his team close the gap to Haas in the standings. AlphaTauri’s Singapore upgrades have made the team consistently more competitive for the final stretch of 2023.
The Williams duo were promoted to the points by the post-race penalties. Alex Albon finishes in P9 in a relatively strong weekend for the Grove-based team. James Vowles’ outfit is proving competitive at almost every track this season. Logan Sargeant secured his first F1 points on home soil, a reward for some reasonable race pace in COTA.
Further down the order, the Haas duo will be somewhat encouraged by the VF-23’s updates. Starting from the pit lane, the American team seemed more capable of managing its tyres. However, they will still need to find another step – especially after Yuki Tsunoda’s points haul.
