What the Teams Said – Race Day in the United States

Ferrari

Both Ferrari drivers had a strong start from the second row, but it was Charles Leclerc who capitalized on his inside track position when the leaders, Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, ran wide. Carlos Sainz, unfortunately, got caught up in the battle between Verstappen and Norris, which hindered his progress. Leclerc, meanwhile, took the lead and drove a flawless race to claim his third victory of the season. Sainz also managed to undercut Verstappen during the pit stops, securing third and contributing to Ferrari’s second 1-2 finish of the season.

Charles Leclerc, 1st Place:

“It feels amazing to secure a win at the start of this triple-header. The team has done a fantastic job, and a 1-2 finish gives us valuable points in the Constructors’ Championship battle. It’s a tough goal, but we will keep pushing until the end.

“I had a good start, taking advantage of Max (Verstappen) and Lando (Norris) battling into Turn 1. Once I made my move, it was just about managing my tires and bringing the car home.

“Our pace was strong from the beginning, and I felt in control, pulling away from Max quite easily. We’ve made some great progress in race trim, and I hope we can keep this momentum going into the next few races. We’ll give it our all and see where we stand at the end of the season.”

Carlos Sainz, 2nd Place:

“This weekend was almost perfect for the team, so congratulations to everyone here and back at the factory. My race was a bit compromised at the start because I got stuck behind Lando (Norris) and Max (Verstappen), which meant I spent the first stint in Max’s dirty air. We faced some issues, but managed to solve them and used our pace to undercut Max and finish second.

“It’s fantastic to be able to attack with this car, and we’re determined to keep fighting for the Constructors’ Championship until the final race. We need to keep working hard as we head to Mexico City next week.”

Fred Vasseur, Team Principal:

“Today was the perfect Sunday for us. We executed our strategy well, and the car’s pace was consistently strong, making the job a bit easier. Both Charles and Carlos did a fantastic job, with Charles managing the tires perfectly and Carlos executing the undercut on Max (Verstappen) to secure second.

“Next week will be a different challenge with Mexico’s altitude affecting performance, but this result gives us great motivation. We’re still in the fight for the championship, with plenty of points on offer, so we’ll take it one race at a time. Now our focus shifts to Mexico, where we hope to continue this positive momentum.”

Red Bull

Verstappen and Norris both went wide at the start, allowing Leclerc to take the lead. The Dutchman then lost out to Sainz during the pit stops and had to fend off pressure from Norris late in the race. Verstappen defended valiantly on worn tires, and while Norris managed to overtake, a penalty for exceeding track limits handed third place back to Verstappen. Sergio Perez struggled with traffic throughout, recovering from P9 on the grid to finish seventh, but lost out to George Russell towards the end.

Max Verstappen, 3rd Place:

“Today wasn’t our best day, but the important thing is that we extended our lead in the Championship, which means a lot to the team. I tried everything I could, but we didn’t have the pace we’ve shown in recent races. We faced some balance issues, making it hard to turn and brake, which affected my ability to push in the corners.

“The battle with Lando (Norris) at the end was intense and enjoyable, though. You can’t overtake outside the white lines, and I’ve lost a podium before for that, so it’s unfortunate, but it’s the rule. We need to analyze why we lacked pace compared to yesterday, but we’re making progress. While it’s still not enough, we’ll keep working to improve the car.”

Sergio Perez, 7th Place:

“I lost a lot of time early on stuck behind the midfield pack, and the drivers on the hard tire had a better strategy. By the end of the first stint, I had better pace but began suffering from front-end pitching, which worsened after switching to the hard tires. The car felt unbalanced, making it difficult to drive.

“I didn’t have the full upgrade package this weekend, so that could be part of the issue, but overall, we lacked pace. We have some work to do before Mexico, but we’ll learn from this weekend and aim for a better result at my home race.”

Christian Horner, Team Principal:

“First of all, congratulations to Ferrari – they drove a great race and fully deserved the win. For us, we lost pace compared to yesterday, which is something we need to analyze. We became front-limited, and whether that was due to temperature or setup changes after the Sprint, I’m not sure. Max drove brilliantly and defended well, and though the situation at the end was unfortunate, the rules are clear.

“Despite the challenges, we take positives from today. The team did a great job, especially after a tough weekend in Singapore. Now, we focus on Mexico and hope to build on what we’ve achieved here.”

McLaren

Norris was pushed wide at Turn 1, dropping to fourth as he avoided contact with Verstappen. McLaren opted to extend their first stint, giving Norris fresher tires later in the race, which allowed him to close in on Verstappen. However, after several failed attempts to overtake, Norris made a move off the track and was handed a time penalty, ultimately dropping him to fourth.

 

McLaren

Lando Norris (4th):

• Expressed frustration about starting first and finishing fourth.
• Acknowledged a tough race against strong Ferrari competitors.
• Aiming for a better performance in Mexico after team debrief.

Oscar Piastri (5th):

• Felt it was a lonely race, finishing in P5 without the pace of Ferrari.
• Emphasized the importance of scoring points for the Constructors’ Championship.

Andrea Stella (Team Principal):

• Acknowledged a tightly contested race with multiple teams vying for victory.
• Criticized the penalty that affected Norris’s podium finish, stating it was unjust.
• Praised Piastri for a well-executed race.

Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton (DNF):

• Had a promising start but crashed due to losing control, possibly affected by wind.
• Expressed regret for the team and is determined to improve for the next race.

George Russell (6th):

• Happy with his performance, managing to score points after starting from the pit lane.
• Highlighted the car’s pace, especially on hard tyres, and aims for further improvements.

Toto Wolff (Head of Motorsport):

• Noted the weekend was challenging but highlighted George’s performance.
• Discussed the need to understand the issues causing inconsistency in the car’s performance.

Andrew Shovlin (Trackside Engineering Director):

• Set realistic expectations due to starting positions.
• Recognized Russell’s strong race but lamented Hamilton’s early retirement.

Haas

Nico Hulkenberg (8th):

• Pleased with the result, noted a strong strategy and tire management.
• Acknowledged the team’s improvement in points over Red Bull.

Kevin Magnussen (11th):

• Frustrated about missing points despite having a good chance.

Ayao Komatsu (Team Principal):

• Mixed results, highlighted Hulkenberg’s performance but noted communication issues with Magnussen’s strategy.
• Optimistic about the team’s standing in the Constructors’ Championship.

Red Bull

Liam Lawson (9th):

• Surprised by the strong race performance after a great start.
• Thanked the team for their preparation and noted that the car felt strong.

Yuki Tsunoda (14th):

• Frustrated with the race outcome due to strategy and a spin.
• Committed to reviewing the race and coming back stronger in Mexico.

Laurent Mekies (Team Principal):

• Pleased with Lawson’s performance and noted the need for improvement after a tough race for Tsunoda.
• Acknowledged the competitive nature of the championship positions as the season nears its end.

Overall Summary

The race in Austin showcased a competitive atmosphere among teams, with McLaren feeling the sting of penalties and missed podiums, Mercedes grappling with inconsistencies, and Haas continuing to score points. Red Bull had mixed fortunes with their drivers, but both teams and principals are looking ahead to the next race in Mexico, aiming for improved performances and results.

Jody Egginton, Technical Director:

• The team made significant progress with their car setup, improving race pace and tire management compared to previous performances.
• Liam Lawson, starting from the back due to a power unit penalty, executed a long first stint on hard tires, showcasing strong pace that allowed him to overtake several cars and secure points in his first race back.
• Yuki Tsunoda had a more traditional race, starting on medium tires and initially performing well. However, an early pit stop and a later 5-second penalty hampered his efforts to secure a points finish.

Williams Performance

Alex Albon, 16th:

• A challenging weekend marred by an early collision left Albon with damage, impacting his ability to compete effectively.
• Despite the struggles with tire performance, Albon aims to rebound in the upcoming races of the triple header.

Franco Colapinto, 10th:

• After a tough qualifying session, Colapinto bounced back with a solid race strategy, utilizing good race pace to secure a point.
• He emphasized the importance of continued learning and development as the season progresses.

Sven Smeets, Sporting Director:

• The decision to split tire strategies for both drivers was aimed at maximizing point potential.
• Colapinto’s performance was highlighted as he successfully executed a one-stop strategy, proving competitive late in the race.

Alpine’s Challenges

Esteban Ocon, 18th:

• Ocon’s race was disrupted from the start due to a spin after being hit, which limited his potential to gain positions.
• He managed to secure the fastest lap on soft tires at the end of the race, contributing a positive note to an otherwise disappointing outing.

Pierre Gasly, 12th:

• Gasly expressed frustration over the missed opportunities, indicating that the team failed to fully capitalize on their qualifying performance.
• A combination of a slow pit stop and difficulties with hard tires prevented him from finishing in the points.

Conclusion

The Austin GP presented a mixed bag of results for the teams, with notable performances from Williams in securing points and a frustrating outing for Alpine as they continue to battle for positions in the championship standings. As the teams head to Mexico City, they aim to build on their strengths and address the challenges faced in Austin.

The United States Grand Prix concluded with a spectacular one-two finish for Ferrari, led by Charles Leclerc, showcasing their strong performance and strategic execution throughout the race. The conditions, coupled with effective tyre management, played a crucial role in the outcome.

Team Highlights

Ferrari

• Charles Leclerc: Secured the win, demonstrating excellent pace and strategy.
• Carlos Sainz: Finished second, contributing to Ferrari’s strong showing with a well-executed race.

AlphaTauri

• Jody Egginton, Technical Director: Emphasized the progress made with car setup, noting improvements in pace and tyre consumption. Liam Lawson’s strong race, despite starting at the back, earned him points, while Yuki Tsunoda faced challenges that affected his race strategy and position.

Williams

• Alex Albon (16th): Struggled with damage from a collision early in the race and felt he couldn’t find the right setup, although he aimed to help his teammate, Franco Colapinto.
• Franco Colapinto (10th): Achieved a commendable 10th place, showcasing good race pace and strategy.
• Sven Smeets, Sporting Director: Noted the challenges faced but highlighted Colapinto’s successful one-stop strategy.

Alpine

• Esteban Ocon (18th): Had a difficult race after being spun at the start but managed to secure the fastest lap.
• Pierre Gasly (12th): Expressed frustration over missed opportunities and the team’s inability to maximize potential.

Aston Martin

• Fernando Alonso (13th): Mentioned a tough race with difficulties in maintaining pace.
• Lance Stroll (15th): Acknowledged the team’s lack of competitiveness, calling for improvements.

Alfa Romeo

• Valtteri Bottas (17th): Noted efforts on a one-stop strategy but ultimately felt the car lacked pace towards the end.
• Zhou Guanyu (19th): Experienced a spin that hindered his race progress, despite a promising start.

Tyre Strategy Insights

• Pirelli’s Mario Isola: Highlighted the unexpected success of the one-stop strategy, despite initial data suggesting high wear on the Medium tyres. The safety car and track evolution played critical roles in managing tyre performance and strategy.

Conclusion

The race weekend in Austin revealed significant competitive dynamics, with Ferrari leading the charge, while teams like Williams and AlphaTauri showcased resilience despite challenges. Looking ahead, teams will aim to leverage their learnings from this race to improve performances in the upcoming Mexican Grand Prix.

 

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