F1 preview: A lap at the United States Grand Prix
Max Verstappen heads into his first race as a three-time world champion and, while there is no more silverware to play for, there is still plenty at stake as drivers and teams jostle for position in the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships.
Lewis Hamilton will be looking to close the gap on under-fire Sergio Perez after his Qatar Grand Prix retirement and the Mercedes team are locked in a tense battle with Ferrari to settle second place behind Red Bull.
Perez, in particular, will be fighting to prove he deserves to stay with the team for 2024 after securing just two wins this season compares to Verstappen’s haul of 14. The Dutchman can also equal his record for most wins in a season if he is victorious in Austin, and the 26-year-old will be confident after capping his championship triumph with a win in Lusail.
But behind him are the resurgent McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and with another sprint race coming up on Friday, the British team will be eager to continue their impressive form Stateside.
Express Sport is on hand to provide live updates throughout the day as we look ahead to the weekend’s action.
Russell blasts ‘obscene’ fine system as drivers face huge bill
George Russell has backed Lewis Hamilton after his Mercedes team-mate was fined heavily for crossing the track in Qatar. The British driver has pledged to raise the issue with the FIA after they revealed a new fine structure this week.
Under the previous regulations, the maximum possible fine a driver could receive would be £217,000 (€250,000), but after the latest meeting of the World Motor Sport Council, that threshold has been bumped up to an eye-watering £870,000 (€1m).
This has naturally provoked a strong response from some of the drivers with Russell, who is currently the chair of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, making his stance known on the matter.
“I think it’s pretty ridiculous that a driver could be fined €1m,” Russell said when asked about the FIA’s new fines.
“In my first year of Formula 1, I was on a five-figure salary and actually lost over six figures in that first year from paying for my trainer, paying for flights, paying for an assistant. And that’s probably the case for 25% of the grid.”
Perez speaks out on retirement
Sergio Perez has laughed off speculation that he could retire from F1 at the end of the season and insists he is committed to staying with Red Bull for 2024.
The Mexican, 34, was rumoured to be considering an announcement at his home race in Mexico City next month, but the struggling Red Bull star has dismissed any suggestion he could leave.
“I’m just laughing at it,” Perez said, as reported by Sky Sports F1. “There’s nothing I can do, I’m fully focused on the job.
“That really sums up my season. A guy says something about me, then all of a sudden it becomes true. But I have a contract for next year, and no reason to not complete that contract. I’m going to give my very best to it, I’ve done a commitment.
“I have zero doubts that I will be back to my best level, and that is my only target I have in mind. I do not even think about retirement or anything like that, because that’s just the easy route.”
Hamilton attacks FIA after reopening investigation
Lewis Hamilton has attacked the FIA’s ‘poor communication’ for the reason behind their botched message after reopening an investigation into his actions at the Qatar Grand Prix.
The 38-year-old was fined £43,350 after crossing the live track while the race was under safety car conditions, but he could face further punishment after the FIA decided to reassess their decision based on Hamilton being a role model.
When asked about their decision to reopen the investigation, Hamilton said: “No, I don’t think I was singled out. Ultimately, it’s just poor communication.
“I don’t think what they said is exactly what they meant. What they mean is they are going to look into how they can tackle those sort of things moving forward to make sure it doesn’t happen.
“I think there was a karting incident recently where a kid was hit, so we really need to make sure that we’re continuously focusing on safety and that’s at the root of it. I think they probably need to speak to their PR agent to do a better job.”
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