Author: Barkha Roy
The Formula 1 calendar recently took a well-deserved break after the grueling Qatar Grand Prix, a race in which several drivers sought medical attention due to its demanding nature. With another weekend off before arriving in Austin, Texas, the F1 grid is now set for the second of three races in the United States in 2023, marking the start of a triple series of races over the next three weeks.
Max Verstappen heads to Austin after two consecutive Grand Prix wins. He has won the last two editions of this race and arrives with what is undoubtedly the best car he has ever had in Formula 1. The remaining races on the F1 schedule are well suited to Red Bull’s strengths, especially at circuits with limited front ends, such as those in Japan, Qatar, Austin and Brazil. A win on Sunday would see Verstappen equal his own record for the most wins in a season, a record he set the previous season. Barring an unexpected accident or car failure, he looks set to maintain his leading position.
McLaren has been working vigorously to make up ground over the last few race weekends. Given the substantial deficit the Woking team faced at the start of the F1 season, it is currently engaged in a fierce battle with Aston Martin for fourth place in the championship. Realistically, under the leadership of Zak Brown and Andrea Stella, McLaren seems to be the second strongest squad on the grid, behind only Red Bull.
At the recent Qatar Grand Prix, Max Verstappen once again shared the podium with McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, with the latter winning the speed race on Saturday. This sets the stage for McLaren to continue challenging Red Bull, but at the same time Norris and Piastri must remain vigilant, as the gap between Mercedes and Ferrari remains small.
Lando Norris had to settle for third place in Qatar after team orders prevented him from taking the second place he was fighting for. Despite a less than ideal qualifying result due to the limits of the track, he managed to secure a podium place in the demanding night race. His consistent performance throughout the weekend catapulted him to seventh in the F1 points standings.
Similar conditions are expected in the Texas heat, and Norris has a history of performing well in Austin, with results of seventh, eighth and sixth in his three career races at the track. McLaren is also expected to be competitive on this circuit. With a better performance in qualifying for the speed race and the long-distance race, Norris has a great chance of securing victory in at least one of the events.
For the second weekend in a row, F1 will host the Sprint Weekend, this time at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, for the 2023 F1 US Grand Prix.
COTA is widely regarded as one of the best tracks on the current F1 calendar, offering a mixture of different types of corners and ample overtaking opportunities during the races. It’s the ideal setting for a sprint weekend, ensuring that fans and riders won’t be disappointed by the action on the track. After the hot and humid conditions in Qatar, the F1 community can look forward to a more pleasant weekend in Austin, Texas.
The weather forecast for the weekend is as follows:
- Friday – FP1 and Qualifying: Expect sunny conditions throughout the day, accompanied by a gentle breeze. The temperature should reach 26°C (79°F), with a minimal chance of precipitation, less than 10%.
- Saturday – Sprint Shootout and Sprint: Sunny weather will prevail throughout the day, with light winds providing a pleasant atmosphere. The temperature should be around 26°C (79°F), and there is a slightly higher chance of precipitation, around 15%.
- Sunday – Race: On race day, the weather is expected to be cloudy but pleasant, with a gentle breeze in the air. The highest temperature of the day is projected at 28°C (82°F) and the probability of precipitation remains minimal, less than 5%.