After a month-long mini-break, Formula 1 returns with the Austin Grand Prix at the Circuit Of The Americas (COTA) in Texas, this weekend. Excitement among F1 fans is at an all-time high, not just because of all the drama surrounding the paddock but also because it’s the fourth (out of six) Sprint weekend.
Austin Grand Prix Sprint Weekend Schedule in India:
This means that the drivers will be given only one practice session on Friday, followed by a Sprint Shootout, where the grid for the sprint race will be decided. On Saturday, the drivers will take to the tarmac for the qualifying round of the main race, followed by the sprint race. And as always, Sunday will bring the grand prix.
Practice 1: 11pm, October 18
Sprint Qualifying: 3am, October 19
F1 Sprint Race: 11.30pm, October 19
Qualifying: 3.30am, October 20
Main Race: 12.30am, October 21
News from the tracks had been missing since the Singapore Grand Prix, where McLaren driver, Lando Norris took pole, followed by the current championship leader Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri completing the podium.
However, this four-week-long break has allowed many manufacturers to bring some crucial updates to their cars, which could give them extra performance for the remainder of six grand prix and two sprint weekends. To that end, if McLaren can keep up their performance, it’s most likely that they will pip Red Bull at every chance to fuel Norris’ title-winning hopes. However, if the Milton Keyes outfit can find solutions to the problems their drivers are reporting, the F1 trophy will stay with the team.
So while you’re awaiting the Austin Grand Prix, here are the top 7 F1 news stories that will bring you up to date with all the action both, on and off, the track.
Top 7 F1 News Updates Ahead Of The Austin Grand Prix:
1. Red Bull’s key staff transfers
The start of the 2024 season for Red Bull was already messy with tensions at an all-time high between Christian Horner and team CEO Helmut Marko, with Jos Verstappen demanding that the team principal should step down. However, on the track, there were no signs of weakness, at least until the Spanish GP. Up until then, they had an easy lead over everyone on the grid.
But with Max Verstappen being unable to clinch the top spot over the last eight races and Sergio Perez not making significant contributions to the points table, it's no surprise that the constructors’ championship has already veered towards McLaren. However, if things don’t change Max could be kissing the driving championship goodbye too. And to add to their troubles, the Milton Keyes -outfit is seeing several key staff members exiting the team.
The biggest news came when Adrian Newey, RB’s Chief Technology Officer and the mastermind behind every one of their championship-winning cars, resigned to join Aston Martin in 2025. Soon after, Jonathan Wheatley, their sporting director, announced that he would be leaving Red Bull at the end of 2024, take a break for a year and return to the grid in 2026 as Audi Sauber’s new team principal.
Most recently, after the Singapore GP, Red Bull announced that Will Courtenay, their Head of Strategy will also depart from the team at the end of this season to join McLaren as their Sporting Director.
2. Mick or Valtteri to Audi Sauber?
As we look towards the 2025 season, a new team is set to join the grid i.e. Audi Sauber, which will take over the now Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber. The team principal Mario Binotto has finalized one of his drivers, Nico Hulkenberg. However, the second seat and the last empty seat on the grid is still up for contention. The former Ferrari team boss allegedly has two options: their current driver Valtteri Bottas and Mercedes reserve driver, Mick Schumacher. The last time Mick was a part of the grid was when he was driving for Haas in 2022.
3. Will Norris’ Championship winning dreams materialise?
While there is no doubt that McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have the fastest cars on the grid, so far it seems unlikely that the British driver will be able to clinch his first Drivers’ Championship title. And this is due to the fierce competition he faces in his fellow teammate and a lack of clear (and sensible) team orders. Fans may remember the showdown Norris and his race engineer Will Joseph had at the Hungarian GP when Piastri was made to make a pitstop first, which in turn led to him winning the race.
Given that Lando is the only driver on the grid with enough points to compete with Verstappen, if McLaren doesn’t prioritise him over the Australian debutant, it could cost him the title. There could be a 34-point swing in the championship standings if Norris and McLaren play their cards right this weekend, which could lead to a title battle going into the finale in Abu Dhabi.
4. Toyota forms a technical partnership with Haas
After exiting the sport in 2009, Toyota returned to F1 through a technical partnership with the American Haas F1 team. Through this strategic partnership, Toyota will help Haas with vehicle development, wind tunnel testing and in the design and production of carbon fiber parts. And in turn, Toyota talent will be given the chance to learn more and experience the thrill of F1.
Also Read: 5 Fun Summer Destinations For Motorsport Fans
5. Max Verstappen’s Swearing Gate
In September, FIA had issued a penalty to Max Verstappen when he used some derogatory language to describe the state of his car over team radio, asking him to accomplish “some work of public interest”. Max, who has previously expressed that there was more he wanted to achieve in the world of motorsports than just F1, made it clear that his patience was wearing thin and that such trivial issues could play a big role in “deciding his future in the sport”. He also received support in his argument from former rival and Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton as well as his competitor Lando Norris.
6. Daniel Ricciardo exits, Liam Lawson enters
It seems like the tables have truly turned for Daniel Ricciardo. Last year, the Australian driver was given a lifeline by Red Bull when they made him the reserve driver for the Visa Cash App RB F1 team and midway through the season, they promoted him to second driver when Formula E champion Nyck de Vries was ousted due to poor performance. And now, it seems like the same scenario is playing out for Ricciardo, who is being replaced by Liam Lawson.
Red Bull’s brutal policy of replacing under-performing drivers is nothing out of the ordinary. Back in 2019, when Pierre Gasly was racing alongside Verstappen at Red Bull, he was replaced within then Torro Rosso driver, Alex Albon. We’re just waiting when the UK-based team will play out the same fate for Sergio Perez, whose 2024 season has cost Red Bull the constructors’ championship.
7. New liveries
Quite a few teams on the grid have decked up their cars for one of the biggest races on the calendar. McLaren has partnered with Google for a second edition of their striking Chrome-inspired livery. Even the drivers’ race suits will carry traces of the Chrome design.
For their home-race, the American team Haas will sport the flag colours and its stars. And as for Alpine, their cars will feature an Indiana Jones-inspired livery.
