Five Formula 1 Winners & Losers: United States Grand Prix
Photo by Brian Snyder from Reuters
I don’t care how many races F1 puts in America.
The only American Grand Prix that will make me happy is the one in Austin, Texas.
Circuit of the Americas is an incredible track which always produces magnificent racing.
Yesterday was no different.
Here are the winners and losers from a thrilling US Grand Prix.
Losers
5. Carlos Sainz
There really isn’t a worse way to spend a weekend than putting your car on pole position and then being taken out on the very first lap to end your race.
None of it was Carlos’ fault, but it still stings a lot.
4. George Russell
And here’s the man who ruined his race.
It actually wasn’t a bad race from George at all, but this is a few times now he has had some really boneheaded decisions during the race.
Some cracks are starting to show in the foundation.
3. Valtteri Bottas
It wasn’t the most spectacular race from Bottas, but he spun on his own and ended his race in the gravel trap.
On a day when points were definitely possible, it’s a costly way to end your own race.
2. Daniel Ricciardo
The number of available seats are getting smaller and smaller, and finishing 16th in his favorite place is not going to help him.
It looks like a year off as the 3rd driver is on the cards for Ricciardo.
1. Lance Stroll
Stroll was having such a spectacular race, and then one of the most boneheaded late moves not only ruined his race, but also could’ve ruined Fernando Alonso’s race and been extremely dangerous.
It was such a shocking move that I wouldn’t be surprised if he got an added penalty for this weekend’s race in Mexico.
Winners
5. Lando Norris
Started 6th, got caught out with safety cars and pit stops to be 13th, finished 6th in the end.
Not too shabby!
4. Fernando Alonso
A late penalty means Alonso finished 15th, which isn’t good.
But in terms of the race itself, Alonso overcame the damage from the Stroll crash which made him literally airborne to recover and finish 7th on track.
No late penalty, which wasn’t even his fault as his team was not given warning of dangerous equipment on his car, is going to change his performance on Sunday.
3. Lewis Hamilton
This was a typical Lewis Hamilton race.
Consistent, well driven, and would have been a win if his car was good enough.
It shows why he’s won 7 championships even if his car was the best back then.
Consistency matters.
2. Sebastian Vettel
It pains me that Vettel is retiring at the end of the year.
Yesterday was proof that the 4 time champ still has it.
Vettel was running in the points with weaker equipment, before a horrible 16 second pit stop appeared to have ruined his race.
But it didn’t matter.
Seb brought his Aston Martin all the way back from 13th to 8th, including an amazing late battle with Kevin Magnussen to get 4 points for his team.
I’m going to miss him on the grid.
Only 3 races left…
1. Max Verstappen
I can’t describe how different Verstappen is as a driver this year compared to last year.
A bad pit stop looked like it could’ve taken Verstappen out of the race where he easily could have won, stuck behind Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, two drivers who certainly want to beat him as they were his two recent title contenders.
But Verstappen had two incredibly clean divebombs to overtake Leclerc and Hamilton to win the race.
That’s now 13 wins for Verstappen this year, one away from the Formula 1 record.
It’s also Red Bull’s first constructors championship since 2013, and ends Mercedes streak of 8 straight titles.
Not a shabby season.
