With a rare autumn break just about over, the Formula One grid heads to the land of ten-gallon hats, great food, and a popular circuit, the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, for the United States Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen led the season by quite a large margin until his first U.S.-based race in Miami. Lando Norris and his McLaren won that race, and little did we know then that it was the championship’s turning point.
Going into this Sunday’s race, Norris has narrowed the gap to Verstappen by 52 points, and McLaren is ahead of Red Bull by 41 points for the Constructor’s Championship.
But there is even more to the story. The 2024 U.S. Grand Prix comes with controversy in the U.S. motorsport space. NASCAR has filed a lawsuit against former basketball star Michael Jordan, and a ruling might mean Indy Car could be done for the season. If so, it is an outcome that NASCAR cannot afford with its declining popularity. Meanwhile, Formula One’s popularity has increased in no small part played by Netflix’s popular program, Drive to Survive. On the downside, Logan Sargeant losing his seat recently at Williams Racing means no American drivers are racing in Formula One.
Then there is the news that following Formula One’s rejection earlier this season to become the 11th team in the sport, Michael Andretti is stepping back from overseeing Andretti Global. That decision brings more uncertainty into the sport. Will the company proceed with its Formula One quest? Will Cadillac, once considered a primer AG partner, enter Formula One on its own in four years?
The only American team in the sport currently, Haas F1, is beginning to gain popularity because it has been more competitive this season. Toyota is now a technical partner, with its Gazoo racing unit on the car. Another American unit, Orion180, is joining the already Dallas-based MoneyGram sponsor, along with a new livery for the team, specially designed for this, their home race.
With everything happening on and off the track, expect the stands to be well-filled this weekend. First up are Free Practices, scheduled for Friday at 1:30 and 5:30 PM, both televised in the States by ESPN2.
