Max Verstappen put on a show in Austin Texas this weekend, while most of the grid struggled. Winds gusted up to seventeen miles per hour, challenging drivers as they negotiated the various hairpin and S turns around the track. Max made it look easy though. He dominated the sprint race on Saturday and the Grand Prix on Sunday.
Races are rarely won alone. Any number of issues occur effecting the overall outcome of race. Turn One at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) is an issue all to itself. Drivers scream 40 meters up a 45-degree hill, before braking hard and turning left on a hair pin turn. The first turn at COTA is always dramatic.
During the sprint, Max quickly edged out front and arrived at the apex of turn one first. Behind him, drama ensued. Oscar Piastri overtook his teammate Lando Norris as they headed into turn 1. At the apex, Piastri wheeled in front of Nico Hulkenberg. Piastri knocked Hulkenberg into Fernando Alonso, while simultaneously hitting the driver side rear of Lando’s McLaren. Hulkenberg’s car miraculously survived while both McLarens were knocked out of the sprint race.
Sunday’s Grand Prix was not nearly as dramatic at turn one. Everyone managed to get around without incident. Yesterday’s drama occurred the first twenty laps and the last 15 laps as Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris battled for second place. Leclerc put on a clinic for how to block during a race. Fortunately for Leclerc, the wind added complications for Lando’s ability to pass at various points on the track.
Ferrari made a bold tire choice for Leclerc to start the race. They chose softs, allowing Leclerc to remain quite competitive as he held on to second place for the first twenty laps. Ferrari’s only hiccup in strategy occurred during lap 19 when Hamilton was clearly the faster car on track at the moment. Team orders should have ordered Hamilton to pass so he could press Norris, especially since they decided to bring Leclerc in for a tire change the very next lap.
This is the third COTA race I have personally attended. I sat at Turn four which is the beginning of an inclined S turn. The most interesting thing about watching Sunday’s race live was Max Verstappen’s twelve second gap mid-way through the race. We could see his car screaming past turn three and wheel his way thru turns 4, 5 and 6 and then we would sit and wait for what felt like an eternity until Leclerc and Norris would finally make an appearance. Max’s dominance was palpable. It is wonderful to watch a master work at his craft.
Max Verstappen’s late season run is incredible. Red Bull and Verstappen have continued to work on the car throughout the season to make it as competitive as possible. The rest of the grid must be on notice now. Not only did Verstappen win, but his teammate also finished in the top ten, indicating that the car is coming online and is easier to drive.
McLaren’s car has begun to fade a bit. Lando is still very fast, while Piastri seems to have lost focus. Perhaps McLaren consistent favoritism towards Lando is wearing thin with Piastri and he has mentally checked out. It’s possible that he can’t handle the pressure…but I don’t think that is the issue. I believe Oscar Piastri is suffering thru a mental slump. He feels undervalued and under-appreciated. He needs to shove those feelings aside and just perform. Piastri must return to his old form. If he doesn’t get it together, Lando will overtake him….and so will Max.
