2022 - A Look Ahead

F1 – Leclerc quickest in Austin in second practice session defined by tyre testing.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc topped the timesheet in a second practice session for the 2022 FIA United States Grand Prix in which lap times were rendered largely meaning as drivers tested 2023 tyre compounds.
22.10.22
• FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
•
Leclerc, along with second-placed Valtteri Bottas and third-placed Daniel Ricciardo sat out the earlier session to make way for rookie drivers and therefore were allowed to run 2022 tyres as well as next year’s test tyres as they got their first taste of the track this weekend in the second session. The regular running for 35 minutes of the 90 specified allowed the trio to claim the session’s top spots.

Bottas, on 2022 medium tyres, set the early pace with a lap of 1:40.655 before Ricciardo moved to P1 with a lap of 1:40.474 also set on mediums. Leclerc then went quicker still, on this year’s soft tyres, to take top sport with a lap of 1:38.856. The Monegasque driver then topped his own P1 time with a lap of 1:37.614. The Ferrari driver headed back to the pit lane, switched to medium tyres and posted the session’s quickest lap of 1:36.810s as the 15-minute mark arrived.

‘Second practice session defined by tyre testing’;

https://www.fia.com/news/f1-leclerc-...d-tyre-testing


(FP2) Second Practice Results – 2022 United States Grand Prix
Austin, Texas
22nd October 2022.
by Emer Hedderman

Results (Classification):

1. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari -1:36.810
2. Valtteri Bottas Alfa Romeo +0.715
3. Daniel Ricciardo McLaren +0.817
4. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +1.422
5. Mick Schumacher Haas +2.697
6. Lando Norris McLaren +2.737
7. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing +2.765
8. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +2.888
9. Pierre Gasly AlphaTauri +3.030
10. Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +3.042

‘United States Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from the second practice ahead of the 2022 F1 World Championship race at COTA’;

https://formulaspy.com/f1/fp2-second...and-prix-80280


AS IT HAPPENED: Follow all the action from second practice for the United States Grand Prix
21 October 2022
Becky Hart [Special Contributor]
Formula 1.

‘AS IT HAPPENED’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...XAAxm2tu0.html


HIGHLIGHTS: Watch the action from the second practice session at the United States Grand Prix
22 October 2022
Formula 1.

Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets of the second practice session at this weekends United States Grand Prix – which was extended from 60 to 90 minutes for Pirelli’s prototype 2023 tyre test.

Returning for FP2 – after sitting FP1 so their teams could run rookie drivers – Leclerc, Valtteri Bottas and Daniel Ricciardo ran personalised programmes for the first part of the session.

And it was the Ferrari driver who set the quickest lap of FP2, with a time of 1m 36.810s on the medium tyre to lead Bottas, in second, by 0.715s. Ricciardo rounded out the top three, finishing 0.817s off Leclerc’s time.

‘Watch the action’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...k4YFikqzU.html


Ricciardo goes third-fastest in shock F1 boilover...but there’s a catch
October 22nd, 2022 2:20 pm
AFP with staff writers from Afp

Daniel Ricciardo Ricciardo in strong position after P2 claimed a surprise third-place finish in second practice for the United States Grand Prix - but the fantastic result came with a catch. Having sat out the first practice session with five teams giving guest drivers a chance to strut their stuff, Ricciardo returned for the second session and impressed, finishing behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas.

Leclerc clocked a 1m 36.810s, with Bottas 0.715s behind and Ricciardo 0.817s back on the leader. But those three drivers, who all sat out in first session, were the only drivers not testing out prototype tyres for next season. Every other driver was gathering data for Pirelli under specific conditions, including fuel loads and a set number of laps per stint.

Ricciardo’s 1:37.627s was the eight-fastest overall for the day, but conditions were faster in his afternoon session. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz was the fastest of the drivers doing tyre tests, having topped the first practice session on 2022-spec tyres.

‘There’s a catch’;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...5f893823da0a93


Red Bull suffer blows at US Grand Prix with grid penalty and Max Verstappen complaints
Red Bull can secure the teams' championship this weekend but have already reported some issues.
21:38, Fri, Oct 21, 2022
By Luke Chillingsworth

Red Bull have suffered a double blow ahead of the United States Grand Prix in a weekend the team can wrap up the Constructors’ Championship. Sergio Perez was handed a five-place grid penalty for Sunday’s race as Max Verstappen complained over team radio in FP1.

The issues could derail the team’s bid to secure its first teams’ title since 2013. Perez was handed a five-place grid drop after taking on a new internal combustion unit for the fifth time this season.

The new champion was still quick enough for P2 in the session but took to team radio to admit he was not comfortable with the package. He said: “I think there is something wrong with the car because I don't have a front end in slow corners.”

‘Double blow’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...n-sergio-perez


Hundreds will skip F1 crowds by instead arriving by private jet at Austin's airport.
Friday, October 21st 2022, 23:43
by Fred Cantu
CBS Austin

Austin's airport is expecting as many as 30,000 passengers to go through the terminal every day through the long Formula 1 weekend, but one small sector of air passengers will be arriving in style on their private jets. For many Formula 1 fans one of the first views they get of Austin is the baggage pickup area at the airport. Still Kevin Roseboom from Orlando is thrilled to be here. He explained, “This is actually my first race. It’s here in the United States so it’s easier to come to and a good time of the year so I figured I’d come out.”

Roseboom admits the trip was pricy... but you only live once. “It’s a big weekend so that’s to be expected,” he said. But if you’re flying all the way to Austin for Formula 1 maybe the baggage carousel scene isn’t the entrance you want to make to the city. Hundreds of high rollers from around the world will be flying into Austin on their private jets... And many will be docking at Million Air Austin.

Ryan Korsgard is the general manager for the local operation. He explains, “We’re kind of like a yacht club for private jets. We take care of everything that they need when they get into town whether it’s hanger space, fuel, they need food, transportation.”

‘Hundreds will skip F1 crowds’;

https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/hun...rt-formula-one

Austin FP3: Verstappen means business.
The 2022 Formula 1 Champion finished FP3 on top with a 1:35.825, and was over three tenths of a second ahead of Ferrari rival Charles Leclerc.
22 October, 2022
Jad Mallak

Max Verstappen topped the final practice session for the 2022 United States Grand prix ahead of qualifying, by a big margin from Charles Leclerc.

Carlos Sainz was third fastest in the sister Ferrari, as Sergio Perez – who had a close call with Fernando Alonso in the dying moments of practice – was fourth fastest.

‘Verstappen means business

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/10...eans-business/


(FP3) Third Practice Results – 2022 United States Grand Prix
Austin, Texas
22/10/2022
by Emer Hedderman

Results (Classification):
1. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing -1:35.825
2. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari +0.320
3. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +0.446
4. Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +0.572
5. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +0.576
6. Fernando Alonso Alpine +1.103
7. George Russell Mercedes +1.239
8. Sebastian Vettel Aston Martin +1.326
9. Lance Stroll Aston Martin +1.390
10. Pierre Gasly AlphaTauri +1.465

‘United States Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from the final practice ahead of the 2022 F1 World Championship race at COTA’;

https://formulaspy.com/f1/fp3-third-...and-prix-80291


Everything that happened in final F1 US GP practice in Austin
22/10/2022.

By Josh Suttill

Newly-crowned 2022 Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen was fastest in the final practice session before qualifying in Austin.
________________________________________
Key moments
– Verstappen pulls out margin on final lap
– Schumacher loses drive but returns to track
– Zhou sits out most of FP3 with technical issue

Verstappen was quickest after the initial qualifying simulations with a 1m36.223s on the soft tyres which was just 0.010s quicker than his former title rival Charles Leclerc. Leclerc improved to jump into the top spot but Verstappen was able beat him and pull clear with his final lap – a 1m35.825s, some 0.320s faster than Leclerc.

‘Final F1 US GP practice action’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/every...ice-in-austin/


Verstappen leads the Ferraris in final practice
Austin, Texas
22/10/2022.
by Emer Hedderman

United States Grand Prix – Max Verstappen topped the times in final practice with the Ferraris the only ones within half a second of the Red Bull driver.

After five drivers sat out the opening practice to allow rookies/reserve drivers take their places and then the second practice taken over by Pirelli as a tyre test, today’s third practice session will be the first proper look at how the grid might look in qualifying later on.

The Alfa Romeos and Aston Martins were all quick off the mark and straight out onto the windy circuit when the session got going. Zhou Guanyu was the first to set a time, a 1:39.735, but after the first ten minutes Charles Leclerc was fastest with a 1:37.471, 0.065 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen but there were only nine drivers with times on the board at that point.

‘Max Verstappen topped the times’;

https://formulaspy.com/f1/verstappen...practice-80295


F1 United Grand GP: Max Verstappen sets impressive pace ahead of Charles Leclerc in final practice
22 Oct 2022
Lewis Larkam

Max Verstappen set an impressive pace to put his Red Bull at the top of the timesheet ahead of Charles Leclerc in final practice at the F1 United States Grand Prix.

The qualifying simulations had been incredibly tight until the newly-crowned world champion blitzed his rivals with a late effort to finish 0.320s clear of Leclerc and head into qualifying as the man to beat and the only driver to dip into the 1m35s.

With gusty conditions proving tricky and catching the drivers out at COTA, Leclerc admitted his best lap - which at the time was within 0.010s of Verstappen - was “very, very messy”.

‘Verstappen sets impressive pace’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/101528...us-gp-practice

F1 US Grand Prix LIVE: Shock pole-sitter trying to spoil Red Bull’s double title clincher.
“I knew it was coming boys, I knew it,” said Sainz after taking his third pole of the season.
October 23rd, 2022 5:08 pm
AFP from Fox Sports

Carlos Sainz outpaced team-mate Charles Leclerc to take pole position as Ferrari dominated the tense qualifying for Monday morning’s United States Grand Prix. Live from 6am AEDT! The Spaniard delivered a final flying lap in one minute and 34.356 seconds to beat his Monegasque partner by 0.065 seconds, leaving world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull third, on the day his team’s founder and co-owner Dietrich Mateschitz died aged 78.

With Leclerc taking a grid penalty, Dutchman Verstappen will start second on Sunday alongside Sainz on the front row as he bids for a record-equalling 13th win of the season to help Red Bull clinch their fifth constructors’ title. His Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez, who also faces a grid penalty, was fourth ahead of seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes team-mate George Russell, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Lando Norris of McLaren.

“I knew it was coming boys, I knew it,” said Sainz after taking his third pole of the season. “It was a lot of fun, very tricky with the gusts of wind, but I managed to put together a good lap without mistakes. This pole was a long time coming in the dry - Red Bull is still favourite as they have more race pace,” he added.

‘Shock pole-sitter’;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...bf35d88c53830f


Qualifying Results – 2022 United States Grand Prix
Austin, Texas
23/10/2022
by Emer Hedderman

Q3
1. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari -1:34.356
2. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari +0.065
3. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing +0.092
4. Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +0.289
5. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +0.591
6. George Russell Mercedes +0.632
7. Lance Stroll Aston Martin +1.242
8. Lando Norris McLaren +1.334
9. Fernando Alonso Alpine +1.520
10. Valtteri Bottas Alfa Romeo +1.963

‘United States Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from qualifying for this weekend’s 2022 F1 World Championship race at COTA’;

https://formulaspy.com/f1/qualifying...and-prix-80303


FORMULA 1 ARAMCO UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX 2022 - STARTING GRID
21 23 Oct 2022
Circuit of The Americas, Austin
Formula 1.

POS NO DRIVER CAR TIME
1 55 Carlos Sainz SAI Ferrari 1:34.356
2 1 Max Verstappen VER Red Bull Racing RBPT 1:34.448
3 44 Lewis Hamilton HAM Mercedes 1:34.947
4 63 George Russell RUS Mercedes 1:34.988
5 18 Lance Stroll STR Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes 1:35.598
6 4 Lando Norris NOR McLaren Mercedes 1:35.690
7 77 Valtteri Bottas BOT Alfa Romeo Ferrari 1:36.319
8 23 Alexander Albon ALB Williams Mercedes 1:36.368
9 11 Sergio Perez PER Red Bull Racing RBPT 1:34.645
10 5 Sebastian Vettel VET Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes 1:36.398

‘Starting Grid’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/results....ting-grid.html


HIGHLIGHTS: Watch the qualifying action as Sainz grabs pole position in Austin
22 October 2022
Formula 1.

Carlos Sainz will start the United States Grand Prix on pole position after getting the better of Ferrari team mate Charles Leclerc and Red Bull driver Max Verstappen in a close qualifying session.

Sainz pulled out a time of 1m 34.356s on his final Q3 run to edge out Leclerc by 0.065s, with Verstappen 0.092s back, meaning the Spaniard will start from the front of the grid for the third time this season.

Leclerc will drop 10 places on the grid for power unit changes, with fourth-placed Sergio Perez also losing five spots after taking on a new engine – promoting a chasing pack of drivers headed by Mercedes pair Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.

‘Qualifying Action’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...iCQ7mLy59.html


Verstappen pays tribute to Mateschitz after US Grand Prix qualifying – ‘without him I wouldn’t be sitting here today’
23 October 2022
Formula 1.

Max Verstappen secured a front-row start in qualifying for the 2022 United States Grand Prix, but the reigning champion’s attention was on the passing of late Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz who, on Saturday, passed away at the age of 78. The 25-year-old, who made his F1 debut with Red Bull junior team Toro Rosso in 2015 and won his first Grand Prix having been called up to Red Bull in 2016, paid his respects to Mateschitz after qualifying in Austin.

“Yeah of course, for us it was I think a tough entry to qualifying and then you don’t really care about the result as well – it doesn’t matter – because we’re more about what happened today and also what he has meant to everyone within the team, the whole team, what he has built up, the company itself, Red Bull and personally to me.”

“Because, without him, I wouldn’t be sitting here today, and I wouldn’t have had the success I’ve had, so it’s incredibly tough for everyone in the team. Luckily, I got to see him a couple of weeks back so we could spend a little bit of time together. But it’s still a tough day.”

‘Without him I wouldn’t be sitting here today’

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...2zDWU1AHO.html


Sainz believes US Grand Prix pole has eradicated 2022 weakness.
23/10/2022, ‎07‎:‎55
Author Jake Nichol

Carlos Sainz believes his US Grand Prix pole is just reward after having previously failed to secure a dry-weather Pole Position in 2022. Carlos Sainz was relieved to take Pole Position for the United States Grand Prix, believing the result is just reward for his Formula 1 efforts.

Sainz was the only driver of the four to have taken a pole in 2022 not to have done so in dry-weather conditions, with his two previous poles being in the wet at Silverstone and a promotion from P2 on the grid at Spa. The Ferrari driver has felt that his one-lap pace has been strong throughout the season, but has not been able to convert that into regular Pole Positions, and is often pipped by teammate Charles Leclerc.

However, at Austin, Sainz beat Leclerc by 0.065s to take P1 outright, with Leclerc carrying a grid penalty. Sainz believes that taking this Pole Position - the third of his career - was long overdue.

‘US Grand Prix pole has eradicated 2022 weakness’;

https://racingnews365.com/sainz-beli...-2022-weakness


Lewis Hamilton disagrees with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff ahead of US Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell will start the United States Grand Prix on the second row.
06:01, Sun, Oct 23, 2022
By Luke Chillingsworth

Lewis Hamilton has disagreed with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff over the German manufacturer's new upgrade package for the United States Grand Prix. Hamilton admitted he was “expecting a bit more” from the new parts after claiming he struggled for performance in qualifying.

Hamilton said: “It was a really, really difficult qualifying session. I felt so optimistic all weekend, the car had been feeling good. Everyone back at the factory had worked so hard to bring an upgrade.

“I was really hopeful that we were going to be much much closer than we were. Once we got to qualifying, I don’t know if it’s because the temperatures dropped or the wind, but the car was such a handful all of a sudden. I was expecting a bit more. I think in pure pace they are just [too quick]. Whatever upgrades we bring, the gap stays the same.”

‘Expecting a bit more’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...-prix-upgrades

Verstappen and Red Bull seal perfect tribute to late co-owner at US Grand Prix.
13th race win of the season for Verstappen, Red Bull finally crowned Constructors’ champions in the process as they sealed a very fitting tribute to their late co-owner.
21:55 Sun, 23 Oct 2022.
Evening Standard

A tribute to the late Red Bull co-owner Dietrich Mateschitz took place on the grid with the F1 Constructors’ Championship leaders set to claim their first team title in almost a decade so long as they could prevent Ferrari from outscoring them by 19 points. That task became significantly easier on the first lap as Verstappen glided past pole-sitter Carlos Sainz off the line.

Problems waited around the corner as Red Bull called their man in but struggled to reattach the front-left wheel, eventually grabbing a second wheel gun to do the trick before Verstappen departed from an 11-second wait with the lead gone and even Leclerc, who pitted at the same time, leapfrogging him.

By Lap 50, Verstappen was on Hamilton’s rear and got the job done with DRS assistance despite a valiant fightback from the seven-time world champion. It was enough to bag a 13th race win of the season for Verstappen, Red Bull finally crowned Constructors’ champions in the process as they sealed a very fitting tribute to their late co-owner.

‘Perfect tribute to Dietrich Mateschitz’;

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/for...-b1034671.html


Race Results – 2022 United States Grand Prix
Austin, Texas
23/10/2022.
by Emer Hedderman

Results (Classification):
1. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing -56 laps
2. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +5.023
3. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari +7.501
4. Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +8.293
5. George Russell Mercedes +44.815
6. Lando Norris McLaren +53.785
7. Fernando Alonso Alpine +55.078
8. Sebastian Vettel Aston Martin +65.354
9. Kevin Magnussen Haas +65.834
10. Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri +70.919

‘United States Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from today’s 2022 F1 World Championship race at the Circuit of the Americas’;

https://formulaspy.com/f1/race-resul...and-prix-80324


HIGHLIGHTS: Watch the action unfold from Austin as Verstappen beats Hamilton to victory
23 October 2022
Formula 1.

Max Verstappen recovered from a slow pit stop in Sunday’s race at Austin to seal his 13th victory of the season at the United States Grand Prix, securing Red Bull’s first constructors’ title since 2013.

Verstappen made a quick getaway from second to lead at the first corner before a slow pit stop forced the Dutch driver to overtake Charles Leclerc and then Lewis Hamilton to seal his second consecutive win in Austin.

Hamilton took the chequered flag in second place ahead of Leclerc in third and a charging Sergio Perez in fourth. George Russell finished fifth after serving a five-second time penalty for his part in a collision with Carlos Sainz – who retired from the race with water leak damage.

‘HIGHLIGHTS’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...ppDxNbxOc.html


Verstappen seals Red Bull Constructors' Championship with record-equalling US GP win
23/10/2022, ‎22‎:‎00
Author Jake Nichol

Max Verstappen made a late pass on Lewis Hamilton to secure victory in the United States Grand Prix to seal the 2022 Constructors' Championship for Red Bull. Max Verstappen recovered from a botched Red Bull pitstop to win the United States Grand Prix, sealing the 2022 Constructors' Championship as he equalled the all-time wins record in a single season.

Verstappen pitted from the lead for the second time on Lap 36, responding to Lewis Hamilton's stop the lap before. However, an 11.1 second pit stop from Red Bull dropped the World Champion down behind Charles Leclerc, with Hamilton enjoying a seven second lead at the time.

After clearing Leclerc, Verstappen hunted down Hamilton, slicing past at Turn 12 on Lap 50 of 56. Despite some late track limits drama involving the top two, Verstappen took his 13th win of the season - equalling Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel's tally from the 2004 and 2013 seasons.

‘Verstappen seals Red Bull Constructors' Championship’;

https://racingnews365.com/verstappen...grand-prix-win


Max Verstappen earns record-tying 13th win at US Grand Prix
The champ passed Lewis Hamilton with 6 laps remaining
Oct 23rd 2022 at 5:17PM
ASSOCIATED PRESS

AUSTIN, Texas — Max Verstappen passed Lewis Hamilton late to earn a record-tying 13th win of the season at the United States Grand Prix on Sunday, and delivered a victory to honor the memory of Red Bull team founder and owner Dietrich Mateschitz. Verstappen’s race was nearly undone by a rare slow pit stop by Red Bull midway through the race that dropped him well behind Hamilton. But Verstappen fought back to pass last season’s rival for the championship on lap 50 of 56.

Verstappen then had to hold off the pestering Hamilton through the final laps as his team warned him not to exceed track limits that would draw a penalty. The win as a relief for Red Bull. The team had announced shortly before qualifying on Saturday that Mateschitz had died at age 78. Verstappen vowed he’d give everything to get the win to honor him.

The win continued Verstappen’s run of dominance in 2022. He had already clinched the season championship in Japan two weeks earlier. Sunday’s win tied him with Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel for most in a season with three races still to go. Since its founding, Red Bull has won six driver championships and five constructors' titles. Verstappen's win clinched this season's team championship

‘Max Verstappen earns record-tying 13th’;

https://www.autoblog.com/2022/10/23/...ghiZTy6poZwqIj


Verstappen dedicates record-equalling victory and constructors' title to late Red Bull co-founder Mateschitz
23 October 2022
Formula 1.

Max Verstappen cut an emotional figure in Texas after Red Bull secured their fifth-ever constructors’ championship, with the Dutchman taking a record-equalling 13th win of the season.

“It was not made easy for us but in the end of course, extremely happy to win in this difficult weekend for us. I think this was actually a race that he [Mateschitz] would have loved to see,” said Verstappen.

“Of course I’m sad, but I’m also incredibly proud of the whole team of the way they’ve operated the whole weekend – apart from the pit stop, but that was a gun failure and these things can unfortunately happen. But we kept it together and we won also the constructors’ [title], so I’m very proud of everyone.”

‘Verstappen dedicates record-equalling victory to Dietrich Mateschitz’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...Lp9RVb6iy.html


Dietrich Mateschitz ‘would have been very proud’ says Horner, as Red Bull seal first constructors’ title since 2013
23 October 2022
Formula 1.

Christian Horner believes the manner in which Max Verstappen won the United States Grand Prix was a fitting tribute to Red Bull co-founder and owner Dietrich Mateschitz, who passed away on Saturday.

Verstappen had controlled much of the race after clearing pole-sitter Carlos Sainz off the line, but was forced to fight back from a slow pit stop that dropped him behind Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.

Following a thrilling battle with Leclerc, Verstappen hunted down Hamilton and reclaimed P1 with six laps remaining – earning a 13th win of the season and securing Red Bull’s first constructors’ title since 2013.

‘Dietrich Mateschitz would have been very proud’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...rNp6e7S43.html

Mercedes’ victory chance ended when Verstappen passed Leclerc – Wolff.
Hamilton said there was no way he could keep Verstappen behind once the Red Bull driver got within DRS range.
2022 United States Grand Prix
Posted on 24th October 2022, 12:5224th October 2022, 14:52
Written by Keith Collantine and RJ O'Connell

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says he knew Lewis Hamilton’s chances of winning the United States Grand Prix were over before Max Verstappen caught and passed him.

Wolff felt the team had a chance to win their first race of the season. “When they were six seconds behind him, and it felt like they can’t really eke out enough, I felt that [we could win],” he said.

But there were still 17 laps to go once Verstappen passed Leclerc. The Red Bull driver was within five seconds of Hamilton and on medium compound tyres to the race leader’s hards. Wolff said from that moment he expected Verstappen would catch and pass Hamilton.

‘Mercedes’ victory chance ended’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/10/24/...leclerc-wolff/


Wolff questions Russell penalty after 'massive damage'.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has revealed George Russell suffered 'massive damage' in his opening lap contact with Carlos Sainz at the United States Grand Prix while questioning the penalty handed out.
Monday 24 October 2022 09:20
Sam Hall & Will Gray

Russell collided with the Ferrari driver as the Spaniard swung across the apex of turn one when battling Max Verstappen's Red Bull for the lead. The resulting contact saw the Mercedes driver slapped with a five-second penalty after Sainz retired from the race.

Although Russell was able to continue, he was unable to impact the top four after serving his sanction during a pit stop. “We've just seen the front wing, it's massively damaged," said Wolff.

“Not only the front wing endplate but also below and that's the aero critical part, so he had a car that was not capable of doing more.”

‘Wolff questions Russell penalty’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/94...ussell-damage/


F1 fans vote on whether Lewis Hamilton should retire or not after Toto Wolff comments
Thousands of Formula One fans have claimed Lewis Hamilton should not retire from F1 even if Mercedes continue to struggle next season. 11:11, Mon, Oct 24, 2022
By Luke Chillingsworth

Wolff predicted Red Bull will still go into next season as favourites to replicate their success after a dominant 2022 campaign. The Austrian has also claimed Mercedes “got the physics wrong” with their new ground-effect package which has allowed other teams to gain an advantage. Earlier this month Wolff stressed the Silver Arrows were now just the third fastest car on the road at race weekends.

Speaking to Channel 4, he added: "Obviously, we have missed a lot of development time to find out about bouncing and purposing and all these things. So it's clear that Red Bull in a very favourable position, not only for this year, but also for the start of next year.

"I'm feeling good. I love what I'm doing. We have a lot of work to do, a lot to achieve still. I'm not planning on going anywhere, any time soon." Wolff admitted he had spoken to Hamilton about the Briton’s future in the sport, suggesting a new long-term partnership could be on the cards.

‘F1 fans vote on whether Lewis Hamilton should retire or not’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...-mercedes-news


Toto Wolff reveals what was holding Mercedes back
23:40 Sun, 23 Oct 2022.
ByAdriano Boin
Total Motorsport

Toto Wolff is encouraged by what he saw from Mercedes at the 2022 United States GP in Austin, stating the team are now much closer to Red Bull. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff knows what development decision held them back in 2022 after delivering another encouraging performance at the United States GP.

The Silver Arrows haven’t been at their best this season, with both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell having failed to win a race so far. The team’s early season struggles quickly ruled them out of a title challenge, but those issues look to be a thing of the past.

Now in a fight with Ferrari for third in the Constructors’ Championship, the team delivered another solid performance in Austin, with Hamilton and Russell crossing the line second and fifth respectively.

‘What was holding Mercedes back’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...mercedes-back/


Wolff: I was proud to wear Red Bull colours
24 October, 2022
Jad Mallak

Toto Wolff paid tribute to the late Dietrich Mateschiz, revealing he wore Red Bull colours proudly when he was a GT driver sponsored by the energy drinks company. The Austrian billionaire passed away after a serious illness, the news broken to the Formula 1 paddock and the world on Saturday of the 2022 United States Grand Prix.

After the race on Sunday, as Red Bull honoured their late founder by winning the 2022 F1 Constructors’ Title, Toto Wolff faced the media and was asked about his memories about Mateschitz when he sponsored the Mercedes boss’ earlier racing career. Wolff began: “It was on a car that was sponsored by Red Bull but I was proud to wear those colours as a junior driver, GT driver back in the day, and being a Red Bull driver was something prestigious and I was proud to wear the overalls and the team kit.

“Energy drinks didn’t exist and from then on it got stronger and stronger, and I also remember the price policy,” the Austrian added. “He would never budge when the big supermarket chains would say we can make it cheaper and they would delist him, and he said delist him and then they took him back. Then always the large chunks of profits from that was invested in sport, the guy was just bigger than life,” Wolff said of Mateschitz. “What he has done in Austria for football, for ice hockey, for Leipzig, the racing programme, it is incredible.”

‘Proud to wear Red Bull colours’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/10...-bull-colours/

Carlos Sainz blames George Russell for ‘coming out of nowhere and bumping into me’.
The Ferrari man was caught by Russell as he exited Turn 1 and was sent spinning around the track, sinking from P2 to last.
Sunday 23rd October 2022 11:30 PM
Sam Cooper

Carlos Sainz cut a frustrated figure after once again seeing his race over in the first lap following a collision with George Russell. Sainz lamented the actions of Russell, who received a five-second penalty, and told Sky Sports F1 that “one guy that wasn’t in the battle came out of nowhere and bumped into me.”

“I don’t think you need many words, I think you need images to see exactly what happened and the images speak for themselves,” he said. “I was in the middle of a fight with Max into Turn 1 and suddenly one guy that wasn’t in the battle came from nowhere and bumped into me so that’s it.”

“Our starts haven’t been great because we have an inherent problem with this car, normally P2 in Austin is better than P1. We’ve seen that in many, many years here. My start wasn’t too bad if you compare it to the Mercs, it was Max [Verstappen] that got out really good.”

‘Coming out of nowhere’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/carlos...ll-usgp-crash/


Sainz "extremely frustrated" by costly Russell error
Monday 24 October 2022 12:50
Ewan Gale

Asked for his impression on the incident, Sainz replied: "No impression, I think driver mistakes are driver mistakes. The problem is, I pay the price again and it follows the trend of the whole year with a lap one that doesn't allow me to do the race and doesn't allow me to go for the win and doesn't allow me to keep learning from the car which is extremely frustrating and disappointing.”

"It has been so many races where I don't even complete one lap. It makes it so difficult to make steps forward on race days, which shows how frustrated I am and how my year has been. The speed is there, it is just a very poor year in terms of luck and things happening."

"Extremely frustrated";

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/94...russell-error/


Carlos Sainz expected better from a ‘top-four driver’ in George Russell
Monday 24th October 2022 8:04 PM
Jamie Woodhouse

Carlos Sainz has said the hit from George Russell that eliminated him at Turn 1 in Austin was a mistake a driver of that level should not make.

Sainz claimed his second Formula 1 pole position at the United States Grand Prix, and so with his team-mate Charles Leclerc taking a 10-place grid drop it meant Sainz was leading the Ferrari charge against Max Verstappen and Red Bull, who just needed a win to eliminate Ferrari and claim the Constructors’ title.

Verstappen got away better and had taken the lead from Sainz, but the Spaniard never got the chance to fight back as he was hit by Russell’s Mercedes at the exit of Turn 1, sending him into a spin.

‘Expected better from a top-four driver’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/carlos...ussell-austin/


Toto Wolff fires ‘quite brutal’ accusation at Carlos Sainz after George Russell crash
Toto Wolff has claimed that both drivers have to take an element of blame following George Russell and Carlos Sainz’s Turn 1 collision.
by Jack Devonport
24 October 202224 October 2022

The Spaniard would have been hoping to challenge Verstappen for the win and was distraught to have to retire because of the damage to his car caused by the Mercedes, however Silver Arrows boss Toto Wolff thinks the blame should be shared.

“If I was a steward, I would look at it and it’s maybe, George had a late brake, maybe had a little understeer moment. Then Carlos cut in quite brutally. I don’t know if Max had an energy thing, so yeah it’s a shame, but we need to take it on the chin the five seconds and then the wat he t-boned him, we were surprised that it was not a DNF,” said Wolff.

As alluded to in those comments, Russell was given a five-second penalty for the incident and sustained damage to his front wing, which severely limited the Brit’s capability to fight for significant points in the remainder of the race.

‘T-boned him’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/toto-wolf...russell-crash/


Russell: Contact with Sainz 'inevitable' as expectation goes wrong
24/10/2022, ‎07‎:‎00
Author Jake Nichol
Co-author Dieter Rencken

George Russell believes his first corner collision with United States Grand Prix pole-sitter Carlos Sainz was "inevitable" as he misjudged the Ferrari's intentions. Russell started fourth at Austin, but rammed Sainz broadside at Turn 1 after a poor getaway for the Spaniard left him trying to re-pass Max Verstappen.

Sainz cut back to straight-line the exit of Turn 1, hoping to gain momentum on Max Verstappen in the run through the esses, but was spun 360 by Russell. Ferrari were then forced into retiring Sainz on the opening lap as the contact created a water leak on the F1-75 machine.

Russell was issued a five-second time penalty for the collision and finished a lowly fifth, but also banked the fastest lap bonus point. After the race, he felt there was nothing he could have done to avoid Sainz.

'Inevitable';

https://racingnews365.com/russell-co...ion-goes-wrong

'That was some driving' – Magnussen applauds Vettel's last gasp overtake as Haas finally get back in the points
25 October 2022
Formula 1.

Haas started their home race weekend on a high thanks to a new title sponsorship deal for next season, and they ended it in the ascendency too after scoring their first points since Austria courtesy of Kevin Magnussen’s stellar drive to P8.

The Dane had started 13th and found himself running last after being baulked by the spinning Ferrari of Carlos Sainz on the first lap. He then put in a superb stint as he climbed back through the field, being the only driver to gamble on a one-stop strategy. Although he lost out to the more freshly shod Sebastian Vettel on a thrilling last lap, he was pretty satisfied with how his afternoon went.

“I’m super happy. For us as a team, it’s very important to get these points at our home race in the US – and it’s very big on the weekend that we announce a great title sponsor with MoneyGram – it couldn’t come at a better time,” he said afterwards.

'That was some driving';

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...EEYU6FFpJ.html


The ‘unusual’ moves behind Vettel’s exquisite recovery drive
25/10/2022.
By Scott Mitchell-Malm

Sebastian Vettel’s mighty charge back into the points relied on some “unusual” overtakes after a jack alignment problem wrecked his final pitstop in Formula 1’s United States Grand Prix.

The Aston Martin driver was on course for a top-six finish at Austin and even led two laps as the pitstops played out in arguably the team’s most competitive weekend of the year. But Vettel plunged down the order because of a lengthy pitstop due to a problem getting the front left on.

His car was slightly offset on the front jack, which meant it slipped out of alignment and the front left was slightly difficult to remove and much harder to get on and tighten the nut properly.

‘Exquisite recovery drive’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/the-u...ecovery-drive/


Sebastian Vettel: “Without the slow stop, I think we had sixth place easily in the bag”
October 25, 2022
By Paul Hensby

Sebastian Vettel admitted his adrenaline was pumping hard in the closing stages of Sunday’s United States Grand Prix as he climbed back through the field after a slow pit stop cost him a certain sixth place finish.

“In the end it was a good recovery drive to score four points today,” Vettel said prior to being promoted to seventh. “I really enjoyed the last few laps, especially the final-lap fight with Kevin [Magnussen]. When I crossed the finish line, the adrenaline was really pumping.”

“Without the slow stop, I think we had sixth place easily in the bag so we should focus on the positives of our competitive car pace today. We were strong all race; the start was great and I was up in fifth place early on. It was also nice to lead the race for a while because it has been a while since I was in that position.”

‘Sixth place easily in the bag’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2...ly-in-the-bag/


Jenson Button makes big claim about Sebastian Vettel’s COTA overtake
Jenson Button was left amazed by Sebastian Vettel’s late overtake on Kevin Magnussen, claiming it was one of the best moves that he had ever seen.
25 October 2022
by Jack Devonport

F1 legend Jenson Button was left stunned by the late overtake, telling Sky Sports how impressed he was. “That last move Seb did on Kevin was one of the best moves I have seen, not just in this race, but that I have ever seen,” he exclaimed.

Vettel himself has expressed how much he will miss moments like this, with only three races left in his illustrious racing career. “I definitely had some fun and I had tight battles, especially with Kevin at the end.”

‘Best moves I have seen’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/jenson-bu...cota-overtake/


Aston Martin impressed by Vettel: He's got his mojo back
25/10/2022, ‎13‎:‎25
Author Anna Francis

Despite being only a few races away from F1 retirement, Sebastian Vettel secured his third consecutive top 10 result at the United States Grand Prix, as well as earning the Driver of the Day accolade for a second race in a row.

Aston Martin have praised Sebastian Vettel's performance following the United States Grand Prix, with the team suggesting that the German has "got his mojo back". McCullough believes that Vettel – who announced in September that he will retire from Formula 1 at the end of the 2022 season – is enjoying himself in his final races.

"He really had it hooked up well [during the United States Grand Prix]," McCullough told the F1 Nation podcast. "The car's performing, and then you notice, it made the car a little bit more competitive. "[Both] drivers had great pace at the start of the race, so it was nice to be up there at the front. But yeah, overall, he's got his mojo back and he's enjoying himself. He's relaxed. Hopefully he's [like this] to the end of the year."

‘Mojo back’;

https://racingnews365.com/aston-mart...-his-mojo-back

Opinion: Why Alonso's US Grand Prix penalty sets a worrying precedent.
Fernando Alonso's penalty in the United States Grand Prix means the FIA has boxed itself in should cars be able to continue after suffering damage in future races.
26/10/2022, ‎12‎:‎30
Author Jake Nichol

The very fact that Fernando Alonso was able to continue in the United States Grand Prix after his high-speed shunt with future Formula 1 teammate Lance Stroll was astonishing. After getting airborne for a few seconds, Alonso thankfully landed wheels-side-up and after catching his breath, was able to limp home to the pits for repairs.

He originally believed his race was over, but after the tyres and front wing were changed by his Alpine crew, he returned to the track. In typical Alonso fashion, he then stormed back through the field to claim a strong seventh place and six crucial points for Alpine in their battle for fourth in the Constructors' with McLaren.

However, post-race, Haas lodged an appeal with the stewards against both Alonso and Sergio Perez of Red Bull. The team were unhappy and wanted consistency after both drivers were not given the black and orange flag for an unsafe car as Kevin Magnussen had been given multiple times in the 2022 season.
Alonso's right mirror support was broken in the impact with Stroll, while Perez was carrying a broken front-wing end plate – as Magnussen had – but neither were called in to fix the problems. Perez's case was thrown out by the stewards, but Alonso was slapped with a 10 second stop/go penalty for having a car in an "unsafe condition", which was translated into a 30 second time penalty and dropped him to 15th.

‘A worrying precedent’;

https://racingnews365.com/opinion-wh...ying-precedent


F1’s new controversy is odd, but has major implications.
The Alpine-Haas protests have created Formula 1’s strangest controversy of the season and Fernando Alonso is right to suggest this is an important case for the championship.
10:21 Tue, 25 Oct 2022.
The Race

Haas’s position is entirely understandable given it stems from frustration about the treatment it has received from race control on three occasions this year. Kevin Magnussen has thrice been hit with a black-and-orange mechanical warning flag – which requires a driver to stop and have a problem with the car rectified – because the front wing endplate has been left flapping after sustaining minor damage.

Haas has effectively sought clarification and consistency as three of its races have been badly compromised by a strict application of the regulations on the grounds of the car’s safety being questioned, and it felt this was not the case for Alonso in the US.

It also protested Sergio Perez’s Red Bull for continuing with front wing endplate damage early in the race although that was thrown out as the endplate broke off and the FIA was satisfied that the wing was completely safe without it. That was hardly the most convincing argument. In the Alonso judgement the stewards stressed the responsibility the teams have to ensure their cars are safe.

‘Effectively sought clarification and consistency’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/f1s-n...-implications/


A ‘lesser driver’ than Fernando Alonso would have retired at COTA
Tuesday 25th October 2022 5:00 PM
Michelle Foster

Airborne in a crash that left him with a feeling of “fear” in his stomach, David Coulthard says that Fernando Alonso continued at the United States GP speaks to his “mindset” and commitment. The double World Champion suffered a scary high-speed crash at the Circuit of The Americas.

Bunched up and accelerating after a Safety Car restart, he clipped the rear of Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin as the Canadian made a late defensive move. With his A522 pointing towards the sky, Alonso made a hard landing in which he also hit the Armco barrier as he touched down.

“When I was in the air, I was a bit scared because it was very dangerous,” said the Spaniard. “When I landed on the asphalt, I thought it was race over.” Amazingly it wasn’t, his A522 able to continue.

‘A ‘lesser driver’ than Fernando Alonso would have retired’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/david-...tired-at-cota/


Why disproportionate Fernando Alonso penalty shows FIA must reverse course
Tuesday 25th October 2022 9:00 AM
Henry Valantine

To put it mildly, the two penalties given to Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso at the United States Grand Prix appear pretty disproportionate. Criticism for Stroll over his jink to the left while defending from his future Aston Martin colleague has been widespread, with his late move as Alonso looked to draw alongside causing the two to collide at high speed.

Alonso’s car went airborne as a result, and he even said himself he was “amazed” he could keep going afterwards. Notwithstanding the quite remarkable drive he then put in to go from P17 to P7 come the chequered flag, the fact he was penalised himself after the race for a factor beyond his control is what will have irked Alpine most about the incident.

Not least because of how sizeable the punishment was. For context, Jacques Villeneuve called for Stroll to be given a race ban for his “pathetic and extremely dangerous” move, while four-time former IndyCar champion Dario Franchitti has urged the FIA to take strong action against such moves before one ends fatally.

‘Disproportionate Fernando Alonso penalty’;

https://www.planetf1.com/features/di...lonso-penalty/


Villeneuve blasts Stroll for 'dangerous driving' in US GP
25/10/2022 at 14:23
Phillip van Osten

Jacques Villeneuve says Lance Stroll should be hit with a one-race ban for his "unacceptable" defensive maneuver against Alpine's Fernando Alonso in last Sunday's US Grand Prix. Stroll was leading Alonso down COTA's back straight on lap 22 when the Spaniard got a run on the Canadian. But as Alonso pulled out of the Aston Martin's slipstream, Stroll veered slightly left in a bid to defend his position.

Contact ensued and Alonso's Alpine briefly went airborne before it crashed to the ground and brushed the barriers. However, it miraculously survived any terminal damage while Stroll retired on the spot and was handed a three-place grid drop for next weekend's Mexican Grand Prix. But Villeneuve, writing in his usual column for Formule1.nl, believes the punishment levied upon his countryman doesn't fit the crime.

"We had a pretty exciting race in America but not always for the right reasons," commented the 1997 F1 world champion. "We saw a bit of everything. Masterful driving but also dangerous actions and drivers who drove badly. It was a mix of anything and everything, but that’s what this show is all about. When I talk about dangerous driving, I’m talking about Lance Stroll. He should be suspended for one race for the Fernando Alonso incident.”

‘Calls for one-race ban’;

https://f1i.com/news/458348-villeneu...s-gp-prix.html


Lance Stroll’s defence of Fernando Alonso collision dismissed as ‘absolute nonsense’
Tuesday 25th October 2022 10:00 PM
Sam Cooper

Stroll was explaining his actions to the media and said he believed he had given Alonso plenty of room. However, that reasoning has been described as utter nonsense by BBC commentator Jack Nicholls and former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer. “Stroll said he left Alonso plenty of space, which I get what he’s saying because there were three car lengths to the left Alonso could have gone to, but it’s absolute nonsense from Stroll to say that,” Nicholls said on the Chequered Flag podcast.

“He jinked out at the last minute as Alonso was breezing past. So fully on Stroll and I presume he’ll get some kind of grid penalty for Mexico surely.” Indeed, Stroll was given a three-place penalty by the stewards for the Mexican Grand Prix.

Palmer agreed with his co-host’s assessment and said it was something he was seeing more and more of. “Alonso kept his foot in and I think Fernando didn’t hesitate for a moment in going to the left, which made the impact a lot bigger,” said Palmer. “Obviously Stroll’s argument is nonsense. It’s not about having space to the left, it’s about not moving impossibly late that it can’t be avoided.”

https://www.planetf1.com/news/lance-...ence-nonsense/

Alonso: Thursday penalty hearing 'an important day' for F1.
Alonso: "A samurai must remain calm at all times even in the face of danger."
25/10/2022 at 09:42
Phillip van Osten

The Spaniard also captioned a picture of himself after the race with the words: "A samurai must remain calm at all times even in the face of danger."

Alonso was unimpressed with the FIA's handling of his case in Austin, and the two-time world champion took to social media on Monday to thank his fans for their many messages received in the wake of his demotion on Sunday.

Fernando Alonso says Thursday's hearing in Mexico by the FIA to decide whether Alpine's US Grand Prix counter protest is admissible or not "will be an important day for the sport".

‘A samurai must remain calm’;

https://f1i.com/news/458323-alonso-t...ay-for-f1.html


Fernando Alonso sends warning to the FIA ahead of key penalty ruling.
Fernando Alonso: “Therefore Thursday is an important day for the sport that we love so much, as the decision will dictate if we are going in the right direction for the future.”
26 October 2022
by Jack Devonport

The FIA is due to rule on Alpine’s appeal surrounding Fernando Alonso’s 30-second penalty on Thursday. “For me, it’s all about consistency, the FIA is the regulator and they must be consistent,” Haas boss Guenther Steiner said about the controversy.

Alonso has taken to social media to stress the importance of the FIA making the right call. “It’s one of those rare times in sport that I feel we are all on the same page and share the same opinion towards the rules and regulation,” he posted.

“Therefore Thursday is an important day for the sport that we love so much, as the decision will dictate if we are going in the right direction for the future.”

‘Thursday is an important day’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/fernando-...enalty-ruling/


Alonso Warns FIA’s Decision on Alpine’s Protest Will Impact F1’s Future
Updated October 25, 2022 6:50 PM
By Madeline Coleman Sports Illustrated

The two-time world champion wrote, “It is an important day for the sport as this decision will dictate if we are going in the right direction.” Fernando Alonso warned that the FIA’s decision on Alpine’s protest would have implications on Formula One’s future.

The Spaniard was dealt a post-race penalty stemming from a Haas protest that dropped him from a seventh-place finish to 15th at the U.S. Grand Prix this weekend. Despite being sent airborne from a collision with future teammate Lance Stroll, Alonso was able to finish the race, but his car was damaged. His right-wing mirror ended up falling off his car several laps later.

‘FIA’s Decision on Alpine’s Protest’;

https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/a...ctionheadlines


Penalty Protest Decision with ‘Dictate’ if Formula 1 is ‘Going in the Right Direction’ – Alonso
October 26, 2022
By Paul Hensby

Fernando Alonso feels the outcome of his BWT Alpine F1 Team’s protest over his post-race time penalty in Sunday’s United States Grand Prix will determine whether the FIA Formula 1 World Championship is heading in the right direction when it comes to officiating and regulations.

Prior to receiving his penalty, Alonso had been delighted with seventh place at the Circuit of the Americas, particularly after his collision with Stroll that could have easily seen him retire on the spot.

Not only did he momentarily be launched onto two wheels by the clash, but he also brushed the barrier on the inside of the circuit, luckily without damaging his suspension.

‘Going in the Right Direction’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2...ection-alonso/


Alonso explains 'scary' US GP crash with Stroll before being handed penalty that dropped him out of points
25 October 2022

Fernando Alonso admits he was "amazed" that he was able to continue racing after his “scary” collision with Lance Stroll which saw him briefly air bound in his Alpine.

Starting in 14th – after taking a five-place grid penalty for exceeding his allocation of engine components – Alonso made a steady start on the hard tyre, making it up to seventh in the first stint before a Safety Car – caused by Valtteri Bottas’ spinning onto the gravel – allowed him to get a cheap pit stop.

The Spaniard came out in ninth place, overtaking Pierre Gasly at the restart, before attempting to go past Lance Stroll for P7. However, the two came together resulting in Stroll – who has been handed a three-place grid penalty in Mexico for the incident – retiring from the race while Alonso, much to his surprise, was able to continue, despite his car rearing up into the air and then hitting the barriers.

"Amazed";

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...o3B6DcGXK.html

Martin Brundle criticises ‘injustice’ of Fernando Alonso US GP penalty.
Martin Brundle said the stewards should have more “racers’ common sense” after Fernando Alonso was handed a 30-second penalty.
Tuesday 25th October 2022 3:30 PM
Sam Cooper

Brundle has sympathy for Alonso saying it reminds him of an incident involving the two-time World Champion in 2006. “This reminds me of when Fernando did an outstanding job with a damaged car after a puncture in qualifying at Monza in 2006,” he wrote in his Sky Sports column.

“He was very dubiously penalised five grid places for ‘blocking’ Felipe Massa’s distant Ferrari at which point he angrily said he no longer considered F1 a sport. Sixteen years later he obviously still does but the injustice feels about the same to me. “Rules are rules and overall I support that they are being applied more rigidly, but they need some racers’ common sense to go with them.

“Deciding whose front wing is safe when partly broken and whose isn’t is rather subjective I would have thought, and Felipe Massa for example knows very well what it’s like to be hit by discarded parts.” Alonso made his feelings known, stating that the future integrity of the sport depends on the outcome.

“Racers’ common sense”;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/martin...us-gp-penalty/


TREMAYNE: Alonso’s Austin fightback proved F1 drivers are not the same as us mere mortals
26 October 2022
David Tremayne
Hall of Fame F1 Journalist

That great commentator Toby Moody refers to the stars of MotoGP as ‘aliens’. And he’s spot-on. Racing drivers are an unusual breed, and they don’t always think like normal human beings. There’s a classic bit of black and white film of Manfred von Brauchitsch at the Nurburgring, losing the lead of the German GP when during a pit stop on the 16th lap a dramatic conflagration occurs as the engine spits back as it is restarted and ignites some spilt fuel.

He is physically dragged clear of his flaming Mercedes W154 by team members, and manager Alfred Neubauer beats out the flames on one sleeve of his overalls. Then, when the fire is quelled, the aristocratic Prussian bravely clambers back aboard his foam-smeared car and rejoins the race. Last Sunday one of the most spectacular aspects of a great US GP was the serious shunt between Lance Stroll and his 2023 team-mate Fernando Alonso.

Fernando, meanwhile, made it back to the pits, much to his own surprise. Asked by his race engineer in the immediate aftermath if he was okay, he had replied, “Yes, it’s fine. Very late move.” If you ever wanted to know why drivers are worth so much money, that was a good indication. But even more so was what came next. After he had pitted under the Safety Car he got a set of new hard tyres and a new nose and, despite initial scepticism, rejoined the race. It was that scepticism that made it all so impressive.

‘F1 drivers are not the same as us mere mortals’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...XjiIll0Di.html


PALMER: Alonso’s remarkable COTA recovery was the drive of the season – but was the penalty fair?
26 October 2022
Jolyon Palmer
Former F1 driver

Fernando Alonso had a busy Grand Prix in Austin, surviving a dramatic crash to put in a stunning recovery drive, only to have his points taken away from him in the stewards room. With so much going on in the Spaniard’s race, let’s dissect it bit by bit.

‘Bit by Bit’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...WceSyNvh3.html


Date set for Alpine’s protest of Haas-requested Alonso penalty
Oct 24 2022
By Josh Suttill

Alpine’s protest of Fernando Alonso’s hefty 30-second penalty at the United States Grand Prix will be assessed on the Thursday before Formula 1’s Mexico GP. Alonso initially finished the race in Austin in seventh place after a strong recovery from a clash with Lance Stroll that sent him airborne.

This Thursday at 6pm local time (Mexico City) there will be a video conference to decide if it’s admissible with a team representative from both Haas and Alpine present. If the protest lodged by Alpine is deemed admissible then there will be a separate hearing that will take place at a later date.

‘6pm local time (Mexico City)’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/date-...lonso-penalty/


Alpine’s Otmar Szafnauer: “This weekend has been far from our best”
October 26, 2022
By Paul Hensby

Otmar Szafnauer admitted the United States Grand Prix saw an under par BWT Alpine F1 Team, and after a penalty for Fernando Alonso, the team left the Circuit of the Americas with only a single point for Esteban Ocon.

Alonso was lucky to see the chequered flag at all after briefly going onto two wheels following a high-speed collision with Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team’s Lance Stroll midway through the race in Austin, but he recovered superbly to finish inside the points in seventh.

However, a protest from the Haas F1 Team about a potential unsafe car saw the stewards hand Alonso a thirty-second time penalty that relegated him outside of the top ten, but at the same time promoting Ocon into tenth place, the Frenchman having recovered from a pit lane start.

‘Far from our best’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2...from-our-best/