US GP FP1 Results | Ferraris lead, Verstappen ahead of Norris.
The US Grand Prix weekend begins positively for the Tifosi in Austin, Texas. Carlos Sainz managed to top FP1 on the soft tyres with a lap time 1:33.602, with Charles Leclerc just finishing behind his teammate. Max Verstappen rounded off the Top 3 in the only practice session of the day.
18 Oct 2024
Kada Sarkozi
GPblog.com

McLaren opted for using the soft tyres late in the session only, and Lando Norris finished in P4. The Briton has struggled so far in Turn 12, making errors twice in that corner. It has also been a challenging day for the Mercedes drivers. Lewis Hamilton has spun in Turn 4 but had enough space not to crash his car, while George Russell made mistakes into Turn 1. The two-time Grand Prix winner has also spun in the aforementioned corner.

‘Positive for the Tifosi’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/30686...of-norris.html


United States GP: Free Practice 1 Results
19 Oct 2024
Mat Coch
Speedcafe

Full results from Free Practice 1 from the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas.

Pos Num Driver Team Laps Best Diff
1 55 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 24 1:33.602
2 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 26 1:33.623 0.021
3 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing 22 1:33.855 0.253
4 4 Lando Norris McLaren 24 1:33.868 0.266
5 81 Oscar Piastri McLaren 25 1:33.908 0.306
6 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 21 1:33.963 0.361
7 63 George Russell Mercedes 26 1:34.093 0.491
8 20 Kevin Magnussen Haas 24 1:34.096 0.494
9 14 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin 23 1:34.112 0.510
10 22 Yuki Tsunoda RB 20 1:34.313 0.711

‘Full results’;

https://speedcafe.com/united-states-...ice-1-results/


Verstappen pleased with upgrades in P3, as Norris finishes just behind
18 Oct 2024
Matt Gretton
GPblog.com

Carlos Sainz and Ferrari impressed by securing the fastest time in the first free practice session for the United States Grand Prix. Max Verstappen will be pleased with his Red Bull updates as he beat Lando Norris in the opening session.

‘Verstappen pleased’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/30685...ts-norris.html


F1 - 2024 United States Grand Prix - Thursday Press conference transcript.
PART ONE – Carlos SAINZ (Ferrari), Esteban OCON (Alpine), Kevin MAGNUSSEN (Haas)
PART TWO – Alex ALBON (Williams), Liam LAWSON (RB), Lando NORRIS (McLaren)
17.10.24
FIA (Press Release)

Q: Carlos, why don't we start with you? how was the break? I gather you've been comparing yourself on a bike to the world number one? Carlos SAINZ: Comparing, I don't think it's the right word. I've been suffering next to the world number one, that by the way is in incredible form and an incredible moment for Tadej Pogacar, now that he's killing it in cycling. And I had the brilliant idea to go on a recovery ride for him. For me, it was the toughest ride of my life. He was on recovery mode after winning the world champs. And yeah, his recovery ride is still my zone five heart rate, zone four, zone five. So it just shows the difference. I mean, we are athletes in our sport. Obviously what we do is special in terms of reflexes and car handling and skills, but what he does on top of a bike is just incredible. And anyone who's been on a bike before, I cannot imagine how much this guy pushes on a bike.

Q: Alright, well, good luck with that. Thank you. Esteban, let's come to you now. First of all, how was the break? Are you feeling refreshed? Any cycling for you? Esteban OCON: It was good, thank you. Cycling, not as hard probably as Carlos, but, yeah, trained well, rested well, spent time with family and friends and, yeah, ready to go again. I mean, it can sound silly, but, you know, it makes a difference to how ready and how much energy all the team have coming into these last races and we'll see hopefully how that goes for us.

Q: Now, Haas has new parts here this weekend. It seems that medium downforce tracks suit your car as well. So do you enter this weekend with quite a lot of confidence? Kevin MAGNUSSEN: I think this year we've been pretty strong at most circuits. There has been a little bit more of a competitive edge at medium downforce tracks. This one is kind of close to high downforce, so we're not so sure what we're going to run. It's not a bad track for us, I think. There's some upgrades on the car and we're excited to see if they're going to be good again. I think this year we've brought a few upgrades that have been working, so that's been a really good trend. We're in a tight fight with RB for P6 in the Constructors’ and we're very motivated to take that battle to them and see if we can. If we can beat them, you know, Williams are not that far behind us as well. So there's, you know, we're focused both in front and behind. So it's pretty interesting.

Q: Liam, let's start with you. Welcome back to the FIA Press Conference. Good to see you again. Now, how has the past month been for you since it was announced that you were going to replace Daniel Ricciardo? Full of anticipation, I would imagine. Liam LAWSON: Yeah, it's just been busy, I would say. It was strange to have a gap at this point of the year, I think. Obviously, the gap for me was filled up with quite a lot of stuff. So yeah, it's just preparing as much as possible. It's a difficult time to come into the season. Obviously, Sprint weekend this weekend, new track, end of the season. So yeah, just trying to be as ready as possible.

Q: Alex, why don't we come to you next? The tonne is up. 100 races in Formula 1. Many congratulations. Lots of memories, I'm sure. Is there one race or two races that... stand out? Alex ALBON: Not really. The first race. The first race is always a big moment. And then my first podium is always nice. But yeah, it's strange. I feel like 100 races. when we do so many races a year now, it doesn't actually take a lot. It's four years now in Formula 1, four and a half. It's gone by very quickly. I think somebody told me that I've overtaken Sir Jackie Stewart, which is a pretty strange feeling.

Q: Lando, I'll bring it on to you now. Can I ask you about the break, first of all, the long break, the four weeks that we've had since Singapore? How did you use that time? Was it a frustrating time? You just wanted to keep the momentum going from the last race? Or did you use it for a time for reflection or improving the car? Just tell us a little bit about what you've been doing. Lando NORRIS: A little bit of everything, honestly. I mean, after Singapore, I just wanted to keep going. We were in a good rhythm. I think we still are in a good rhythm and have been for quite a while. So a little bit of that. But everyone needs a break. And it's not just for me, but for my whole team, the whole team around me, everyone back in the factory. It's nice to kind of regroup and put our heads down again. Yeah, a mixture of things. Obviously, getting ready for the next few races and the end of the season, but also getting some time to relax and spending some time with my friends.

‘Press conference’;

https://www.fia.com/news/f1-2024-uni...nce-transcript


Max Verstappen protest to continue at F1 US GP, hints how FIA can end it
18.10.24
James Phillips
Motorsport Week

Max Verstappen will continue his vow of silence during FIA Formula 1 media sessions at the United States Grand Prix – but he has implied a way out of the situation. Verstappen has since confirmed he will continue to speak less and hold his own private roundtables, in a further blow to the governing body’s credibility.

He also revealed how his standoff with the FIA could end, calling on President Mohammed Ben Sulayem to contact him for a conversation, which has yet to happen. “I have not heard anything [from the FIA], so for me it doesn’t really change anything,” Verstappen told media including Motorsport Week. “With the situation. I mean, I also have to talk less, so it is fine for me,” said Verstappen.

“At the end of the day, everyone has their own opinion, but it is quite clear that, like I said already it was silly stuff.”

“Talk less, fine for me”;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...ia-can-end-it/


Sergio Perez comes out swinging to shut down 'false information'
Sergio Perez's Red Bull future has been in doubt after an underwhelming season.
Oct 18, 2024
Jack McEachen
Daily and Sunday Express

Sergio Perez has furiously claimed that he will “100 per cent” be at Red Bull next season and shut down "false information" suggesting otherwise, despite a host of young drivers vying for his spot alongside Max Verstappen. There had even been whispers around the paddock that Perez would retire from F1 this season and announce his intentions to do so at his home race, the Mexican GP at the end of the month.

But he has hit back at the suggestion that he is going anywhere. “Sometimes people just link these rumours and a lot of people pick it up, especially back in Mexico, with the Mexican Grand Prix coming up I didn’t want my fans to be misled into false information,” he said. “I just wanted to make it clear that I 100 per cent will be here next year. I have my contract and I will fulfil it and that’s not in my mind. In my mind is to sort out the issues we have for the moment with the car.”

“100% will be here next year”;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...future-F1-news