The USGP plays host to the penultimate Sprint event of the 2023 F1 season. With a lack of running before the Grand Prix proper, teams had to make educated guesses on the set-up for Sunday’s race itself. And some teams got that a little wrong.
Friday’s Qualifying session saw a shock Ferrari pole, after Red Bull’s Max Verstappen dropped to sixth with a lap time deletion for track limits. Saturday’s Sprint Shootout showed a return to 2023’s norm, with Verstappen qualifying on pole for the Sprint.
The Dutchman then went on to win the race, with Hamilton in P2 and Leclerc in P3. However, the Sprint failed to provide an accurate gauge of the long run race pace of the front running cars, as it was shorter and held later in the day (and thus track temperatures were lower).
Here are five key takeaways from the 2023 Edition of the United States Grand Prix!
5. Updates Not Working for Some Teams
Several teams brought update packages for the USGP. Unfortunately, not all of the upgrades are effective. Haas and Aston Martin both introduced significant enhancements to the aerodynamics of their cars.
In Haas’ case, despite the heavy Red Bull inspiration, the overall relative pace did not seem to improve drastically. The same story could not be said about Aston Martin however. Both cars received the new bits initially, with Alonso reverting to an older spec package for race day itself.
4. Top Teams Closing in on Red Bull
The DRS advantage the Austrian team had has slowly been eroded as the season went on. However the progress made by their rivals at the American race is by far the most significant step thus far.
Where the Red Bulls used to breeze past even the front runners with DRS in battle, the Mercedes, Ferraris and McLarens all appear to now have drastically reduced the performance gap to the championship-winning RB19. Verstappen therefore, had to really work for the overtakes.
3. Double Points for Williams
This is the first time since Belgium 2021 that Williams has scored points with both its cars. The final classifications state that Albon and Sargeant finished 9th and 10th respectively. Whilst Albon has had a stellar season, scoring the bulk of the team’s 26 points, his rookie American teammate has comparatively struggled.
Their recent performances led several other mid-field teams to believe that the Grove-based team has properly caught up, and no longer have an uncompetitive car. And it shows, as they are currently 7th in the constructor’s standings and well ahead of 8th place Alfa Romeo.
2. All Full-Time Drivers Have Now Scored Points
All the 2023 drivers that started the season in their respective seats have now scored points. Logan Sargeant is the latest driver to have done so, scoring a single point at the USGP as a result of Hamilton and Leclerc’s disqualification.
This also means that of all current drivers, only Daniel Ricciardo remains without a point. And his race pace in the US race wasn’t representative anyways, a result of sustaining damage from Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin at the start of his second stint.
1. Disqualification for Hamilton and Leclerc
Excessive plank wear usually results in a slam-dunk DSQ for the drivers involved. And this was no exception. The FIA typically randomly selects cars for compliance checks after the race, and it just so happens that the Mercedes and Ferrari were two of the four cars they decided to scrutinise.
It was found that the plank was worn excessively. Mercedes believed a lack of long runs due to the Sprint format contributed to this, as they were unable to test and accurately monitor for plank wear. The plank’s wear is strictly controlled, and is there to prevent the teams from running their cars too low.
Mexico Grand Prix Next
Formula One heads to Mexico next. The weekend will start on the 27th, with the race being run on the 29th of October. Both titles have already been wrapped up, but the race for P2 continues.
With Hamilton’s disqualification, Perez’s P2 is looking more secure, especially heading to his home race. In the constructor’s standings, McLaren is now ahead of Aston Martin, though it is unlikely that they’d catch Ferrari and Mercedes.
Photo Credit: Red Bull Content Pool, Aston Martin, Williams, Mercedes
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