Battle for crown hots up in US
● Formula One returns to Texas ● Verstappen holds narrow lead over Hamilton in title fight
FORMULA One returns to North America on 24 October for the first time since 2019, and the Circuit of the Americas in Texas hosts the next part in one of the closest and most thrilling title fights in years.
The fast and flowing nature of CotA and its 1.2-kilometre straight have traditionally favoured the defending champs, Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton – and that trend will need to continue if they wish to regain the championship lead from Max Verstappen.
The title swung in the Red Bull driver’s favour last time out in Turkey; Hamilton was largely dominant all weekend at Istanbul Park and set the fastest time in qualifying, but he entered the race weekend knowing that he would take a 10-place grid penalty for exceeding his allocation of three combustion engines this season.
Starting 11th in a race which took place on a damp and slowly drying track, he climbed as high as third before a late pit stop to replace bald intermediate tyres saw him drop to fifth. Verstappen started and finished second with an assured display in difficult conditions, so takes a six-point lead into the US round.
The Dutchman’s points haul was only pegged back by Hamilton’s team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who put in a flawless drive out front to grab his 10th F1 win. The Finn, who will move to Alfa Romeo next year, is third in the standings with a now-comfortable 32-point advantage over McLaren’s Lando Norris. Just five rounds follow the US event. In addition to the recent confirmation that F1 will race in Qatar for the first time ever, there are races in Mexico, Brazil, Saudi Arabia (another new venue for F1) and Abu Dhabi.
Looking further ahead, F1 has confirmed a record-breaking 23-race calendar for 2022. The schedule includes a first race in Miami in May, and the British Grand Prix at Silverstone will take place on 3 July. The Imola circuit in Italy retains its spot after races in 2020 and 2021, but the Chinese GP has been dropped again over concerns about pandemic travel restrictions.