Weekly News Roundup & United States Grand Prix Preview

Happy Friday, friends! F1 is back in the US this weekend with one of my favorite races on the calendar. So much excitement ahead - will McLaren finally fight for a win? Does Mercedes truly have the race pace to match McLaren? And what about these Haas upgrades we keep hearing about?

We have another Sprint this weekend, so Quali will be today at 5pm ET. Sprint Shootout and Race tomorrow ahead of the Sunday Grand Prix.

News Roundup

• Norris ‘not so confident’ about McLaren chances in Austin as he prepares for 100th F1 race start

  • Well… way to burst my bubble, Lando. You heard it from the man himself, papaya fans.

  • This does not mean McLaren won’t be challenging for podium places, but there is the fact that this track is different than the previous two. Ferrari will likely be back in form with a hungry Carlos Sainz after a forgettable weekend in Qatar.

• Haas reveals its major F1 United States Grand Prix update

  • Here we go, ladies and gents! The American team has brought their updates package to their home race (the boring Miami GP doesn’t count, go splash around in your fake water if you disagree).

  • The updates to the aerodynamic package include changes to the sidepods, engine cover, and the floor. The car certainly looks beautiful, but whether that beauty translates to performance or not remains to be seen…

  • If you’re an engineering junkie, or just like reading about the technical part of the sport, follow that link for a more in depth review of the Haas updates. Matthew Somerfield (author of the post) is certainly worth a follow on social media, by the way.

• Perez firm over Red Bull F1 future after ‘ultimatum rumor’

  • I’m sure you have all heard the rumors that went a little something like, “If Checo doesn’t secure P2 in the championship, Red Bull will replace him with Ricciardo.”

  • While that would not be surprising at all given the team’s track record (and Helmut Marko’s temperament), Checo has shut the rumors down.

  • The 33-year-old driver has shown he has ability with a solid start to the season, but he has fallen off significantly. This has the trend during his time with Red Bull/

• The FIA is increasing the maximum fine for drivers from €250,000 to €1,000,000

  • This is absolutely ridiculous, but it brought about this hilarious quote from Kevin Magnussen.

Race Preview: United States Grand Prix

Here we are, folks! What an amazing race coming at the beautiful (and bumpy) Circuit of the Americas. Here’s what I’m expecting:

1. Haas is back baby! Where they ever there, though? Expect to see the American team in solid form this weekend after bringing their massive updates package. I don’t expect to see them near the front, but I’m hopeful that Hulk can be fighting for the points in both races this weekend.

2. Red Bull to dominate. By Red Bull, I really just mean Max. The slower speed corners may have hurt them in Singapore, but the team has historically performed well here (at least in the last two years). Let’s see if Checo can keep up.

3. Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren in a close battle. I know Lando said he doesn’t expect much out of the car this weekend, but my heart will not allow myself to believe him. Both McLaren drivers have been driving incredibly well, so expect to see that trend continue. Mercedes, on the other hand, have a real chance to fight for podiums on both days. And do not count out Ferrari. You saw how well they did in Singapore - expect a hungry Carlos Sainz on Saturday and Sunday.

4. Lewis to podium on Sunday. I don’t have a ton of confidence for the the Saturday Sprint, as Lewis has not done as well in Quali this year. However, I fully expect to see him on the podium on Sunday.

5. Aston Martin to be in the fight. I think we will see Alonso in the mix a little on Sunday, but don’t expect him to put up much of a fight for the podium. I’m guessing he will be sprinkled in between the McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari drivers - say P5 - P7? And, do I need to say what I expect from Stroll? I don’t think so…

6. Alpine to carry on with with consistency. The performances have been solid from the French team as of late. They haven’t made a ton of noise, but they are always in the fight for points. Expect to see both drivers fighting in the P7 - P12 range.

7. Alfa Romeo not likely to impress. Despite a double points finish in Qatar, I don’t expect much from the Alfa’s this weekend. Expect both drivers to be out before we make it to Q3.

8. Alpha Tauri and Williams to be toward the back. There are a few reasons why I hate typing this. First, this is the time for Logan Sargeant to shine. Second, Danny Ric returning for one of his favorite races on the calendar. Third, the Williams livery is unbelievable this weekend (see below). However, I just don’t think we will see much from either team this weekend.

Way too Early Bold Predictions

Quali

1. VER

2. LEC

3. RUS

Sprint

1. VER

2. SAI

3. NOR

Race

1. VER

2. LEC

3. HAM

Yes… I know those are some wonky predictions. Just you watch!

Social Media Post of the Week

The Williams livery screams FREEDOM. I love it!

Thanks for reading The Grandstand Gazette! As always, I hope you enjoy the race this weekend! If you want a chance at naming this Monday’s newsletter, send me your race review thoughts on Sunday with a catchy/funny/relevant phrase that will be considered for the name. If you’d like, we will also give you a shoutout as the winner. Just drop us a note with your name and state/country of residence (it can be fake, or you can remain anonymous).

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