The 2024 F1 United States Grand Prix at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas, scheduled for October 18-20, promises an exciting weekend packed with racing and drama. This weekend will be pivotal for several drivers and teams. In light of McLaren’s lead in the Constructors' Championship, Lando Norris will seek his third win to move closer to the championship title.

Norris, with two wins under his belt, will go into the weekend with confidence. After securing his first victory in Miami, followed by a second win in Singapore, he is now in a strong position to challenge for more victories. At the Austin Grand Prix, Norris will be looking to maintain his momentum, with the McLaren team providing him with a fast car. Norris will not only aim for a win in Austin but also for the championship title, with Max Verstappen as his main rival. Every single point will be crucial here.

McLaren’s rise in the Constructors' Championship has been one of the most remarkable turnarounds in recent seasons. Their advancements in car development have seen them challenge Red Bull, with both Norris and Oscar Piastri winning races. For McLaren, the Austin Grand Prix represents another crucial race to extend their lead in the Constructors' standings. Given their form, both drivers will aim for podium finishes to further challenge Red Bull.

Competition from Rivals

Even with McLaren at the top, the competition will be fierce. Max Verstappen, though no longer dominating as in previous seasons, remains a major threat to Norris in every race. Sergio Pérez will aim to boost Red Bull’s chances in the Constructors' Championship and avoid mistakes. Meanwhile, Ferrari will seek redemption after their struggles in Singapore. Despite a promising start to the weekend, everything went downhill, with Carlos Sainz crashing and Charles Leclerc having his time removed due to track limits during qualifying. Ferrari is also bringing upgrades that could be crucial for their performance.

Another driver looking for a better weekend is Lewis Hamilton. Although he qualified third in Singapore, his race strategy ultimately failed him. Hamilton chose a set of used soft tires, leading to an early pit stop, which dropped him behind his teammate. Throughout the rest of the race, Hamilton struggled to keep up with Piastri.

Sergio Pérez will also be seeking a stronger performance after a good weekend in Baku was followed by a crash with Sainz. In Singapore, Pérez started in P13 and managed to gain three places, finishing tenth, as he wasn’t able to get more out from the car.

Haas will be looking to score more points, as they did with Nico Hülkenberg in Singapore. The team is now seventh in the Constructors' standings, only three points behind RB in sixth.

A driver to watch is Franco Colapinto, who will try to score more points in his fourth race. Meanwhile, Liam Lawson in the RB car will be trying to perform his best, having stepped in for Daniel Ricciardo.