Bad news for Mercedes: George Russell starts from the pit lane.
BREAKING: George Russell will start the United States Grand Prix from the pit lane due to repairs made after his qualifying crash#F1 #USGP https://t.co/NSybwEUu3s
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 20, 2024
Revised starting grid:
1. Lando Norris
2. Max Verstappen
3. Carlos Sainz
4. Charles Leclerc
5. Oscar Piastri
6. Pierre Gasly
7. Fernando Alonso
8. Kevin Magnussen
9. Sergio Perez
10. Yuki Tsunoda
11. Nico Hulkenberg
12. Esteban Ocon
13. Lance Stroll
14. Alex Albon
15. Franco Colapinto
16. Valtteri Bottas
17. Lewis Hamilton
18. Zhou Guanyu
19. Liam Lawson*
Pit lane. George Russell**
Report on that Saturday sprint race, too.
And in the garages, too.
Before any running began on Friday the FIA confirmed it was looking into complaints that Red Bull may have been gaining an advantage by using a device that allowed them to adjust the bib, also known as the tea tray – the front of the floor of the car – after qualifying to achieve a better race setup, when regulations forbid changes to the car under conditions.
It’s been getting tetchy in the mind games stakes.
Giles Richards all over the detail in previewing the final six races of the F1 season.
As things stand Norris and McLaren have the quickest car on the grid in the MCL38. More importantly, and key to Norris’s hopes, is what a stable platform it provides across a variety of circuits and how swiftly the team are able to dial it into local conditions such that it is up to pace early in the weekend.
The starting grid positions:
1. Lando Norris
2. Max Verstappen
3. Carlos Sainz
4. Charles Leclerc
5. Oscar Piastri
6. George Russell
7. Pierre Gasly
8. Fernando Alonso
9. Kevin Magnussen
10. Sergio Perez
11. Yuki Tsunoda
12. Nico Hulkenberg
13. Esteban Ocon
14. Lance Stroll
15. Alex Albon
16. Franco Colapinto
17. Valtteri Bottas
18. Lewis Hamilton
19. Zhou Guanyu
20. Liam Lawson* (back of grid)
To Austin, Texas, and we have a ten-gallon hat of a race for you. Lando Norris in pole, Max Verstappen alongside him, with signs of a Red Bull revival. Verstappen winning the sprint race edged him to 339 points, with Norris on 285 in the drivers’ standings. That could be vital with the McLaren still expected to be the quicker car.
Lights out at 8pm UK time, 2pm Austin, X time. Join me.
The drivers’ standings:
1. Max Verstappen - 339 points
2. Lando Norris - 285 points
3. Charles Leclerc - 250 points
4. Oscar Piastri - 237 points
5. Carlos Sainz - 197 points
6. Lewis Hamilton - 177 points
7. George Russell - 159 points
8. Sergio Perez - 144 points
9. Fernando Alonso - 62 points
10. Nico Hulkenberg - 25 points
11. Lance Stroll - 24 points
12. Yuki Tsunoda - 22 points
13. Alex Albon - 12 points
14. Daniel Ricciardo - 12 points
15. Kevin Magnussen - 8 points
16. Pierre Gasly - 8 points
17. Ollie Bearman - 7 points
18. Esteban Ocon - 5 points
19. Franco Colapinto - 4 points
20. Zhou Guanyu - 0 points
21. Logan Sargeant - 0 points
22. Valtteri Bottas - 0 points