The reigning world champion emphasized that there will be little time to fine-tune the car, especially with the return of the Sprint race format.
In recent days, particularly following the first-lap contact between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris at the Singapore GP and the resulting controversies, speculation about this year’s Drivers’ Championship has intensified. With the Constructors’ title already secured by McLaren at Marina Bay, the championship fight now seems to focus on the Woking duo, but the looming threat of Max Verstappen remains, not far behind in the standings with six races to go, determined to recover crucial points and secure his fifth consecutive world title.
The return of the Sprint
It is certainly a tough objective, but the #1 is now approaching the United States GP with much more energy compared to the pessimism openly shown after Singapore. The Dutchman acknowledged the progress made leading into Austin: “We made a step forward in Singapore,” he admitted. “We have had a series of very positive races recently, and we want to maintain this momentum, hoping to do even better this weekend. I returned to the factory this week to prepare on the simulator, and the team has been working hard, analyzing areas where we can improve. This circuit is all about finding the right compromise between straight-line speed and downforce for the fast, wide corners, and the bumps can make things tricky. Austin is a fantastic city with great food, so it’s always a fun place to race. It’s another Sprint weekend, so we’ll have to get up to speed quickly because there’s less time to fine-tune things, but it will be a challenge for everyone.”
In Texas to regain form
A challenge for all, then, which also includes his teammate Yuki Tsunoda. Sixth in Baku, which remains his best result of the season, the Japanese driver did not score points in Marina Bay, highlighting a particularly complex season for the #12. He will aim to bounce back this weekend in Texas: “I’m really looking forward to this weekend in Austin. It’s always fun, very demanding off-track but enjoyable. Sooner or later I’ll relax with a classic Texas barbecue, but my full focus is on the track and making the most of this weekend. Sprint weekends bring unique challenges, which means that the work done on the car on Friday really has to count. Since Baku, I feel I’ve gained real confidence in the car, and things have started to click for me and the team—I’ve found a good rhythm. Singapore brought its own battles, but here in Austin, I hope this circuit brings us back to the window where I was starting to deliver my best and get the most out of the car.”
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