Circuit of The Americas performs residence to a Dash weekend and a large crowd as Method 1 returns to Austin. A drivers’ favourite observe, it is a 20-turn, undulating problem that options high-speed modifications of route, technical sections and a few massive stops.
Whereas Oliver Bearman has but to race on the residence of the US Grand Prix, it was a bit too good a possibility to go up the possibility for this week’s observe information to truly characteristic a sizzling lap of COTA with a present driver for the Haas crew.
AT A GLANCE
Race distance: 56 laps/191.4 miles
2024 pole time: 1m32.330s (Lando Norris, McLaren-Mercedes)
2024 winner: Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Pirelli tire allotment: The USA Grand Prix would be the second race of the season for which Pirelli is bringing three non-consecutive compounds, the final time being Spa-Francorchamps and the obtainable tires will as soon as once more be the C1 as Exhausting, the C3 as Medium and the C4 as Delicate. In Belgium, dangerous climate meant it was not doable to learn how this alternative may need affected technique and so the occasion at COTA could possibly be the primary actual take a look at of this alternative, which sees the usage of a tougher Exhausting than final 12 months on the American observe, whereas the Medium and Delicate are the identical.
The elevated efficiency distinction between the toughest compound and the center one ought to, theoretically, give rise to 2 eventualities. If drivers favor the C1, the slowest but additionally probably the most constant of the three, then they might run a one-stop race combining it with the C3. However, utilizing the latter together with the C4, with its improved resistance to degradation, would produce faster lap instances however would nearly actually require two stops.
One other similarity with the Belgian spherical is that the Austin weekend can be operating to the Dash format, which suggests groups solely have one hour to attempt the assorted choices over lengthy and brief runs, including to the uncertainty as to how the grand prix would possibly pan out.
MSC CRUISES UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX WEEKEND SCHEDULE (all instances ET):
Friday, October 17
1:25pm – 2:30pm – Observe, ESPN2
5:25pm – 6:30pm – Dash qualifying, ESPN2
Saturday, October 18
12:55pm – 2:00pm – Dash, ESPNews
4:55pm – 6:00pm – GP qualifying, ESPNews
Sunday, October 19
3:00pm – 5:00pm – United States Grand Prix (56 laps or 120 minutes), ABC
