USA (COTA) Grand Prix

The good news is that RIC is back after missing five races due to breaking his hand in Holland. (Well, good unless you’re LAW)

Following on from Qatar two weeks ago, STR received a warning from the FIA’s compliance officer after appearing to shove a team member [racefans], Bernie Ecclestone was given a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to fraud [BBC], and there has been some back and forth between F1 and FIA over who decides on Andretti’s bid to become an F1 team, and between Whiny Spice (Horner) and Marko about the pensioner’s involvement with the Red Bull team.

The United States Grand Prix (i.e. COTA, not to be confused with Miami or Las Vegas, which is coming next month) is another of the six sprint format weekends, which means just one practice session before Qualifying for the race.

Qualifying

Qualifying session 1 (Q1)
Air temperature 35°C; track 42°C
GAS 1:37.529
ZHO 1:37.293
BOT 1:36.843
Does STR still have a brake problem? When the mechanics went to change tyres a huge amount of brake dust flew up
NOR 1:36.640
LEC 1:36.622
VER 1:36.470
HUL 1:36.235
GAS 1:36.158
LEC 1:36.119
SAR’s lap time deleted for exceeding track limits
SAI 1:35.824
5mins left; bottom 5 are ALB, MAG, RIC, ZHO, SAR
Everyone except SAI on track
VER 1:35.346
HAM 1:35.091
Chequered flag; bottom 5 are TSU, MAG, RIC, ZHO, SAR
SAR P14, ALO P16
ZHO P6, BOT P16
RIC P10, SAR P16
MAG P6, PIA P16
BOT P9, STR P16
TSU P5, OCO P16
PIA P10, ALB P16
OCO P12, HUL P16
STR P18
ALO P17
Back of the grid: HUL, ALO, ALB, STR, SAR

Replay of STR’s tyre change reveals the clouds came from the wheel guns, not the brakes

Qualifying session 2
LEC 1:35.888
HAM 1:35.779
RUS 1:35.759
PIA 1:35.576
NOR’s lap time deleted
VER 1:35.491
5mins left; bottom 5 are RIC, MAG, ZHO, SAI, NOR
LEC 1:35.004
(NOR P4)
Chequered flag; bottom 5 are TSU, MAG, BOT, RIC, ZHO
ZHO P9, HAM P11
TSU P9, RUS P11
BOT P13
HAM P3, ZHO P11
RUS P9, TSU P11
Middle of the grid: TSU, ZHO, BOT, MAG, RIC

Top 10 shootout is between LEC, VER, HAM, SAI, OCO, NOR, GAS, PIA, RUS, PER

Qualifying session 3
A mix of cars on fresh soft tyres and some on used softs
VER 1:35.081
LEC 1:34.829
NOR P3
SAI P3
PIA P5
OCO P6
GAS P4
RUS P5
PER P5
RUS’ lap time deleted
HAM P2
Order after the first run: LEC, HAM, VER, SAI, GAS, PER, NOR, PIA, OCO, RUS
2mins left; all 10 cars are on track
LEC 1:34.723
NOR P2
Chequered flag
SAI P4
VER 1:34.718 but he ran wide in Turn 19
PIA P7
OCO P6
VER’s lap time deleted; drops to P5
GAS P6
PER P8
HAM P3
RUS P5
Front of the grid: LEC, NOR, HAM, SAI, RUS, VER, GAS, OCO, PER, PIA

Provisional grid for Sunday’s race: LEC, NOR, HAM, SAI, RUS, VER, GAS, OCO, PER, PIA, TSU, ZHO, BOT, MAG, RIC, HUL, ALO, ALB, STR, SAR

Sprint Shootout (quali for Sprint)

Air temperature 32°C; track 36°C; humidity 24%

Sprint Qualifying session 1 (SQ1)
Everyone has to run on medium tyres (same as for SQ2)
HAM 1:36.402
LEC 1:36.302
VER 1:35.997
3mins left; bottom 5 are BOT, MAG, RIC, STR, SAR
Chequered flag; bottom 5 are BOT, MAG, RIC, STR, SAR
STR P10, ALO P16
ALO P6, HUL P16
HUL P14, TSU P16
MAG P16
BOT P17
SAR P19
RIC P15, HUL P16
Back of the grid: HUL, MAG, BOT, TSU, SAR

Replay of RUS impeding LEC; looks like he’ll get a penalty for the race
Also TSU blocked HAM – did HAM tap the rear of the AlphaTauri?
Long list of drivers who will be investigated for going too slowly on their out laps

Sprint Qualifying session 2
Stewards have decided not to investigate the HAM/TSU incident
VER 1:35.181
RUS runs wide; he’ll lost that P7 time … no, he’s just on the line
VER loses the tail in Turn 9, spins around and recovers
Chequered flag; bottom 5 are ZHO, ALB, HAM, GAS, RIC (the last 4 all yet to set a time)
HAM P8, STR P11
GAS P7, OCO P11
ALB P10, ALO P11
ZHO P14
STR P13
RIC P11
Middle of the grid: RIC, ALO, OCO, STR, ZHO

Top 10 shootout is between VER, LEC, SAI, NOR, PER, PIA, GAS, RUS, HAM, and ALB

Sprint Qualifying session 3
Everyone on soft tyres for SQ3
VER 1:34.538
NOR P2
PIA P3
GAS P4
LEC P2
ALB P5
Chequered flag
SAI P5
PER P6
HAM P3
RUS P8
Provisional grid for the Sprint: VER, LEC, HAM, NOR, PIA, SAI, PER, RUS, ALB, GAS, RIC, ALO, OCO, STR, ZHO, HUL, MAG, BOT, TSU, SAR

Sprint Race

Grid: VER, LEC, HAM, NOR, PIA, SAI, PER, ALB, GAS, RIC, RUS*, ALO, OCO, STR, ZHO, HUL, MAG, BOT, TSU, SAR
*RUS was given a 3-place penalty for impeding LEC

VER leads everyone away on the formation lap
Everyone on used medium compound tyres except ALB (new mediums) and SAI (softs)
VER rushes away from the line but then slowed right down in Turn 1, causing everyone to close up

01/19: VER squeezes LEC off the track before Turn 1
HAM runs wide in T1; rejoins ahead of LEC
ALO, STR and HUL side by side
SAI takes P4 from NOR, making the most of the soft tyres while they last

02: VER, HAM, LEC, SAI, NOR, PIA, PER, RUS, GAS, ALB, OCO, RIC, STR, MAG, ALO, HUL, TSU, ZHO, BOT, SAR
PER closing on PIA

03: DRS enabled
RUS all over PER’s rear wing

04: PIA defends into T1 but PER elbows his way through for P6
RUS also passes PIA
Replay of SAI nudging PIA off the start line

05/19: VER, HAM, LEC, SAI, NOR, PER, RUS, PIA, GAS, ALB
HAM has DRS behind VER
GAS closing on PIA… and the Alpine takes P8

06: NOR tucked up behind SAI
Radio from HAM saying VER has gone off “quite a few times” but there’s no mention from the race stewards
RUS given 5sec penalty for passing PIA while off the track

07: VER’s lead over 2sec
ALB passes PIA for P9
NOR alongside SAI but the Ferrari hangs on to P4

08: TSU dives inside MAG; takes P16; pushes MAG off track; MAG rejoins ahead of TSU

09: Black and white flag for PIA for exceeding track limits

10/19: VER, HAM, LEC, SAI, NOR, PER, RUS*, GAS, ALB (*5sec penalty to be applied)
NOR finally gets past SAI to take P4

11: PER closing on SAI… easily past for P5 – soft tyres were the wrong choice

13: VER now 4sec clear of HAM, who in turn is 4sec ahead of LEC
RUS has DRS behind SAI

14: RUS inside SAI into T1 but SAI has the inside line for T2 and reclaims P6
RIC around the outside of STR to take P12

15/19: VER, HAM, LEC, NOR, PER, SAI, RUS*, GAS, ALB, PIA, OCO, RIC, ALO, STR, TSU, HUL, ZHO, BOT, MAG, SAR (*RUS effectively P8)
VER’s lead now 5sec

16: RUS still stuck behind SAI

17: Radio from STR, “I need to box – I’ve got no brakes”
STR pits, retires

18: RUS still has DRS behind the Ferrari but can’t find a way around SAI

19/19: VER’s lead now 8sec; HAM over 7.5sec ahead of LEC
ALB under 6sec behind RUS, so he might steal P8 when RUS’ 5sec penalty is applied
ZHO given 5sec penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage

VER takes the chequered flag
HAM P2
Provisional result of the Sprint: VER, HAM, LEC, NOR, PER, SAI, (RUS*) GAS, RUS; ALB, PIA, OCO, RIC, ALO, TSU, HUL, BOT, ZHO*, MAG, SAR; DNF: STR
*After 5sec penalties applied for RUS and ZHO

Race

Grid: LEC, NOR, HAM, SAI, RUS, VER, GAS, OCO, PER, PIA, TSU, ZHO, BOT, RIC, ALB, SAR; MAG, HUL, ALO and STR all start from the pit lane following set-up changes
Everyone starting on medium tyres except HUL and STR on hards
Air temperature 30°C; track 41°C
LEC leads everyone away on the formation lap

01/56: NOR inside LEC and leads out of Turn 1
PIA looking to pass VER

02: NOR, LEC, SAI, HAM, VER, PIA, OCO, RUS, GAS, PER, TSU, ZHO, RIC, ALB, BOT, SAR, MAG, HUL, ALO, STR
PER takes P9 from GAS
RUS around the outside of OCO… no, the Alpine holds on to P7

03: DRS enabled
NOR fastest lap 1:41.982
NOR has opened a 2.3sec lead
RUS past OCO into Turn 11
PER past OCO too

04: GAS closing on teammate OCO
HAM makes a nice move to steal P3 from SAI

05/56: NOR, LEC, HAM, SAI, VER, PIA, RUS, PER, GAS, TSU, OCO, ZHO, RIC, ALB, BOT, MAG, SAR, ALO, HUL, STR
VER past SAI for P4
HAM has DRS behind LEC
OCO has fallen all the way to P20 due to the damage to his sidepod

06: LEC tries to defend but HAM takes P2

07: OCO pits, retires the Alpine
Replay shows OCO and PIA collide, both hitting the other’s sidepod

08: HAM about 3sec behind NOR
ALO dives inside SAR for P16

09: Radio from PER reporting RUS “going off a lot”
So far the stewards have penalised HAM, MAG and HUL for exceeding track limits… and now ALO

10/56: NOR, HAM, LEC, VER, SAI, PIA, RUS, PER, GAS, TSU
ZHO pits from P11, an early stop; hard tyres go on; rejoins P19
PIA slowing; he’s told they have to retire the car

11: ALB, BOT and MAG all pit; all take on hards
PIA pits, retires the McLaren

12: Radio from PER whining about RUS again; shame he doesn’t focus on his own driving

13: HAM f/lap 1:41.879
SAR dives inside MAG into Turn 1 but the Dane has his elbows out and keeps P17

14: SAR makes another move and this time claims P17

15/56: NOR, HAM, VER, LEC, SAI, RUS, PER, GAS, TSU, RIC, ALO, STR, HUL, ZHO, ALB, BOT, SAR, MAG; out: PIA, OCO
HAM just under 2sec behind NOR; VER is 4.5sec behind the Mercedes

16: Radio from NOR reporting he’s struggling with balance in Turns 8 and 9; he’s advised to avoid the kerbs there, and that the wind is inconsistent

17: VER pits from P3; mediums go on, so he’ll have to stop again; rejoins P9
McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari prepare for their stops

18: NOR pits; hards; P4
SAI pits too; mediums; P8
PER pits; mediums; P11

19: GAS pits from P5; mediums; P12
VER f/lap 1:40.989
Radio for HAM asking if he can go another 5 laps on these mediums; HAM says he’s not sure
Radio for RUS asking the same; he says yes
HAM locks up his front left, runs a little wide

20/56: VER f/lap 1:40.809
ALO pits from P10; mediums; P16

21: HAM pits from P1; hards; rejoins P5 – the front-right was a bit slow going on
SAI f/lap 1:40.667
NOR passes RUS for P2 (RUS has yet to pit)

22: RUS pits from P3; hards; P8 with GAS right on his tail
GAS has a look around the outside but RUS runs him wide

23: RIC pits from P7; hards; P15
LEC is the only one yet to pit

24: LEC pits from P1; hards; P6
ALO takes P10 from ZHO
Black and white flag for MAG for exceeding track limits

25/56: NOR, VER, HAM, SAI, PER, LEC, RUS, GAS, TSU, ALO, ZHO, ALB, BOT, SAR, RIC, STR, HUL, MAG; out: PIA, OCO
NOR locks up; VER now has DRS behind the McLaren

26: Radio for HAM telling him the tyres could be pushed more; “I’m trying”

27: Radio for ZHO telling him to let teammate BOT past; BOT takes P12
Radio from HAM, “You’ve given me a hell of a gap to close”

28: NOR runs a little wide; VER dives inside and takes P1

Half distance

29: Incident involving SAR and STR under investigation

30/56: VER, NOR, HAM, SAI, PER, LEC, RUS, GAS, TSU, ALO, ALB, STR, SAR, RIC, HUL, MAG, BOT, ZHO; out: PIA, OCO
ALB pits, followed by MAG

31: NOR just hanging on to DRS behind VER
Radio from NOR reporting VER exceeding track limits

33: VER has put his foot down, opened the gap to NOR

34: Radio from VER swearing at his engineer about the brakes

35/56: NOR pits from P2; more hards; rejoins P6

36: VER pits from P1; hards; P3 just ahead of NOR
SAI pits too; hards; P7

37: HAM, PER, LEC, VER, NOR, RUS, SAI, GAS, ALO, STR

38: PER pits from P2; hards; P7
GAS pits; hards; P10
SAI f/lap 1:40.575
SAI takes P5 from RUS

39: HAM pits from P1; mediums; P4
NOR f/lap 1:40.025
VER inside LEC for P1
NOR passes LEC too

40/56: VER, NOR, LEC, HAM, SAI, RUS…who pits; mediums; rejoins P9
NOR f/lap 1:39.985
PER f/lap 1:39.881

41: PER f/lap 1:39.737
LEC is the only front-runner yet to make their second stop
Radio for VER telling him where he’s losing time compared to PER; the spoiled child swears at him

42: SAR given black and white flag for exceeding track limits

43: HAM f/lap 1:39.582
HAM’s right on LEC’s rear wing

44: HAM now P3; he’s on mediums whereas VER and NOR are on hard tyres
Radio for HAM telling him their forecast is “P2, maybe the win”

45/56: VER, NOR, HAM, LEC, SAI, PER, RUS, GAS, ALO, TSU, STR, ALB, HUL, RIC, SAR, BOT, ZHO, MAG
Radio for SAI asking him whether to go with Plan C or D; SAI doesn’t seem impressed with either option

46: HAM slowly reeling in NOR
SAR takes P14 from RIC
Radio for VER telling him his pace is the same as HAM’s; the brat sounds pretty flustered

47: HAM under 2sec behind NOR

48: NOR has been warned to prepare his battery so he can defend when HAM attacks
STR around the outside of TSU; the AlphaTauri makes a late move under braking
HAM alongside NOR but the McLen
Radio from ALO, “Rear suspension failure”!

49: HAM attacks into T1 but NOR defends – was that a bit late?
HAM takes P2
RUS f/lap 1:39.393
Radio for ALO telling him they’re not seeing any problem

50/56: VER, HAM, NOR, LEC, SAI, PER, RUS, GAS, STR, TSU, ALO, ALB, HUL, SAR, BOT, ZHO, MAG, RIC
SAI has DRS behind teammate LEC
Radio for ALO telling him they can see a problem with the floor
Radio for LEC telling him to let SAI pass
SAI takes P4
ALO pits, retires

51: RIC f/lap 1:39.366 on soft tyres
Radio from LEC, he wants to talk after the race because he’s not happy about having to let SAI pass him
ALB given black and white flag for exceeding track limits
Radio from SAI saying he sees NOR is slow, “let’s go!”

52: VER 4.8sec ahead of HAM
5sec penalty for ALB for track limits
PER has DRS behind LEC

53: PER takes P5 from LEC
Radio from ALB complaining he has a lot of vibration

54: HAM 3.6sec behind VER; only 3 laps left and he’s only 1sec/lap faster than VER
Radio for VER telling him the gap; more childish screaming from the “world champion”; pathetic

55/56: VER, HAM, NOR, SAI, PER, LEC, RUS, GAS, STR, TSU, ALB, SAR, HUL, BOT, ZHO, MAG, RIC; out: ALO, PIA, OCO
VER’s lead now down to 2sec as they lap some backmarkers

56: Gap is down to 1.8sec but it’s the final lap
VER gets DRS as he laps ZHO

Chequered flag
HAM is just 2.2sec behind VER
TSU sets fastest lap, 1:38.139

Provisional result: VER, HAM, NOR, SAI, PER, LEC, RUS, GAS, STR, TSU; ALB, SAR, HUL, BOT, ZHO, MAG, RIC
DNF: ALO, PIA, OCO

Radio for HAM congratulating him on P2; he could have blamed the team for losing a few seconds in the pit stop, but instead he thanks them – that’s how a real Champion behaves

[2023 calendar and driver line-up]