Back in the Saddle

PLP Season 1 Edition 4 🏁

It’s Race Weekend!

Once again, we’ve got a SPRINT weekend. With the sprints producing some exciting racing so far this year, we’re bound for non-stop action at one of the best tracks on the calendar (In our completely unbiased American opinion). Best of all, if you’re in the States you don’t even have to wake up early (times in EDT):

• Practice 1: Friday, Oct 20 1:30pm - 2:30pm

• Qualifying: Friday, Oct 20 5:00pm - 6:00pm

• Sprint Shootout: Saturday, Oct 21 1:30pm - 2:15pm

• Sprint: Saturday, Oct 21 6:00pm - 7:00pm

• Race: Sunday, Oct 22 3:00pm

Quick Quiz: Who took the inaugural victory at COTA when it first hosted Formula 1 in 2012?

Find out below ⬇

US GP Preview

If you thought Austin, Texas was just for BBQ and bachelor parties, prepare to feast your eyes on the beauty that is Circuit of the Americas. COTA features an uphill start into a wide turn 1, followed by fast paced chicanes early and tighter, twisting corners after a long straight.

The track layout makes putting tires in the optimal window a challenge and will be crucial for team strategy throughout the weekend. These unique tire management demands could even favor the likes of McLaren and Ferrari (especially in the Sprint) while putting additional stress on Red Bull - but stop us if you’ve heard that hope peddled before.

• 5 storylines to follow this weekend

• Get familiar with the track: Watch Carlos Sainz’s pole lap in last year’s qualifying

• Highlights from the 2022 race

• F1 Nation podcast preview

We’re looking at a sunny weekend in 90’s, though this should seem like a relief compared to Qatar. The fight between Ferrari and Mercedes will contribute to the Texas heat, while Lando (who, along with George Russell, is racing in his 100th GP this weekend) looks to move up in the driver’s standings with a red hot McLaren. But who are we kidding, we’re most excited for this 🔽

Ricciardo Returns

All eyes will be on Danny this week as he races for the first time since sustaining a hand injury at the Dutch GP back in August. The Aussie appeared to intentionally abandon his line to avoid t-boning the spun out Piastri during a practice session, and his steering wheel did some damage. It was an unfortunate result but ultimately the safe decision during a sequence that, while not high speed, could have been worse.

Ricciardo said that while it was a “frustrating” few weeks, “it’s good to be back” and he’s “excited” to drive an updated AlphaTauri. With the rumors swirling, who knows.. it may be a Red Bull in the near future.

Alpine Adds Star Power

The French constructor added more big names as investors, including Rory McIlroy, Patrick Mahomes, and Taylor’s boyfriend. The reigning Super Bowl MVP “couldn’t pass up” the opportunity join Otro Capital who acquired a 24% stake in the team earlier this year to the tune of 200 million euros.

The move emphasizes the growing impact of the F1 in the U.S., a good portion of which can be attributed to Netflix’s Drive to Survive. To continue the hype, the streaming platform is planning a live cross-over golf tournament featuring F1 drivers and PGA tour pros (Netflix also has a golf documentary, Full Swing), airing the week leading up to the Las Vegas GP in November.

Down the Grid

Tech Talk

• Christian Horner doesn’t like the “third car” rebuild rule

• Hope for McLaren and Ferrari, challenge for Red Bull in Austin [F1 Unlocked only]

• Mid season data analysis [video]

Off the Grid

• Brawn GP docuseries coming to Disney+

• What goes into building the perfect circuit? [audio]

• Is Max’s dominance a blessing or curse for F1?

• Bianca Bustamante joins McLaren development program

• Mick Schumacher tests Alpine hypercar

Enjoy the racing this weekend - we’ll be back next Friday to recap all the action.

Questions? Comments? Did we get something wrong (never 😁)? Let us know ▶ [email protected]