F1 Back in Austin Texas
Posted on October 20, 2022 Tags: Austin Texas
While Kevin Mag is Ready to Rock
With the Hordes Heading for Haas Corner
FORMULA ONE RETURNS to Austin Texas and the renowned Circuit of the Americas for Round 19 of the World Championship this weekend – home race for the Haas Team.
While Danish ace Kevin Magnussen has been signed for next year with the Americans, his German teammate Mick Schumacher is on much shakier ground. Mick’s crashes this season have cost Gene Haas a virtual mint and the pleasant young man is desperate for points here to make amends.
The weather looks particularly pleasant in Austin Texas after the washouts of Singaphttps://adrianchambersmotorsports.com.au/singapore-exodus-from-europe/ore and Japan and the Haas Hill crowd is bound to give a special welcome home to Kev and Mick – not quite the Verstappen orange, but a taste of glory, nonetheless.
Looking Tasty for United States Grand Prix
Austin Texas
“It’s a great track, it has become very bumpy so some years when we get there it’s super bumpy and then others, they grind down those bumps so the circuit changes its character a little bit in that way,” recalls Kevin Magnussen.
“As I said, it’s a great track, especially sector 1 – it’s super high-speed, the ‘esses’ I think are actually some of the coolest corners in F1. There’s a bit too much run-off for my liking but the layout itself is very cool, so I’m looking forward to being back here.
“The steep uphill approach to Turn One is a pretty unique corner. It becomes very wide towards the apex, you can’t actually see the track as it’s over a crest and it’s super wide. The apex itself is very narrow so it creates opportunities for a lot of different lines. Overtaking there is a big opportunity with it being straight after a DRS zone as well.
“There aren’t many corners that have that sort of width to it. It’s kind of easy to lock-up towards the apex because you go over that crest but as you hit the brakes, you’re on that hill so you can brake very hard because of that. After Turn 1, you go downhill again into those ‘esses’ and that’s where following becomes a bit tricky so if you’ve got the position, it’s pretty easy to keep it afterwards because of the high-speed corners.”
Daniel’s Den
I’ll be surprised if Daniel Ricciardo hasn’t already contacted Haas boss Guenther Steiner who reckons the Aussie could be the man to fill the American constructor’s vacant F1 seat for next season.
“For us he would be a big hit,” said Steiner. “He was a race winner and now he is without a job. He was a race winner just last year. I rate him as a driver, I have no idea why he doesn’t perform right now. That is for him to figure out.”
But the Italian-born Steiner is adamant he won’t be making the call first.
“If he’s interested in us, he’s not shy to call me up. I am not going to chase him down.
Guenther Steiner
“I want him to decide what he wants to do for himself, first, before being talked into something.
“I think he’s a good driver and I don’t know how he got in the situation he’s in now, but I think he needs to come clean with himself and decide what he’s going to do.”
Mick Schumacher has a tenuous grip on the seat in Austin Texas this weekend, while Toto Wolff is reportedly in talks with Daniel about a Mercedes reserve driver role next year, with a more permanent seat in the offing.
“We’ll be testing some 2023 prototype slick tyres at the Circuit of the Americas.
“The Circuit of The Americas is a balanced layout when it comes to the demands placed on cars and tyres in terms of traction, braking and lateral loads, but it’s mainly a flowing track that the drivers love, which nonetheless presents some challenging sections that shouldn’t be underestimated.
“The track was partially re-asphalted in 2020, with a ‘milling’ process also taking place last year to shave off the worst of the bumps that oblige teams to raise the ride height, which affects aerodynamics.
“In the first free practice session, there could be a high degree of track evolution so it’s going to be vital for the teams to maximise the data collected during FP3 to define the best strategy.
“The second free practice session will be dedicated to slick tyre testing for 2023, weather permitting.
“Weather conditions in Austin have been extremely variable in the past, so it’s a circuit where you have to be ready for anything!”
MARIO ISOLA – MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR
PIRELLI HAS CHOSEN the middle three compounds for Austin, Texas: C2 as the P Zero White hard, C3 Yellow medium, and C4 Red soft.
• The uneven track surface could make it necessary to run a higher ride height, influencing aerodynamic performance. The teams will need to study the data carefully to find the best set up.
• The United States Grand Prix was a two-stopper last year, but with a completely new range of tyres, it might be a different story this time round – thanks to new regulations, different weather conditions and other variables on track.
• As was the case in Japan, the second free practice session has been extended to 90 minutes to test the 2023 slick tyre prototypes, helping to fine-tune the compounds for next year before the teams get to try the definitive versions after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The entire FP2 session will be devoted to the tyre test, with Pirelli setting the run plan. If a team uses a young driver for FP1, it is allowed to run its own programme for some of FP2, before concentrating on the tyre test for the remainder of the session.
The prototype tyres can easily be recognised as they won’t carry coloured markings on the sidewalls.
W Series Comes to Sudden Halt
With the 2022 W Series coming to a premature end at Singapore last month, Jamie Chadwick – who was 50 points clear in the drivers’ standings – was crowned champion for a record-breaking third time.
Funding problems forced the cancellation of the remaining three races in Austin and Mexico.
CEO Catherine Bond Muir said her team would now focus on the longer-term fundraising process to enable its longevity and financial health into 2023 and beyond.
Founded in 2019, W Series is a regional Formula 3-based competition designed primarily to increase female participation in motorsport.
If it is to have a future, it will need the FIA and F1 to step in.
Nürburgring Challenge for Perth Racer
Jordan Love will compete with Haupt Racing in Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the PAGID Racing 46th DMV Münsterlandpokal race, which forms part of the Nürburgring Endurance Series.
Teaming up again with Haupt Racing Team Jordan Love will share the cockpit of the #6 Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the Merbag design with DTM runner-up Lucas Auer and his teammate Arjun Maini.
This is the second outing in the NLS for Love, Maini and Auer after finishing sixth overall at the six-hour ADAC Ruhr-Pokal race.
Qualifying gets underway Saturday at 8:30 – 10:00 CEST followed by the race at 12:00. It can be followed live on the official website of the organiser or on their YouTube channel.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to compete in another endurance race at the Nürburgring with HRT. The circuit is wild, and I will enjoy every kilometer. Teaming up with Lucas and Arjun will be a fun weekend.” – Jordan Love, Haupt Racing Team #6.
GT Challenge
The Indianapolis 8 Hour, the penultimate round of the Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli, was won by the Mercedes line-up of Daniel Juncadella, Raffaelle Marciello, and Daniel Morad from 15th on the grid. The winning trio claimed their victory by just 0.8 seconds over the Ferrari of Ulysse De Pauw, Antonio Fuoco and Daniel Serra, with the drivers’ title now set to be decided at the series finale: the Gulf 12 Hours.
Rallying
The Catalunya Rally de Espana, the penultimate round of the Pirelli-equipped World Rally Championship, takes place during the same weekend as the United States Grand Prix. While Kalle Rovanpera has become the sport’s youngest-ever drivers’ champion, the fight for the manufacturers’ title is still open between Toyota and Hyundai.
EDITED by AC
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