Max Verstappen is Formula 1 World Champion. Nevertheless, the US Grand Prix is also about a lot: Another title, a record and the future of Mick Schumacher.
The Dutchman Verstappen already made it clear that he had won the title again at the Japanese Grand Prix. In Texas austin he can now crown himself as world champion again. This time with the team. red bull is about to win the World Constructors’ Championship.
Most recently, Mercedes had won the title – eight times in a row since 2014. In terms of prestige, the Drivers’ Championship is far more important, but there’s money for the Constructors’ Championship. The ranking serves as the distribution key for the TV funds. With a 165-point lead over Ferrari, Red Bull arrives with a commanding lead, with 147 points more than the Scuderia left after the race, the next title party is perfect.
Schumacher record wobbles
And it’s also a record. In 2004, Michael Schumacher won 13 races in a Ferrari in his last year as world champion. Sebastian Vettel succeeded in 2013 in the Red Bull, also in his last title year. Max Verstappen, the old one and, since Japan a week and a half ago, also the new one champion, has won twelve races of the season so far. If he wins in Austin, he draws level with Schumacher and Vettel – and then has three more opportunities to overtake them.
Budget dispute smolders on
But the conflict with the world association FIA is also smoldering in Austin. Verstappen and his Red Bull racing team are probably much more concerned with the expected sanctions than another victory. Red Bull “slightly” exceeded the cost cap in 2021, the year of Verstappen’s first title win. The racing team was “surprised and disappointed” by the FIA assessment, but the competition is demanding tough sanctions. Presumably it will result in a fine. However, it is also possible that World Championship points will be deducted from the drivers Verstappen and Sergio Perez and the team for the year of the violation. With a lead of just eight points over Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) at the end of the season, this could have far-reaching consequences.
Mick Schumacher is fighting for a new contract
Mick Schumacher is not to be envied these days. The German continues to fight for a new contract with Haas and his future in Formula 1. Haas team boss Günther Steiner is now also ensnaring Daniel Ricciardo, previously he had already contacted Nico Hülkenberg. The background to this is Schumacher’s modest number of points so far, seven times in a row he was without a point.
From the team owner comes the announcement that Schumacher alone decides on a new contract, but with results. And it should be best for him to start at the home race. The car has slowed down over the course of the season, but Schumacher has improved after mistakes and expensive accidents. In the final spurt of the season, Schumacher still needs World Championship points above all, also in the event of a separation for the Williams-Racing team to stay attractive. He is still looking for a successor to Nicolas Latifi, but he already has another contender in the US pilot Logan Sargeant. All other cockpit for 2023 are assigned.
Hamilton still without a win
Lewis Hamilton is also under pressure in Austin. The record world champion is also the record winner in Austin, and the Brit has triumphed five times in Texas. A sixth victory is not to be expected given the dominance of Red Bull and Verstappen. In a team-internal duel with Mercedesyoungsters However, George Russell has to fight back Hamilton.
Hamilton recently missed the podium five times, and the gap in the drivers’ standings to his British compatriot Russell grew to 27 points. It should not fail because of the performance of its car. Mercedes brings the last in Austin upgrade-Package of the year to the track. Hamilton has never ended a season without a single win since entering the motorsport premier class in 2007.