US Grand Prix:

Five Key Moments From Austin

A Case of What Might Have Been

The return of the Sprint weekend to the F1 calendar meant an immediate test for the updates brought to W15 in Austin, with just one FP1 session before Sprint Quali for the shortened race format on Friday.

Both Lewis and George sailed into the top 10 shootout, and the latter ended up on the front row just 12 thousandths of a second off pole.

Lewis may well have found himself at the head of the whole grid but was forced to back off for a yellow flag (frustratingly, something the team had hoped to avoid by sending both cars out early in SQ3) up ahead on his final run.

From 0.2 seconds up, the seven-time world champion would end the session half a second down, in P7. Proof again, that F1 is full of fine margins.

Pitlane to P6

From a disappointing Saturday, which included dropping from P2 to P6 in the Sprint before ending Qualifying in the wall, George’s recovery on Sunday was perfect tonic.

A pitlane start is never ideal, but George got his head down and his overtaking boots on to make his way through the field on an adjusted strategy.

By the time he boxed for the one and only time on Sunday, he had taken his Hard tyres 41 laps.

Emerging in P8, he set about chasing down those ahead, getting through Nico Hulkenberg’s Haas and crucially Sergio Perez’s Red Bull in the closing stages.

P6 from the pit lane in a race with no safety car and a five-second penalty was a fine effort. Fortunately, the chance to get behind the wheel again comes in just a few days’ time in Mexico.

Kenzo in Austin

It is not every day you get to invite a world champion guest into your garage, and it is even more rare that the world champion in question is one of your own.

Junior driver, and newly crowned FIA World Karting Champion Kenzo Craigie joined the team in Austin as a guest of Lewis, giving the 14-year-old a first taste of an F1 paddock.

Kenzo claimed the title last month after a dramatic final few laps at PF International Circuit in England but enjoyed a more relaxing weekend of tours of introductions at COTA.

That said, a hot lap of the Circuit of the Americas with Lewis Hamilton as your driver may well have raised the heart rate.

A weekend to remember indeed for the young karting star.

LH on Film

Continuing the theme of Lewis inspiring the next generation, Friday saw team partner WhatsApp launch their special feature film about F1’s most decorated driver.

‘Push, Push’ sees Lewis in conversation with a group of British teens, talking candidly about sport, life, and how connection can bring one closer to their past, to move forward in their future.

Lewis discussed the release of the film further with F1 presenter Naomi Schiff in Austin, and you can watch the full piece right here.

300 Races of Team Spirit

⁠Austin saw Mercedes F1 in its current guise in Brackley celebrate 300 Grands Prix since returning to the sport at Bahrain in 2010.

It has been nearly 15 seasons of hard work, dedication, and relentless determination to extract everything possible from a Formula One car.

That indomitable team spirit was on show again in Austin, as the team sprang into action on Saturday to rebuild George’s damaged W15 from Qualifying.

While starting from the pit lane ultimately turned into the best option, George and his W15 were on song in Austin, charging through the field to finish P6, with our driver quick to praise team on a job well done on the cool down lap. „Thanks to everyone for fixing the car and apologies. Dinner Is on me tonight!“