F1 US GP Live Commentary and Updates - FP1
Minute-by-minute updates for FP1 for the 2024 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix
Formula 1 returns from its mini-break with a trip to the Circuit of the Americas, kick-starting the next triple-header.
Lando Norris dominated the Singapore Grand Prix last time out but still faces an uphill battle to overcome Max Verstappen in the race for the drivers' title, even with McLaren now ahead of Red Bull in the constructors' standings.
With off-track headlines again dominating ahead of the weekend, who will get off to the best start in the only practice session before Sprint Qualifying? FP1 gets under way at 6:30pm BST.
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“I’m looking down on Turn 1 for the start of FP1 - mainly to see if the resurfacing as smoothed the bumps. It has, bar the compression at the apex. But the drivers are really struggling to put the power down on exit - Ocon just drifted his way around on a wider line. It seems very unpredictable so far.”
Russell and then Verstappen up the ante, which sees the Dutch driver take top spot off the Brit in a matter of seconds with a 1m35.538s.
Sainz makes it a Ferrari 1-2, with a 1m36.140s, to put half a second on his team-mate. Most drivers are on the hard tyres to get feel for things in these opening 10 minutes.
Leclerc is the early pacesetter, with a 1m36.724s, while elsewhere both McLaren drivers run off-track having not nailed their braking; Piastri went off at Turn 12 and Norris did so at Turn 19.
Colapinto, no longer F1's new boy with Lawson's return, almost goes straight into the scenery at Turn 9 when asking for the power too early with his tyres too cold. He was under pressure from Verstappen directly behind him, but no harm done as he gets his car under control having dipped his right wheels on the grass.
In fact, we have 18 drivers out on track already, with just Tsunoda and Zhou missing. Norris led out the pack so he gets the honour of starting the first timed lap of the session.
Off we go! The only practice session of the US GP is live and there are plenty of early takers.
Enough about bibs and bits, for now, as first practice is rapidly upon us. There are no FP1 rookies in action for this session, as it is a sprint race weekend, but we do have a new-ish face on the grid in Liam Lawson who has been installed in place of the axed Daniel Ricciardo at RB.
Liam Lawson, Visa Cash App RB F1 Team
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has spoken to Sky Sports about Red Bull's suspected ride-height adjustment and is pushing for answers:
“Why would you design it to be inside the car when the nine other teams [don't] have it? So I think it would be unfair of me to say, of course, I have an opinion on whether I think they have or haven't [broken the rules]. I think, the FIA needs to be very diligent in their bottoming out whether they think they have or haven't.
“But when you see, cleverly-worded comments, like you can't do it when it's fully assembled. But I know the car isn't always fully assembled and then the FIA feels they need to put a seal on it. Why would the FIA need to put a seal on something if it wasn't accessible? I think transparency is critically important in today's day and age. So I still have questions.”
Meanwhile up and down the grid this weekend has seen the arrival of a raft of upgrades, likely to be the last major updates this year with six rounds left, as McLaren and Mercedes grab the headlines with its new parts. Full story.
McLaren MCL38
Photo by: Giorgio Piola
The big talking point to start this US GP weekend has been a focus on Red Bull's ride height adjustment device, a true deep dive technical matter. The summary of which is that all ride height adjustments are banned in parc ferme (ie between qualifying and a race) but concerns were raised about Red Bull's car. The team has been quick to deny any wrongdoing and is complying with the FIA, which has also not found the team to have broken the rules. Here's the latest.
Hello one and all! It has been a while, how are we doing? F1's 'autumn break' is over and we're not far away from cars being back on track for the first time since 22 September!
George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
By: Haydn Cobb
