United States Pre-Race Programme

All the stats, times, tunes and drivers' thoughts ahead of round 17.

Written by Red Bull Racing Honda

6 min readPublished on 20.10.2021 · 10:24 UTC

United States Pre-Race Programme
© Red Bull Racing Honda

Weekend Schedule

DATE

LOCAL TIME

DISCIPLINE

SESSION

Friday 22nd October

11:30-12:30

Formula 1

First Practice

Friday 22nd October

15:00-16:00

Formula 1

Second Practice

Saturday 23rd October

13:00-14:00

Formula 1

Third Practice

Saturday 23rd October

16:00-17:00

Formula 1

Qualifying

Sunday 24th October

14:00-16:00

Formula 1

Race

Max Verstappen Q&A

You finished third the last time we raced in the United States, in 2019. Are you looking forward to being back on track in Austin?

Max Verstappen: It is going to be nice to be back in America. We have always been competitive in the US and have got close to some good results, so it's about converting that into a win now. We go to every track now knowing that we can fight at least for a podium now, but also a win and that is different to past years. We are focussed on doing the best we can and always trying to win the race and that will be no different in Austin. It will be another close battle this weekend and I am looking forward to that.

The Turkish Grand Prix was a strong result for the Team, with a double podium. Which team do you think the momentum is with going into the weekend?

Max Verstappen: I don't really believe in momentum swings, we always have to nail every aspect of the weekend to optimise our performance, prepare as best we can and if we do that then we can't give anything more as a Team. We have a very competitive car but you have to compare it to Mercedes and that is always the big question mark going into any race this season. Hopefully we can fight them this weekend and keep the lead in the championship. Every single week there are new challenges which we must overcome and this one will be no different, a lot of things can happen in a race, so we will focus on ourselves and no one else.

Double Podium Delight In Turkey For Bulls
© Getty Images

What makes Circuit of the Americas such a great racetrack?

Max Verstappen: The layout of the track at COTA is really cool, the surface being bumpy, because it is built on a swamp, adds to the excitement of the race as well. The first sector is very enjoyable, with a lot of fast corners, especially in qualifying when you go on low fuel. When you are racing going into sector two and the beginning of sector three, there are a lot of different lines you can take, so this track normally creates a lot of action and overtakes. Then away from being a great track, there is always a great atmosphere and a great crowd so that helps.

Sergio Perez Q&A

After a double podium at the Turkish Grand Prix how positive are you feeling going into the final six races of the season?

I feel great at the moment, I cannot wait to get back in the car again and I am massively looking forward to the weekend. Going into the season run in, we know we must maximise everything from our side. I think Mercedes have been very strong in the last four or five races and we haven't been able to match them for speed, but I believe that Austin and Mexico are going to be good tracks for us, and you will see us producing stronger performances.

Celebrating A Podium Finish With The Team
© Vladimir Rys

It was a great Team performance for you and your car crew in Turkey, how much are you enjoying this first year with your team?

We are working very well together as a group and I am looking forward to the rest of the year. This is an important race for us and I am really pumped up, as is the whole Team. Hopefully, I can be on the podium again in Austin.

You had your first show run experience in Dallas on Saturday, did that get you excited for the US Grand Prix?

Driving the show run has given me an amazing energy going into this race weekend. We live in such a small bubble during the season and it is easy to forget about what is going on outside because of your focus on your sport. When we hold events like the show run it makes us realise how much we, as Red Bull Racing Honda, mean to people and how much our sport means to them. So many Mexicans and Latinos came out to see me and I loved their support - that has ignited a fire in me for the weekend. My fans mean the world to me, they are so special and so unique so I can't wait to see more of them in Austin. The crowd brought so much energy in Dallas, they were so enthusiastic, and I just can't wait to experience that again this weekend. I have really missed the big crowds so there should be an incredible atmosphere. I want to give everyone a great weekend of action in Austin and hopefully repeat the success we had in Turkey last time out.

Going For A Spin In The US
© Getty Images

What does racing in the United States mean to you?

Austin feels like a second home race to me because I am always so warmly received here, I love coming to the States. There will be a lot of support for myself and the Team this weekend, so I am hoping to please a lot of people in the crowd and, of course, in Mexico. This is the most special part of the season for me, with the US Grand Prix and then my home race in Mexico. I think it will be great to have Miami next season too and that will feel like another home race for me. I have been racing in America for several years now and I can see the passion for the sport is growing here, which is great. Even five years ago it wasn't as popular as you see now, so I think Formula 1 is only going to get bigger stateside because we have a great sport.

Last Time We Were Here

Max Verstappen claimed third at the United States Grand Prix, while Alex Albon recovered from a first corner incident to finish in the top six once again.

It was Alex's turn to deliver a stunning recovery drive in Texas, as the Thai driver came back from a first corner incident to drive from the tail end of the field to fifth at the flag. Teammate Max returned to the podium and moved ahead of Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel into fourth in the F1 Drivers' Championship standings.

Third placed Max requested full power over his team radio as he started the final two laps, sensing that there was enough speed in his Honda powered engine to give him the edge over Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, and he started the final lap less than a second behind the British driver.

However, the Dutchman ran out of laps and was forced to settle for third, as Bottas claimed his first win on American soil. Second place for Hamilton gave the British driver his sixth Formula 1 Drivers' Championship title and third place for Max saw him return to the podium for the first time since the Singapore Grand Prix. Alex, meanwhile, continued his record of finishing no lower than sixth during his Red Bull Racing career.

Ready To Deliver Another Podium Finish
© Getty Images