#1076 2022 United States Grand Prix

The 2022 United States Grand Prix (officially known as the Formula 1 Aramco United States Grand Prix 2022) is a Formula One motor race, held on October 23, 2022, at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, United States. The race is the 19th round of the 2022 Formula One World Championship and the 51st running of the United States Grand Prix, the 43rd time the race is run as a World Championship event since the inaugural 1950 season, and the tenth time a World Championship round is held at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. The event is held across the weekend of October 21–23. Going into the weekend, Max Verstappen has secured his second consecutive Drivers' Championship at the previous round, the Japanese Grand Prix. He leads by 113 points from teammate Sergio Pérez, second, and Charles Leclerc, third, by 114. Red Bull Racing team leads the Constructors' Championship from Ferrari by 165 points and Mercedes by 232 points. Red Bull Racing could secure their fifth World Constructors' Championship, and first since 2013, if Ferrari does not outscore them by 19 points. Prior to the Singapore Grand Prix, the FIA on Friday issued a note saying it was finalizing its evaluation of the previous championship financial data submitted by all Formula 1 teams. Alleged violations of the financial regulations, if any, are dealt with according to the formal process established by the regulations. According to the latest rumors, Austria's Red Bull Racing and Britain's Aston Martin stables failed to meet the budget cap set at $145 million in 2021. The infraction by the Milton Keynes-based stable is not serious and therefore would be less than 5 percent of the budget cap available to them last season. The possible penalties, therefore, do not go beyond a fine or a curtailment of the funds available for next season. The FIA issues a statement noting the speculation and baseless conjecture that has emerged in connection with the issue and reiterating that the evaluation is ongoing and due process is being followed without regard to any outside discussion. A detailed report from the world motoring body on any sanctions to be taken was expected before the previous Japanese Grand Prix was held. On the Wednesday before the Japanese race, previously scheduled as the one in which a detailed report on the teams' expenditures was to be released, the Federation announced the postponement until the day after the race was held of the release of the certificates on the teams' 2021 budget on possible sanctions related to the budget cap. 

The FIA reiterates for the second time that there is no truth to what has been leaked so far through the media, with any insinuation regarding the dissemination of confidential information by Federation staff being equally baseless. For the FIA, this is the third postponement regarding budget cap communications. Teams were initially informed for September 30, 2022, only to have the communication moved to Oct. 3, 2022, then to Oct. 5, and again to Oct. 10, 2022. After the Japanese race, the world motorsport body notified that Red Bull Racing exceeds the budget cap by less than 5 percent, while for Aston Martin it is a procedural violation. Considering the 2021 budget cap limit set at $145 million, the 5 percent cap equates to a maximum of $7.25 million. Red Bull Racing's established violation is therefore less than $7.25 million. Under current regulations, procedural violations can result in fines or minor sports penalties if there are aggravating circumstances, as specified in the financial regulations. A minor expenditure violation may result in financial penalties or minor sports penalties. The Austrian team said it was surprised and disappointed. The team pointed out that the submitted document was within the imposed limit and that it will therefore review it carefully, as it remains convinced that the relevant costs were within the spending cap. Finally, the team explained that it will consider its options while respecting the FIA's regulatory process. British team McLaren writes a letter of protest to the Federation. According to the Woking team, two million dollars represents a 25-50% improvement in a car's annual development budget and therefore would have a significant positive and lasting benefit. The team also believes there should be sporting penalties for minor overruns, amounting to a 20 percent reduction in simulation and wind tunnel time. These should be applied the following year to mitigate the unfair advantage the team enjoys. To prevent teams from accumulating and benefiting from the multiplier effect of several minor spending cap violations, the British team suggests that a second minor spending cap violation automatically moves the team to a major violation. Red Bull Racing recalcitrates to accept the settlement agreement with the Federation for minor violations in the 2021 season spending cap.

The world motor racing body wants an economic sanction made of a fine, or the deduction of an amount from the available mount over the next two years, along with the reduction of 500 hours in the wind tunnel of the 2.000 granted for the next two years. On race day, the Austrian team and the Federation agree on the penalty to be served, which is both financial and sporting. The world motor racing body wants an economic sanction made of a fine, or the deduction of an amount from the available mount over the next two years, along with the reduction of 500 hours in the wind tunnel of the 2.000 granted for the next two years. On race day, the Austrian team and the Federation agree on the penalty to be served, which is both financial and sporting. The team keeps its budget intact in 2023 of $135 million, but has fewer hours to devote to wind tunnel development and must pay a fine. However, on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, Zak Brown, CEO McLaren, writes a letter of protest to the FIA. According to the Woking team, two million dollars represents a 25-50% improvement in a car's annual development budget and would therefore have a significant positive and lasting benefit. The team also believes there should be sporting penalties for small overruns, amounting to a 20 percent reduction in simulation and wind tunnel time. These should be applied the following year to mitigate the unfair advantage the team enjoys. To prevent teams from accumulating and benefiting from the multiplier effect of several minor spending cap violations, the British team suggests that a second minor spending cap violation automatically moves the team to a major violation. 
 

"The FIA should communicate consequential actions and sanctions to maintain the integrity of F1. Violation of the budget cap and perhaps even procedural violations constitute cheating in that they provide a significant benefit in terms of technical, sporting and financial regulations. The FIA conducted an extremely thorough, collaborative and open process. We were even given a one-year dress rehearsal (in 2020), with ample opportunity to ask for clarification if details were unclear. Thus, there is no reason for any team to be surprised. We do not believe that a financial penalty alone is appropriate for a budget cap violation or a serious violation of procedures. It is clear that a sporting sanction, as determined by the FIA, is necessary in such cases. We suggest that the overspend be sanctioned by a reduction in the budget cap of the team in question in the year following the ruling, and that the sanction be equal to the overspend plus an additional fine: for example, an overspend of two million dollars in 2021, identified in 2022, would result in a deduction of four million dollars in 2023 (two million dollars to offset the overspend plus two million dollars fine). To put this in context, two million dollars represents a 25-50% improvement in a car's annual development budget and thus would have a significant positive and lasting benefit. In addition, we believe there should be sports penalties for small overruns, amounting to a 20% reduction in CFD and wind tunnel time. These should be enforced the following year to mitigate the unfair advantage that the team enjoys and will continue to enjoy. To prevent teams from accumulating and benefiting from the multiplier effect of several minor spending cap violations, we suggest that a second minor spending cap violation automatically moves the team to a major violation. Finally, given the financial data involved, a 5 percent threshold for a minor overspending violation seems too large. We suggest that a lower threshold of 2.5 percent is more appropriate. It is critical that the budget cap continue to be governed in a highly transparent manner, both in terms of the details of any violations and the associated penalties. It will also be important to understand whether, after the first full year of management and investigation, further clarity is needed on certain issues or any key lessons learned. Again, all insights and lessons should be shared by all teams-there can be no room for loopholes. The introduction of the spending cap has been one of the main reasons why we have attracted new shareholders and investors to F1 in recent years, who see it as a way to promote financial and sporting fair play. It is therefore critical to be very firm in implementing the cost cap rules for the integrity and future of F1".

Initially, the Red Bull Racing team recalcitrates to accept the settlement agreement with the FIA for minor violations in the 2021 season spending limit. The world motor racing body would like to sanction the team with an economic proceeding made up of a fine, or the deduction of an amount from the available mount over the next two years, along with the reduction of 500 hours in the wind tunnel of the 2.000 granted for the next two years.

On race day, Sunday, October 23, 2022, the Austrian team and the FIA will agree on the penalty to be served, which is both financial and sporting: a team will keep its available budget intact in 2023 of $135 million, but will have fewer hours to devote to wind tunnel development and must pay a fine. On the eve of the race, the FIA World Council approves changes to the cars for the next World Championship. In detail, it made a number of safety improvements. The size of the mirrors was increased so as to give better visibility to drivers especially to prevent accidents due to the presence of the opponent in the so-called blind spot. The definition of the braking circuit was also improved and updates to the roll bar regulations were implemented following the federal investigation after the accident of the Chinese Alfa Romeo driver, Zhou Guanyu in the first lap of the British Grand Prix. Finally, the procedure for determining grid positions after the application of multiple penalties, which had caused confusion in the Italian Grand Prix, was clarified in the sporting regulations for this championship. Starting with this race, qualified drivers who have received fifteen or fewer cumulative grid penalties will be assigned a temporary position equal to their qualifying position. Following the previous Japanese Grand Prix, which came under scrutiny due to the presence of two tractors on the track to remove the crashed car of Ferrari's Spanish driver Carlos Sainz Jr. along with other cars that passed by the safety vehicle, the Federation is launching an investigation in which procedural problems have been identified that will be corrected in the short to medium term. The results of the investigation are made public at a later date. Prior to this event, the FIA is taking countermeasures to ensure that incidents such as those that occurred in the previous Japanese Grand Prix, which was conditioned by adverse weather conditions, are not repeated, including the speeding of the French AlphaTauri driver, Pierre Gasly, under the red flag regime after passing the crash site of Ferrari's Spanish driver, Carlos Sainz Jr. whose car was being recovered by a safety vehicle, and of the cars passed by the safety vehicle that was recovering the Ferrari driver's crashed car, also under the same regime. 

The measures taken concern: the information communicated by the Federation to the teams via the official messaging system so as to notify the teams that a tractor is on the track, with the teams being required to inform both drivers; the development of a virtual safety car and safety car monitoring window for the race direction and the remote operations center in Geneva, Switzerland, to view the status of all cars, whether they are on the track, behind the safety car and in the pits; updating the race directorate's procedures to better define the assignment of tasks to the race control team, including the delegation of monitoring tasks to the remote operations center, as required, under safety car or virtual safety car; in connection with this revision, the delegation of monitoring of cars entering the pit lane under safety car conditions and the resulting length of the train of cars behind the safety car; the race director, who remains Germany's Niels Wittich until the end of the season; dynamic virtual safety car and the implementation of a new function that changes the speed delta required of the driver before and in sectors where an accident occurs, so as to help the latter know where accidents have been declared; the revision of the penalty history for drivers who do not comply with the rules regarding yellow flag, double yellow flag, virtual safety car and safety car conditions; evaluation of the current application of billboards, their construction, location, and materials used to avoid the risk of them being ripped off and brought onto the track; full scoring, with the Federation confirming how the rules have been applied to the letter, but in the upcoming revision of the sporting regulations it provides further clarity. Regarding the Suzuka incidents, Pirelli's extreme wet weather tires have been blamed, according to some drivers underperforming. The Federation's technical department initiates talks with the Milanese manufacturer to get to the bottom of the problem. The main topic besides the race is still the alleged violation of the budget cap made by Red Bull. The team will hold a conference on Saturday about it. The news circulating in the hours before the FIA press conference concern a proposal by the FIA of an Accepted Breach Agreement, which surprised and disappointed Milton Keynes’s team when this conclusion was taken the day after Verstappen’s victory at Suzuka, and said that it would carefully review the FIA’s findings, since they always stated that the cost cap had never been violated. An eventual penalty may involve a fine or a tighter budget cap in the next season, a reduction of the time that can be spent in the simulator sessions, but Verstappen would not lose the Drivers’ World Championship title won in 2021. 

The chaotic race management in Suzuka, as well as the complaints from some drivers such as Russell and Gasly due to safety issues, led to some changes made by the FIA, which announced in a statement issued on October 21, 2022, the implementation of some procedural measures. 

• Information to be provided to the Teams by means of a message via the official messaging system and communicated via the FIA intercom system to notify teams that a recovery vehicle is on track with the obligation from the Teams to inform their Drivers. Development of a live VSC/SC monitoring window to display the status of all cars, on track, behind SC, in PITS to be used by Race Control and the ROC. 
• Race Control Procedure Update to better define the allocation of tasks across the Race Control team (including delegation of monitoring tasks to ROC as required) under SC or VSC procedure. In specific relation to this review, the delegation of monitoring of cars entering the Pit Lane under SC conditions and the consequent length of the SC train.
• The FIA Race Director will hold a review of the incidents in Suzuka during the United States Grand Prix Drivers’ Briefing to explain what solutions the FIA plans to introduce to avoid a repeat of the situation in the future and to remind the Drivers of the rules relating to Safety Cars and Red Flags.
• In conjunction with the teams, a review of penalty precedents for drivers not respecting the rules relating to Yellow, Double Yellow, VSC and SC conditions will take place. 
• Assessment of the current application of advertising boards, their construction, location and materials used to avoid the potential for them to being torn off and thrown on track.
• Dynamic VSC: implementation of a new function that would change the delta speed required for the driver to follow before and in the sectors where there is an incident, this would aid the drivers to know where incidents have been declared (to be implemented by the start of the 2023 season).

Sadly, U.S. Grand Prix does not start in the best way, as on Saturday, October 22, 2022, the passing of Dietrich Mateschitz, Austrian entrepreneur and co-founder of the well-known Red Bull energy drink company, will be announced. Nevertheless, the World Championship continues, and at stake in Texas is winning or prolonging the challenge in the World Constructors' Championship. Carlos Sainz Jr. speaks about Verstappen’s and Red Bull’s season so far:

"I don't think I need to put any more prize to Max for what he's done this year, because I think it's pretty obvious that he's done a very good job and everyone can see how good he has performed and how well he's executed this season, especially after not an easy start of the season with a couple of DNFs, how they managed to recover and put together a lot of wins a lot of good moments through the year, keep it consistent, and be strong in the areas where we haven't been able to be to be that strong. And yeah, congratulations to him, congratulations to Red Bull because they fully deserve it".

He is asked if Max Verstappen has evolved:

"For sure. I think eight years in Formula 1 is a lot of years in Formula 1. And since day one of Formula 1 to year eight you evolve massively. For sure he's evolved in every single area. There is not one area where you haven't evolved and the way that he's managed to keep doing step by step, improving everything, you know, because there's nothing that we cannot improve in eight years. And it’s fair play to him and now he's maximising also having a competitive car, which is something that you need in Formula 1 in order to win. If not, you're never going to win".

The interview points out a curious fact on Sainz Jr. at the COTA, that he always scored points but never obtained a podium; he asks Sainz about his confidence with the car.

"I think we have a competitive car everywhere we go to. This is a fact, I think. We are fighting for nearly every pole position. Wins are more tricky, because for some reason, Red Bull, in the race, they manage to do a step that we don't have, or that recently we don't have as much. But we're working on that. We're taking these last four races to experiment a bit, to see how we can be a bit more competitive in the race, how we can improve our tyre management. We have the next year tyres here for Friday, you know, and it's going to be a key part of understanding where we are lacking also on tyre management for next year, to try and improve".

About his fight for fourth place with George Russell:

"Fifth, fourth, it doesn't change my life as a racing driver. I only care about obviously winning and having a good season. I know this year hasn't been easy. The setback of Japan also was not ideal. made me lose even more points in this fight. And yeah, I mean, if I can finish fourth, I take fourth, but I would prefer to win a race before the end of the year, even if it doesn't mean I finish fourth. And I think, for us, it's important to try and win, to get the podiums, to get the consistency. Obviously, this would bring P4 to the table but I'm focusing more on that then then on the championship, let's say".

Later, he confesses that the biggest struggle of this season has been the first six races, when the car was more competitive but Red Bull still took the best results, and that the main problem of his Ferrari is that he needs to think a lot and cannot drive it naturally, especially in corners. About the cost cap, he says that the FIA should make the right decisions to make sure that everyone follows the rules, and that the penalties should be enough to discourage future excessive expenses.

"As you can imagine. I love the local cuisine, being a fan of the hamburger, but in fact the whole ambience here is very nice. We will use these coming Grands Prix to prepare as much as possible for 2023, looking for any opportunity that comes along to take a race win. To be honest, I would prefer to do that rather than getting ahead of George in the championship. I have reached a good level of understanding with the F1-75 and I’d like to still get some good results with it".

Sergio Perez’s main topic is Red Bull’s fight for the constructors’ title. The interviewer brings back last year’s race, where Checo scored a podium without having access to water.

"Yeah, I hope I have some water, especially as it can be really hot on Sunday. So, it would be nice to have some water there. And, yeah, it would be nice to get a strong result this weekend. [Momentum] certainly helps. When you have a good run of races. The confidence and momentum are with you. But that doesn't mean anything. You have to go there and prove again and again and hopefully this weekend can be a good one. We can have a strong pace and yeah, it would be nice to get a strong result before the home race. It would be very nice (to win the Constructors’ Championship). It's a massive effort that everyone has done, not only your track. Back in Milton Keynes everyone has been pushing so hard. Yeah, I mean, it's been a tremendous year for Red Bull and I really hope we are able to finish it on a high, because it's been tremendous, the year we've been able to have. I think throughout the season, you know, making the right calls, pushing at the right times has paid off. And I really hope that we are able to clinch that title soon".

He is asked about his favourite race of the season:

"I don't know which is the best but the most special certainly has been winning Monaco. That was very special".

The interviews proceed with the second group. Lewis Hamilton, after telling his Denver Broncos experience, the football team of which he has become one of the owners, talks about his special relationship with this track, where he won five times:

"Yeah, I think just being in the States, I'm very happy when I'm out here. I think already when I came to Indianapolis - was it 2007? - was a good time. But I think this track is very special.  Considering it's a newer circuit it's one of the best circuits that we have, provides great racing.  A single lap is exciting and then we get this crowd that just keeps growing year on year. And they just do it differently here, right? I would say that us Europeans are good… we're good at sports but there's things that we've learned, I would say, with the partnership with Liberty and I think the sport is growing as a whole in terms of how we put on the show".

About Mercedes’s performance and upgrades:

"You can expect we're going to try everything, as we always do. I don't want to get my hopes up with the… a lot of work has naturally gone into the upgrade as it always does. And I'm really, really proud of everybody for the work that's gone in. But in the past, we've had expectations:  oh, this is going to bring a tenth or whatever it may be, and then we struggle to extract that so I'm just really of a really open mind. I'm hoping our car just in general works better at this circuit. And I'm generally just excited. I did drive here just after Montreal in the old car which is amazing. And they’ve flattened off some of the section like Turn 5, 4 or 5 I think it is and so I'm hoping that's going to be better for our car".

In the other interviews, Max Verstappen, who faces his first race during the season after winning the championship, since last time he won in the last race, shares his feelings about being world champion once again:

"It’s been a great year for us, I’m nice and relaxed at the moment. It’s been completely different circumstances, the cars are completely different, we had to learn a lot from last season, we have a really good group of people and probably the car was even more competitive than last year. Once I crossed the finish line at Suzuka, I was sure that I would not have been the champion, but we didn’t know the exact rules, it was just because of Charles’s penalty that we won".

About the budget cap controversy:

"It’s something between the team and the FIA, they have to sort it out, I’m just focused on driving".

Charles Leclerc expresses his feelings towards the circuit:

"I think the Austin trip is one of the nicest of the season because of the atmosphere and the enthusiasm of the home crowd. Also, the track has plenty of variety and is really beautiful, so we are really happy to be racing here. We have seen there is still work to do, because in some conditions our car has shown it has some shortcomings. I think we must make the most of this last part of the season to arrive at the start of the next one better prepared. Of course, I’d like to finish the year in style and we hope that can start here".

Daniel Ricciardo, who showed up at Austin by horse, is obviously excited about racing in the USA:

"Austin let's go! The US GP is one of my absolute favourite races of the year. The extra energy I get from the atmosphere is immeasurable and I love everything about it. From the crowd to the food and music, it's like nothing else. I can't wait to get on track. I'm looking forward to the last four races of the season and trying everything to maximise the results to keep us in the fight for fourth in the championship".

George Russell, despite Mercedes’s negative season, sees the bright side:

"Everybody’s working hard at the moment to bring stuff forward, to almost try and test ahead of next season, I think we’re now in a position where the season has passed us and the world championship is out of reach a long time ago, but we’ve tried to use these last remaining races as a chance to test some things and make sure that we’ve got all the information for the team back at the factory to work as hard as they can over the winter, to give us a fighter for the next season. This season has still been the best of my career, seven podiums, a lot of good races, and I think you’ve got to take the positives from a difficult situation, but on the performance side we’re not where we wanted to be, but you can’t just sit there, sulk and be upset with everything. As a team, we did a great job of reliability from the PU side and from the car side, there are a lot of positives to take away from the season, the one we’re missing is obviously a better lap time".

The Spanish driver Carlos Sainz Jr. takes the best time in the first free practice session on Friday. The Ferrari driver leads Max Verstappen by two-tenths. Sainz Jr. had to interrupt his practice after a carbon component, placed at the front of the car, detached. Mercedes has to abandon the new front wing, which is considered illegal by the Federation; this does not prevent Lewis Hamilton from placing third, while George Russell is seventh, suffering from problems with the floor of the car, which scrapes against the asphalt. Lance Stroll finishes in fourth place, ahead of Sergio Pérez. The session is interrupted in the early stages with a red flag due to Antonio Giovinazzi's off-track incident in the Haas. The Italian driver loses control of the car in the first sector, crashing into the barriers and damaging the front and the clutch. Among the substitute drivers, who finish behind all the regulars, the best is Ferrari’s Robert Švarcman, whose best lap is ruined by traffic on track. The second session is dedicated to tire development for the 2023 season. The test plan requires each team to complete 26 laps. The laps are split into runs of five laps, with empty tanks, and another two runs of eight laps, with full tanks. Pirelli has already decided on the construction of the front tires, but the compounds are still to be defined. The teams do not have any indication of the type of tire they are using. The five drivers who skip the first session to give rookies some track time - Charles Leclerc, Valtteri Bottas, Daniel Ricciardo, Kevin Magnussen, and Nicholas Latifi - along with Antonio Giovinazzi, have the first 35 minutes of the session to focus on car setup for the race. Both Magnussen and Latifi choose not to take this opportunity and focus instead on tire development for the 2023 season. This explains why, in the time sheets, the best time belongs to Leclerc, on medium tires, ahead of Bottas and Ricciardo. The Monegasque’s time is still better than the one set by Sainz Jr. in the first session. The Spaniard was also the fastest in the phase dedicated to tire development. George Russell is nevertheless satisfied with his work:

"Definitely a unique FP2 session with the tyre test, but good to learn and understand what tyres we will get for next year. Everyone was on slightly different compounds so let's see what we can take away from it in terms of our learning. The upgrades we've brought to the car felt okay so far. FP1 was an odd session today, with some teams looking unexpectedly fast and some other teams that weren't as quick as we expected them to be. With the different FP2 format we don't know yet, what the packing order will be but so far our car is feeling quite strong, which is promising. I'd like to hope that we will be ahead of the midfield this weekend. We're going to work as hard as possible overnight and trying to make sure we will have a fast car".

Carlos Sainz Jr., who showed a very good feeling with both the car and the track, comments on the different Friday in America:

"It was a different Friday here in Austin. In FP1 we managed to complete our program, but FP2 was dedicated to the Pirelli test, so it was one and a half hours of trying next year’s tyres without changing the se- up of the car. This also means tomorrow’s FP3 will be even more important than usual ahead of qualifying. However, overall we have been relatively competitive today so we are confident going into tomorrow".

His teammate Charles Leclerc, with only one session played, says:

"This was probably the busiest FP2 I’ve done so far, but it was fun. We completed a lot of laps, which is good because I didn’t drive in FP1, and tested the prototype tyres for next year. It was a positive day overall, the feeling in the car was good from the start and I look forward to seeing what we can do tomorrow".

Max Verstappen, fresh from his second world title win in Japan, ends the second free practice session in seventh place, behind Lando Norris and ahead of Lewis Hamilton. However, the two-time world champion is satisfied with his performance on track:

"FP1 I think was quite good, we tried a few things with the car and it was pretty positive. We did as much as we could in FP1 as we knew we had to test the tyres in FP2. I tested the C1 tyre which probably isn’t the best for this track, it was difficult to get a proper grip on it but at least we completed the program. Looking ahead to tomorrow, I think the long run is still questionable as we didn’t get the chance to do that in FP2. I did a track walk yesterday to see the bumps as they resurfaced parts of the track, also good for me to walk off the steaks I’ve been eating".

The claims make by the Dutch driver are also confirmed by the feelings of Sergio Perez, tenth at the end of FP2:

"We got good information during FP1 so, hopefully tomorrow after not being able to gain as much in FP2 due to the tyre test, we will be able to get everything right and have a decent qualifying session. Given that we have taken an engine penalty we need a good quali to be able to start as far forward as possible. I believe we can go well around this circuit and have a strong pace through the weekend. I think we need to work a little on the high-speed versus the low-speed balance, we need to improve that to help degradation and everything will come together".

It is Saturday and at 2:00 p.m. local time it is time for FP3 at the USA Grand Prix. During the first two sessions, we saw a dominant Red Bull, ahead of Ferrari and Mercedes. At the start of FP3 is awaited the FIA official statement about the new power units and the penalties on the starting grid. The session starts and Ferrari choses to go on track with different strategies: Leclerc is on soft tyres and Sainz on mediums. The Monegasque is the fastest in the first lap, with a time of 1'37"471. ahead of the two Red Bulls, while Sainz is fourth for the moment. Meanwhile, Mick Schumacher’s Haas presents technical issues, going very slow on the straightline. Carlos Sainz is now at two tenths from his teammate, while Max Verstappen gains the lead in 1'36"706. Charles Leclerc improves with 1'36"765. and goes back to the boxes together with Sainz and the two Red Bulls. Very well for the Mercedes in their first attempt on softs. Carlos Sainz is on track again and places himself second; then, he increases the pace and does 1'42"2., while Verstappen goes back to the boxes. Long-run practice starts for Ferrari and Red Bull with Sainz and Verstappen: the Spaniard does 1'42"5. on meidums, while the Dutch 1'43"0. on softs. Sergio Perez start to dictate the pace in 1'36"578. on used softs, while Verstappen goes wide at Turn 1 so has to do another attempt.

Bottas on new softs gains the seventh place, with 7 tenths of detachment from the best time of Perez with the Red Bull. A quarter to the end of the session and Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen are again on track with new softs for the last qualifying simulation. Good first sector and two bad mistakes for Lewis Hamilton, who despite all runs a good lap. Russell improves and is now sixth with a time of 1'37"064., less than half of a second behine the leader Perez. Sainz runs in 1'43"1. after 6 following laps on mediums. The best time is now that of Verstappen (1'36"223.) who is now ahead of Leclerc, who still need to do better. The Monegasque manages to improve with 1'36"145., but Max Verstappen flies with his Red Bull in 1'35"825. also thanks to a good wake in the straightline between Turns 11 and 12. Sebastian Vettel takes his Aston Martin at the command midfield, in seventh position. So, Verstappen is now the favourite on track, thanks also to Leclerc’s penalty, as the Monegasque has a 10-positions penalty for having changed the endothermic engine and the turbo. Before qualifying, at the FIA Saturday press conference, the Williams’ team representative Jost Capito, McLaren’s Zak Brown and Red Bull’s Christian Horner release some declarations about the budget cup and other aspects of the Championship. Christian Horner speaks about the latest news about the budget cap affair:

"The latest on that is that we are in a process with the FIA. We're hoping to get closure on that. And at that point in time, then all the facts will be laid on the table and we'll be able to talk very openly about the cap, and why we feel that our relevant costs are fully in-line. We're in the process, we're working with the FIA . They’re diligently trying to do their job and hopefully, in the near future, will have a resolution".

About the process that is going on, he shares his thoughts:

"Well, it's a new process. I mean, what you have to remember, with these regulations, is that they were introduced, obviously, at a level where the $175 million, it was then reduced by $30 million during the pandemic, it's a complicated set of regulations. It's 52 pages. And of course we've been through that process and 2021 was the first ever year of a set of very complicated financial regulations, which of course, have a varying… interpretations to them from different accounting specialists. So obviously, the findings of the FIA have been made public recently. And we're now in a voluntary process with the FIA, going through that process with them. And I hope you will be able to conclude it in the near future. But that's where we currently are".

Also Zak Brown explains his thoughts on the budget cap and on Horner’s words: 

"Well, I think the budget cap is very important for the future of the sport. I think everybody recognises that and that's why it was put in place. It is complicated, it is new, I think none of us know any details. So, I think we need to wait for the FIA and Red Bull to finish up the process that they're in. And I think just even like on the Super Licence, it was a shame not to get Colton Herta into the sport. I think he too would have been an excellent addition to the grid. And I think with this being a new process, what we need to do is come out of the backside of this, and learn from it and see what we need to do - as we need to do with other regulations - modify them from time-to-time. I think we all have opinions but we need to kind of see it through and then - as the teams, the FIA and Formula 1 do - sit around a table and say this probably isn't perfect. I don't think anyone thought it would be perfect. And then go: What should we do to modify it moving forward? But fundamentally, the cost cap is a very important part of Formula 1’s future".

Last week, Brown wrote a letter outlining his thoughts on any budget cap breaches. About that action, he says:

"Because all the teams have opinions, and some speak about it vocally, others don't necessarily always bring forward some specific views".

And he adds:

"So, I thought it was important from a transparency standpoint, we all sit around the table, there's a lot of times we discuss things openly and then there's a lot of back-channelling, and I thought I would just lay it out there - not knowing the facts of the case. So, it was more of a response of ‘if these types of things have happened’. It's not for McLaren to decide they have or haven't, but to put forward now that we understand the ramifications if you go over, what some of those benefits can be and how we should address them. So, it's the same conversation, I think, we would have had when we came up with the cap, we just never really spoke about what would be some of the potential consequences and, like all the teams do, suggest to the FIA some solutions for them to take onboard – but ultimately for them to decide".

Horner talks again about being in the process:

"Well, I think that, as Zak said, it's a process, it’s a new process. We made an interim submission in 2021. There was no feedback or suggestion that we were doing anything that was contrary to any regulations. And then, of course, the submission was made in March. Again, we didn't hear anything from that submission in March until the latter part of September. So, it's a significant period of time that there was… and, of course, there’s also duty within the regulations for the FIA to guide, to have effective compliance".

Then, the journalists ask a tricky question to the RB’s number one. Red Bull are the only team that have been accused of overspending and that overspend has happened, however innocently that might have happened a figure of $1.8million has been quoted and the team haven't denied this. So, however much, however innocent, that overspend has been, the team have still benefited from an extra $1.8 million that could have gone into car development that they shouldn't have had under a cost cap. So, Horner is asked if he concede that they have benefitted by an overspend, and that may in some way have contributed to some of the success that they've achieved in 2021, and 2022 so far. The Team Principal answers:

"No. Look, absolutely not. I mean, what you got to look at is what are the relevant costs? And what are the relevant costs within the cap and what's outside of the cap? And that's where the interpretation comes from. And our view is that our relevant costs are within the cap. Now, obviously, we are in discussion with the FIA about what those costs are, and what are mitigating potential circumstances, you know, etcetera. So, we had zero benefit from a development perspective or an operational perspective, either for 2021 or for 2022 from the way that we operated it within the cap. Our submission was significantly below the cap. We expected certain things to be potentially challenged or clarified, as is the process in a brand new set of regulations, but based on external, professional accounting third parties, the interpretation of those rules, of a 52-page document to police this, were very clear from our side. So, we absolutely and categorically don't feel that we've had any advantage either in 2021, or 2022, or ’23 or ’24 or some team’s even talked about ’26, is totally fictitious".

Horner is then asked to tell his thoughts about Brown’s letter:

"Well, obviously, Zak’s letter - which wasn't copied to us, obviously - we've had sight of that letter, and it's tremendously disappointing. For a fellow competitor to be accusing you of cheating, to accuse you of fraudulent activity, is shocking. It’s absolutely shocking that another competitor, without the facts, without any knowledge of the details, can be making that kind of accusation. And that goes… you know, we've been on trial because of public accusations since Singapore".

And he adds:

"And the rhetoric of cheats, the rhetoric of… that we've had this enormous benefit, that the numbers have been put out in the media that are miles out of reality, and the damage that does to the brand, to our partners, to our drivers, to our workforce, in an age where mental health is prevalent, we're seeing significant issues now, within our workforce. We’re getting kids that are being bullied in playgrounds that are employee’s children. That is not right, through fictitious allegations from other teams. And you cannot go around just making that kind of allegation without any fact, or substance. So, we absolutely are appalled at the behaviour of some of our competitors".

Zak Brown continues:

"Look, my letter set out that I think if someone - a team - spends more than the cap, they're going to get an advantage. And the cap is a rule, no different than the technical rules in the sport. We're not taking a view whether they did or didn't. My letter was: if someone has, then here are the things that we think should be addressed. No different than if a ride height is incorrect, or a flexi wing, or whatever the case may be. So I didn't mention any teams. It was a general response. Now that we are into the cost cap era, if someone breaches that, here's what we think some of the ramifications are. I have no idea what the number is, I know none of the details. If we had more money to spend, that would put us in a better light and performance, more people, more upgrades, whatever the case may be. So, we feel it's a performance benefit if someone has spent more than the allocated cost cap, that is up to the FIA to determine whether they have or haven't".

Horner, then, talks again about the process that is going on:

"The process, as per the regulations, is that we've been invited to enter into an ABA, which is for a minor breach, and a procedural breach, that you have the opportunity to discuss with the FIA and present your case, your position on this. And we’re in that process and have been for the last... pretty much, what, 10 days or so? Going backwards and forwards with the FIA. And I hoped for it to be resolved before this weekend. I'm hopeful that it can be resolved during this weekend. But should that not happen, the next process is it goes to the cost cap administration panel and then beyond that there's the International Court of Appeal. So, it could draw it out for another six, nine months, which is not our intention. We want closure on 2021. I think that we've had some healthy and productive discussions with the FIA, and I'm hopeful of being able to reach a conclusion in the near future".

When asked: Has this issue been impacted by amendments that came along after you submitted in March? For example, there's a suggestion that in June there was a change to the way unused spare parts are allocated to heritage departments and so on. So, have the goalposts moved on you? Horner says:

"Yes, in a simple answer to that question. We feel that, again, at such an immature set of regulations, there's going to be clarifications and tidying up, and I think, certainly how unused inventory was treated was, in our view, a change to the regulation. Then perhaps… Certainly we applied a very strict ruling in the way that we treated our new stock. And I think that a clarification came out in June that changed the application of that. That had a seven-digit effect on our submission. But, of course, retrospectively, we were not allowed to change your submission. What you have to remember is that the submission can constitute about 75.000 line items. So, there's an enormous amount of data that has to be inputted into these submissions and I think it's only natural that, in a first year we have a set of very complicated regulations, to be able to get its arms around everything, is almost impossible". 

So he adds:

"Almost impossible. And interpretations have been made, maybe by other teams have been slightly different, and then a change like that has a huge swing in your application of how you've completed your form which, had we been able to resubmit at that point in time, we would have treated very, very differently. So, you know, there's probably several teams that have been affected in that manner".

Journalists then ask to Brown and Capito if this situation has affected their teams too. Capito answers:

"No, it didn't affect us, because we were in line with the regulation after the submission".

Brown says: 

"I can only speak to our process with the FIA, which we found to be very collaborative, lots of clarifications, we asked lots of questions, we were right near the limit, which is, you know, one of the reasons why, in this year we've all dealt with the inflation issue. But you adapt your response. I've been managing budgets my entire life in business. So it's nothing that's foreign to me. And no, we found the process to be quite thorough, quite detailed, and very manageable".

Maybe it is the moment that people can conclude that this as a disgrace for the sport or is it too early to say that? And should we remember what Christian said that we hope for a fast solution - for instance, this weekend - but what happens if it takes another five or six, seven months? To these questions, Horner asnwers: 

"I think it's in the interest of everybody, in the interest of the sport, in the interest of Formula 1 to get this situation resolved as quickly as possible. And I think there are many lessons that can be learned from it".

Browns and Capito say they agree with Christian Horner. The RBR Team Principal then talks about the proposed penalty given by the FIA: 

"I can't tell you that obviously. It's a confidential discussion between ourselves and the FIA. What I will say is that once, hopefully, this situation is concluded there will be complete transparency and I will talk you through the reasoning behind our submission and the position that we had, as to why we felt that each of the line items that have been challenged we believe there's a contrary position. So yes, and it should be transparent. The whole thing should be transparent. There's going to be no private, you know, secret deal. I think it would all be absolutely above board. This is very different to a previous situation".

Brown is asked if he is satisfied with the way that the FIA are handling this investigation, as they promised openness and clarity, and just being open with everyone. He talks about his feelings:

"Yeah, no, I think we have a lot of trust in the FIA. All we were doing was volunteering our opinion for them to take into consideration. I think it has been a transparent process so far, in that, you know, certificates were going to be issued, then it was delayed, but they communicated it was going to be delayed, they've communicated who's received, who hasn't, who had procedural. And I don't think it's right, that it's, you know… It shouldn't be a public hearing. And I've got a lot of confidence that it will be transparent at the end. So I think we need to let the process play out. And only then can you really take a view on what you think of the process. But I think so far it's gone according to how they laid out what the process would be".

Capito talks about the process:

"I think for us, we can say that we had a very open, very thorough and very constructive discussion with the FIA through the whole submission process, and thereafter, and before, through all of the season. As Christian mentioned before, it's not that you just hand the paper in and that's it. So it was lots of discussion. And this was very constructive with us. I believe that the FIA has handled it the same way with every other team as well. I think now it's the right way to first sort the things out and not go public every single day with something new. I think it has to be thoroughly handled. And I believe the FIA will do that with every team. And then when the time is right, and when they are ready, for sure they will be transparent and go public with what the situation is".

Then he argues about the impacts of this on the investors’ standing:

"The procedural breach we had had nothing to do with Williams Racing. So as you know, there are all kinds of companies that are linked to the owner of the team that have to submit an audit. They have companies all over the world. So one third audit company said a couple of days before that they will not finish that in time. That was contrary to what they said before. So it had absolutely nothing to do with Williams Racing. And it was completely beyond our control. So with that, it has no impact on the investors".

Horner says he wants closure through this whole situation and continues:

"We can't be waiting and being in October, November to find out, you know, the outcome of a previous year's championship and I think the FIA going to put the resource in to deal with that, because I think, what you have to remember is this set of regulations was placed upon the FIA to police and I think it's probably taken them by surprise during the last 18 months, just the scale, particularly with the scale of some of the teams and the complexity of it, to have to have to deal with it. And I think they've done obviously the best they can with the resources that they have, but, you know, obviously, the process, we're assured will be a lot quicker next year or for this year. And of course, you know, there are significant challenges within 2022 that when you look at the amount of crash damage some of the teams are having, some of the update levels that are going on, you know, there are precedents that will be set from 2021 will have to apply and with a consistency in 2022".

Then the journalists ask: Christian, how concerned are you that given these clarifications, your submission for this year could be ruled to be in breach as well. And to all three, the 5% limit on the budget cap, this minor infraction, is it right that there's such a big window for error before the more serious punishments are considered? Horner answers: 

"Look, I mean, this year is a challenge with the energy costs and everything else associated with it. If I look at the facts, Max Verstappen has had the least amount of accident damage of any driver on the grid? Sergio Pérez is certainly at the lower end. If I look at the amount of developments compared to some of our rivals we are significantly below that. If I look at the quantity of parts that we're bringing, if I look at where we are in the freight, we're probably the sixth or seventh team that brings in terms of freight volumes to a Grand Prix. So, having been through this process, one can never say that you're fully confident. But you know, I cannot believe when we look at the statutory accounts of others, and so on, that we are in any way out of kilter with the rest of the field".

 About the 5% window he declares:

"The 5% window. Again, I think it's part of the regulations that potentially need to be looked at, because the ranging suite of penalties, again, are totally subjective. And I think this is what's contributed to a concerted campaign for there to be a draconian penalty on Red Bull for what... At the end of the day, you know, we're talking probably... What is in contention with the FIA is a couple of hundred thousand dollars. So, and as I say, I will explain later why we have a differing opinion within that submission of, you know, what, what our position was versus another. But what has been just tremendously disappointing through this whole process is that the leakage that happened is that then suddenly we are tried and subjected to what, three weeks of effective abuse. And then to be seeing... I mean, Zak's got a very convenient memory of the letter that he wrote, accusing us of cheating and being fraudulent. You know, it's just not right. It's just not right. And this has to stop".

On this argument, Brown comments:

"Yeah, I think in hindsight, the 5% is way too high. It's something all the teams discussed and agreed upon. So I think that's something coming out of this that we need to look at, because five 5% is, you know, a very substantial amount of money in percentage basis to things like car development, or people to hire, or wherever you may choose to spend the money. So I think that definitely needs to be reviewed".

Capito continues:

"Yeah, I've got the same opinion. It has to be clarified. And the 5% is quite a lot of money. But when you look at the past before the cost cap, and compare Williams to the top teams, they were outspending, five to 10 times, not 5%. So now with 5%, the gap is much smaller than it was five to 10 times before. But nevertheless, it has to be sorted still, as we want long-term the same kind of competitiveness. And when I hear comments that now everybody has the same cost cap and has the same budget, that everything is on the same playing level, well, if teams outspend another team by five to 10 times for a couple of years, they’re starting from a completely different level. Then the cost cap makes it very difficult for a team that didn't have the resources before to catch up, because we can't outspend the teams who outspent us the years before, even if we would be in the position to have the money. But nevertheless, it has to be cleared. And you don't have in the technical regulations, either the 5%. But I agree that it's the first time of these regulations, and they had a massive impact on many teams. So for the first year to have a kind of a threshold of 5% it must have made sense. But it has to be more strict and clearer in the future, as the FIA and the teams also get experience with the cost cap regulations. And it's complicated regulations, and they have to be complicated. We do not see that they can be simplified from the 50-plus pages to a five-page regulation. So it needs a lot of work and where I see when we work in the F1 Commission, the team's work very well together to find the solutions with the FIA, and with FOM".

Later on Saturday, it is time for qualifying. The Circuit of The Americas welcomes the teams with hot and windy weather. That’s not the only thing casting a shadow over the day: roughly an hour before the start of qualifying, it is announced that Red Bull’s founder Dietrich Mateschitz has died after a long illness at the age of 78. Everyone in the teams pays tribute to the influential Red Bull energy drinks co-founder, and it is decided to go ahead with qualifying. Q1 starts: the first drivers on track are Albon, Schumacher, Zhou, Latifi and Magnussen. Q1 starts with high times, with Schumacher leading the ranking with 1'37"816, while the top teams’ drivers start to get on track, with Verstappen opening the dances. It is immediately a duel between Ferrari and Red Bull with Leclerc who takes the lead in 1'35"795 ahead of Verstappen by just 69 thousandths; a little detached, with 4 tenths, there are Hamilton, Perez and Russell. Alonso gets P6 while Sainz aborts the first attempt and tries on the next: he takes P1 in 1'35"297, half of a second ahead the rest. Five minutes at the end of Q1 and the drivers who are out for the moment are Tsunoda, Albon, Ricciardo, Magnussen and Zhou. For the second run only Ferrari and Red Bull remain in the boxes. Everyone tries to improve except for Schumacher, who spins at Turn 1.

So he concludes:

It looks to be a two-stop race and we know from today that the gaps are incredibly small between us and our competitors. We are gearing up for a six-car fight and it will be important for Carlos to get a good start and to manage his tyres well, while Charles will be coming through from the mid-field. Finally, we want to offer our condolences to the Red Bull and AlphaTauri teams for the loss of Dietrich Mateschitz. His passion for racing and indeed all sports will be much missed by everyone".

Max Verstappen qualifies in 3rd position, which will become 2nd due to Leclerc’s grid penalty:

"It was tough to hear the news ahead of qualifying, the result today doesn’t really matter. What does matter is reflecting on Dietrich and what he did for us as a Team, the whole of Formula One and the wider Red Bull family. Dietrich was always super kind and caring to me. I will forever remember the last visit I had with him a month ago or so, at the time it was very special but it’s definitely more special now. He believed in me from such a young age and many other younger drivers and gave incredible opportunities to so many people. Without him I would not be sitting here today. So, it’s an incredibly tough day".

Sergio Perez follows up on Verstappen’s condolences:

"This is a sad day for the whole Red Bull family, it makes you realise there are much more important things in life. Dietrich’s influence on sport and the way he supported athletes globally truly made a difference to the world. He gave me an opportunity that no one else ever gave me and I will always be grateful to him. It was a very sad moment when we heard the news because we know we are about to become champions and he won’t be here to see us do it. The whole Team is going to be racing for him and his family tomorrow and I really hope we can bring the result he would want from us. We couldn’t find the maximum today with just three sets of tyres but it was a weekend where we knew we had the penalty so we have put the focus on tomorrow and the race, hopefully that pays off. It will be tricky to get up there on this track but we will be trying our best because it would really mean a lot this weekend".

At Mercedes, everyone in the team expresses their opinions and thoughts on today’s difficulties. Lewis Hamilton, who will end up starting third on the grid on Sunday, expresses his disappointment on today’s performance:

"That was a very difficult qualifying session. I felt so optimistic all weekend: the car had been feeling good and everyone back at the factory worked so hard to bring the upgrade, so I was hopeful that we were going to be much closer than we are. Once we got to qualifying, I don't know if it's because temperatures dropped, or the wind picked up, but the car was such a handful suddenly and that made it hard to put the laps together, especially in the final sector. Looking at the race, I think we may be able to keep up with the cars in front - especially through the corners - but they have simply got more baseline pace than us. We are still pushing hard, so it's frustrating not to be closing down that gap to pole, but we will be giving it everything we've got tomorrow". 

George Russell also expresses his difficulties and his worries about tomorrow’s race:

"It has been a difficult weekend for me, and I was off the pace in all the other sessions, so I'm pleased to be in a more normal position for qualifying. Six tenths to pole is a smaller gap than usual for us on Saturday, and we did bring some updates here which are working, so I'm excited to see what happens tomorrow. It will be a race of high tyre degradation and a lot of different strategic options in play, and I think the race will be won and lost in the choices we make - we will need to be dynamic in how we react. Ferrari looked strong yesterday and I think we looked reasonable to them and Red Bull on the long runs, so I'm looking forward to seeing what we can do from the second row".

Toto Wolff is more hopeful than the two drivers, but also expresses his sadness and condolences to everyone at RedBull:

"That was a decent session for us. I think we saw that the last update of the season is working well and there was a lap in the car that could have been up to three tenths of a second faster - but this car is still so tricky to drive, and that's how it goes sometimes. But overall, the car is working pretty well and we could have been closer to the pole - so I think we can be part of some fun games up front tomorrow. Today is a sad day, though, with the news of the death of Dietrich Mateschitz. He was one of the most incredible entrepreneurs in the world - he created an energy drinks market that simply didn't exist before him and built one of the best brands in the world. This sport owes him so much, not just for what he created in Spielberg but also for the two teams he owned and developed. We send our deepest condolences to his family and friends".

On Sunday, October 23, 2022, it is finally race day. The race, starting at 2:00 p.m. local time, will be of utmost importance for Red Bull, which is extremely close to securing their first Constructors’ World Championship title since 2013. The conditions are quite good but there is a very strong wind, around 20-25 km/h. Carlos Sainz is on pole, followed by Max Verstappen. In the second row there are both the Mercedes drivers. Sergio Perez is in ninth position, Charles Leclerc in 12th, both due to a penalty. Magnussen, Schumacher, Alonso and Ocon are starting with hard tyres, while the other drivers are on mediums. The lights go out and the race starts. Max Verstappen is immediately ahead of Sainz with a very good start. The poleman is about to pass the first turn when suddenly he is hit by George Russell. The Spanish driver goes back to the pits and his race ends after just one lap. After the contact, Russell is passed by Stroll and he is given a 5 seconds penalty. On lap 4 Latifi loses some positions due to a spin. Meanwhile Verstappen complains about the strong wind (21.6 km/h) and Perez has a broken wing due to a contact. On lap 13 Hamilton pits for hard tyres and emerges in 6th position. The following lap Verstappen and Russell pit for hard tyres as well: the Red Bull driver emerges second, the Mercedes one is ninth. Charles Leclerc has completed his comeback and is now in second place, when suddenly Bottas goes into the gravel, so the Safety car is deployed and the Monegasque driver opts to pit for hard tyres on lap 19. The same do Alonso, Ocon and others. Safety car ends but this situation lasts only for one lap because on lap 22 Alonso and Stroll have a bad crash that can remind that of Webber in 2010. Another Safety car is deployed and while Alonso goes back to the pits to change his tyres and continue to race, Stroll is unfortunately out of the US GP. 

On lap 30 Charles Leclerc overtakes Perez and is now in third place behind Verstappen and Hamilton. Gasly is given a penalty for not keeping less than 10 cars under the Safety car. On lap 35 Hamilton stops and puts on new hard tyres. Both Leclerc and Verstappen pit for a second time on lap 36, but the Red Bull driver has a problem, for his pit stop lasts 11,1 seconds and he is now behind the Ferrari driver. Verstappen and Leclerc overtake each other on lap 39 but at the end the Dutch driver manages to get ahead of the Monegasque in third place. Hamilton overtakes Vettel and the German driver pits, but since he loses some time with this he emerges in 12th place. Incredible performance by Fernando Alonso, who is now in 7th place after a strong comeback. On lap 50 Verstappen overtakes Hamilton and is back in first position. Both drivers have a black and white flag for exceeding track limits. Meanwhile Leclerc struggles to keep his thirrd position. The race ends on lap 56: Verstappen is the winner, Hamilton is second and Leclerc third. Max Verstappen wins his 33rd career Grand Prix, sixth overall for most races won in the history of the category, the second consecutive race after the previous Japanese Grand Prix, as well as his 13th victory in the season, confirming his victory for the second consecutive U.S. Grand Prix after the one in 2021. About his win and his team work Max Verstappen says: 

"It was not made easy for us but in the end of course, extremely happy to win in this difficult weekend for us. I think this was actually a race that he (Mateschitz) would have loved to see. Of course I’m sad, but I’m also incredibly proud of the whole team of the way they’ve operated the whole weekend - apart from the pit stop, but that was a gun failure and these things can unfortunately happen".

So he adds:

"But we kept it together and we won also the constructors’  title, so I’m very proud of everyone. Also, the people who don’t even come to the track, back at the factory, the effort they put into the car this year has been enormous and I’m very proud of everyone to secure this. What he has done for everyone, the only thing we could do today was win and even though after the pit stop it was not looking great, I gave it everything out there and pushed it to the limit to come back. I mean, I said it before that we are also doing more races a year, so [these records] are not always justifiable. I mean, I think we are having an amazing season, but when you have a great car, you can win a lot of races. Of course, I’m proud of winning a lot of races but I don’t really look at these kind of stats - I’m just happy winning races".

As Verstappen said, Red Bull has won the 2022 Constructors Championship. On this and on his result, Sergio Perez comments: 

"It certainly means a lot for us. You know, it’s been a big dominance by Mercedes in the last few years, so I really hope that the era of Red Bull starts now and that we are able to dominate the next few years. Yeah, it was quite an intense battle out there. It was a shame that we got half of the front wing damaged, and I think that did hurt us quite a lot through the race, and I think once we realised it was missing half of the front wing, we tried to manage it out with the [differential] and so on - but in the end I think I needed one more lap".

Christian Horner remembers Dietricht Mateschitz and what he meant especially for Red Bull: 

"This has been a hugely emotional weekend. That was the best possible way we could’ve won that race. I think Dietrich would have been very proud of that. Max obviously had to fight back after a difficult pit stop [where] we had a problem with the front wheel gun. He just got his head down. I thought there was only going to be one outcome of that race, and to win the constructors’ World Championship after eight long years is incredible. I think there is a hunger within him that I have never seen within another driver - there is a determination. He is growing, maturing, and he’s reading races incredibly well. He was obviously pretty upset after the pit stop but very quickly got his emotions in check, got his head down and paced himself so that he didn’t burn his tyres up, and then was able to get the passes done. This means everything to us. It’s been such a journey. Dietrich was a very private man, but he was passionate - passionate about life, passionate about sport, and he was especially passionate about Formula 1. He had a dream which was to have a Formula 1 team. He did that and, in the end, he had two. He gave us all an opportunity. He believed in us, he backed us, and this is for him. We are just tremendously grateful for everything he has done for us as individuals, as a team, and we are going to celebrate in his honour tonight".

Mercedes has done a good job, with a P2 for Hamilton and a P5 for Russell. On his race and on his battle with Verstappen Hamilton says: 

"I'm shattered. It felt amazing to be in the lead, but the car was a handful today. We came here with upgrades, and we closed the gap a little bit. It was so close, and I did everything I could to try and stay ahead, but Red Bull were just a little bit too quick. We've been working so hard as a Team over this year, and there are lots of positives from this race, as a team we showed great pit stop and strategy performance. I'm also happy with my performance and it was showing when we have a competitive car, I can bring it home. So we'll keep pushing and we'll try and give it everything we can over the next three races - it'll come to us at some stage". 

George Russell could have done better than this placement, but he had the 5 seconds penalty after hitting Sainz Jr.:

"It was a difficult afternoon for me - very unfortunate, how things unfolded at the start as I don't want to be in a position where I contribute to another driver having to retire. It's probably the furthest we've been away from the midfield and the closest we've been to the front for quite a while so a good step forward this weekend. The team back at the factory are doing a great job continuing to update the car, trying to make it a little bit lighter and understanding what we need to work on for next year and that's where most of our focus currently is. Obviously, I want to get back on the podium, because the last time feels like an age ago. We had such a good run of form, but the last couple of races didn't go well in terms of my personal performance. Truly fighting for race wins is still the goal for us. Even if we don't achieve a race win, we want to be in a position where we have a chance to fight for the win". 

Mercedes’ Team Principal Toto Wolff talks about next week race in Mexico: 

"First, congratulations to Red Bull and to Honda for winning the Constructors' Championship; given the sad news yesterday about Dietrich Mateschitz, it was fitting that they should secure the title today. From our side, this weekend was a step forward for us and we showed encouraging performance. No doubt, Red Bull are still ahead of us, but I think we're getting closer to them and Ferrari - and that's a positive outcome for us. We brought an upgrade to Austin and we've seen that reflected in terms of car performance. Obviously, an unfortunate start for George, colliding with Carlos, which I would classify as a racing incident. Lewis had a strong race today and was giving it everything. He had a tyre deficit on the Hard because he simply didn't have any Mediums to choose and still holding on to a potential win felt feasible at that stage, but once Max was past Charles and he couldn't fight back, it was just a matter of time. Next up is Mexico, which we're looking forward to and hopefully can continue to show our performance. On paper, this should be a track that suits our car, but as we've learned this season, it can be a bit unpredictable where we actually stand in reality".

On the podium there is also Charles Leclerc, who started on P12 due to a penalty. On his race the Monegasque comments: 

"It was a fun race and I really enjoyed the battles with Max (Verstappen) and Checo (Perez) on track today. I had a solid start and after that, the first few laps were all about practicing patience. Things looked quite good and we even got lucky with the timing of the Safety Car, but unfortunately we had a little too much tyre degradation for the rest of the race and couldn't fight for higher positions. It was great to be back in the US and see how much popularity our sport has gained here over the past years". 

Bad day in Texas for his teammate Carlos Sainz Jr., who completed only one lap after the contact with Russell: 

"Not much to say today. I got hit by the Mercedes going into turn 1 while battling with Max (Verstappen), I managed to come back to the pits but the car was too badly damaged to continue. I feel the pace would have been there and it would have been an interesting race, but I prefer to look ahead and start focusing on Mexico. It’s not easy to catch a break this season, but we’ll keep going at it until the end". 

Mattia Binotto, Ferrari’s Team Principal, explains the feelings of the team and his thoughts on the last races of the season: 

"Obviously, there are mixed emotions after today’s race. Through no fault of his own, Carlos was out after the opening lap. Charles meanwhile staged a great climb up the order, which took him all the way to the podium. We know that currently, we are lacking something in the races when compared to Red Bull, who by winning the title today honoured their founder in the best way possible. We will continue to work on giving them a hard time, starting right from next week in Mexico and naturally, we are also working hard on our preparation for the challenges that lie ahead next season".

The entire race weekend hosts 440.000 spectators, a new record for the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas, the highest spectator figure of the entire championship. The previous record belongs to the 2021 edition, which had 400.000 spectators over the weekend. Now there are only three races left in this Championship and even if all the titles have been assigned, there is anxious wait for the Mexican GP. In Mexico, Max Verstappen will try to win the 14th race in this season and beat another record. That will also be Sergio Perez home GP, so he can have another motivation to fight for the victory.