United States GP

Look closer in the Lone Star State

DRIVER REACTION
US GP Sunday portrait

In the stateside sunshine, Fernando claimed a top-10 finish while Lance gained seven positions during the United States Grand Prix, finishing just outside of the points. Read on for full coverage of our weekend in Austin, and get the thoughts of our drivers.

  • Following the declaration of a heat hazard earlier this week, weather conditions were tricky at Circuit of the Americas, with temperatures higher than 30°C.

  • Our drivers opted for opposite strategies. From P10, Fernando began the 56-lap race on Medium tyres. Meanwhile, Lance started on the Soft compound from P19.

  • By the midpoint of the race, Lance was up to P12 after making a number of overtakes during the first half. Fernando was running inside the top ten and looking to claim points.

  • Lance made his pitstop at the end of Lap 28. He returned to the track on Medium tyres. Two laps later, Fernando came in for Softs.

  • When the chequered flag fell, Fernando and Lance secured P10 and P12 respectively, with a point added to our tally.

  • The double-header continues in Mexico City on 24-26 October. Check back here for full coverage.

THE LATEST FROM THE TRACK

Fernando Alonso
14
FernandoAlonso
  • Position

    4TH

  • Fastest lap

    1:33.639 (SOFT)

  • Laps

    23

  • Max. speed (KM/H)

    327.8

Lance Stroll
18
LanceStroll
  • Postion

    14TH

  • Fastest lap

    1:34.610 (SOFT)

  • Laps

    23

  • Max. speed (KM/H)

    325.3

Fernando Alonso
14
FernandoAlonso
It felt like we really maximised the opportunity.

"I'm happy with P6 today. It's one of our better qualifying sessions of the season and we put together some good laps.

"It felt like we really maximised the opportunity, but we do have some fast cars starting behind us, so we'll see if we can score points in the Sprint tomorrow."

  • SQ3

    1:32.910 – 6th (SOFT)

  • SQ2

    1:33.951 – 9th (MEDIUM)

  • SQ1

    1:34.737 – 12th (MEDIUM)

  • Laps

    12

  • Max. speed (km/h)

    327.9

Lance Stroll
18
LanceStroll
Let's see what we can do tomorrow in the Sprint – it's a very tight midfield and Sprint weekends are intense.

"I thought we did what we could today, qualifying in P14 for the Sprint tomorrow.

"In SQ2, I had a snap in T6 during my second push lap and aborted the lap – we could have probably found a couple of tenths there. But in hindsight, you can always look back and find a bit here and there.

"Let's see what we can do tomorrow in the Sprint – it's a very tight midfield and Sprint weekends are intense, but I like it."

  • SQ2

    1:34.394 – 14th (MEDIUM)

  • SQ1

    1:34.988 – 14th (MEDIUM)

  • Laps

    10

  • Max. speed (km/h)

    324.7

Fernando Alonso
14
FernandoAlonso
It was a shame to not make it further than Turn 1.

"It was a shame to not make it further than Turn 1 in the Sprint earlier on, as we were looking at being second or third out of the exit until I got hit."

  • Position

    DNF

  • Started

    6th

  • Fastest lap

    N/A

  • Tyres

    Medium

  • Laps

    N/A

  • Max. speed (km/h)

    N/A

Lance Stroll
18
LanceStroll
Today's not gone my way.

"Today's not gone my way – there was a misjudgement on my side overtaking Esteban [Ocon] at the end of the Sprint earlier today.

"I thought I was close enough to dive down the inside but the track was quite dirty there and I locked the front left. It was my mistake and I apologised to Esteban."

  • Position

    DNF

  • Started

    14th

  • Fastest lap

    1:38.766 (Lap 8)

  • Tyres

    Medium-Medium

  • Laps

    15

  • Max. speed (km/h)

    330.3

Fernando Alonso
14
FernandoAlonso
The car has felt quite competitive for me this weekend.

"The car has felt quite competitive for me this weekend and I am pleased to have made it into Q3.

"In Qualifying this afternoon it was very tight, but we put some strong laps in Q1 and Q2 to progress.

"We didn't have the best out-lap in our final push in Q3 and thought we didn't have enough time to make it to the flag. This meant I pushed quite hard and the tyres weren't as good as they could have been.

"The tyre degradation will be a big challenge tomorrow with these high temperatures, so let's see if we can fight for the points."

  • Q1

    1:33.741 – 10TH (SOFT)

  • Q2

    1:33.237 – 9TH (SOFT)

  • Q3

    1:33.160 – 10TH (SOFT)

  • Laps

    18

  • Max. speed (KM/H)

    328.3

Lance Stroll
18
LanceStroll
Let's see if we can make up any positions.

"In Qualifying this afternoon, we managed to get through to Q2 but with track limits had my lap time deleted and qualified in P18.

"With the penalty from the Sprint, we're starting from the back of the grid tomorrow and see if we can make up any positions.

"In these weather conditions, it's always more challenging managing tyres so we'll see how we do."

  • Q1

    1:34.540 – 18TH (SOFT)

  • Laps

    7

  • Max. speed (KM/H)

    323.8

Andy Cowell
AndyCowell
Starting from P10 gives us a chance to race for points tomorrow.

"A disappointing Sprint earlier today with both Fernando and Lance picking up damage on lap one when the two McLarens crashed into each other.

"Fernando suffered a puncture and Lance had to pit for a new front wing. Lance's Sprint ended after contact with Esteban [Ocon] in the closing stages. The garage crews did an excellent job to get both cars fixed and ready in time for Qualifying.

"The Qualifying session was mixed, with Lance one of several drivers to have a lap time deleted for track limits. Without that, he would have progressed safely to Q2.

"Fernando's efforts earned him a place in Q3, building on the pace we saw in Sprint Qualifying yesterday.

"It was not the easiest of Q3 sessions, but starting from P10 gives us a chance to race for points tomorrow."

Fernando Alonso
14
FernandoAlonso
We'll go again in Mexico and see if we can fight for points there.

"We started tenth and finished there, so we come away with one point in the end.

"We didn't really have the pace to fight for anything more than P10 and it seems we had a bit more performance in Qualifying than in the race.

"It wasn’t the most exciting day for me, and we were open to various strategies, but it was a standard one-stop race. We'll go again in Mexico and see if we can fight for points there."

  • Position

    10th

  • Starting position

    10th

  • Fastest lap

    1:38.789 (LAP 54) (SOFT)

  • Tyres

    Medium-Soft

  • Laps

    56

  • Max. speed (km/h)

    319.5

Lance Stroll
18
LanceStroll
Today was a fun race.

"Today was a fun race – we made our way through the race attacking with some good overtakes and picked up a couple of positions.

"We were close to getting to the points, but it was always going to be tricky from where we were starting – we did the best we could.

"The car was feeling good today and became a bit more alive with the change of wind direction. So a positive Sunday considering yesterday and now looking ahead to Mexico next week."

  • Position

    12th

  • Starting position

    19th

  • Fastest lap

    1:39.071 (LAP 54) (MEDIUM)

  • Tyres

    Soft-Medium

  • Laps

    56

  • Max. speed (KM/H)

    335.5

Andy Cowell
AndyCowell
There is still plenty to fight for in the final five races.

"We had similar pace to the cars around us in a very tight midfield.

"Lance raced well from P19 and delivered some great overtakes to finish P12. Another strong opening stint on the Softs [28 laps] brought him up the order as he chased down Liam [Lawson].

"It's hard to race here in these hot conditions so it was good to see Fernando score a hard-fought point.

"Saturday was very challenging so a huge thanks to the garage and everyone at the AMR Technology Campus for their efforts to get the car race ready. There is still plenty to fight for in the final five races starting in Mexico next week."

See the Science at the Circuit of the Americas

We embark on the final quarter of the season with our second trip of the year to the US; to Austin, Texas and the mighty Circuit of the Americas, home of the United States Grand Prix. Fittingly, for one of the oldest and most venerable races on the F1 calendar, COTA is a real racers' track: fast changes of direction; wheel-to-wheel racing; overtaking opportunities – a stark contrast to last time out on the tight streets of Marina Bay.

The team comes to Austin energised by an overtaking masterclass performed by Fernando in that Singapore race, but aware that the United States Grand Prix requires a very different sort of racing. And it's a Sprint weekend, meaning setup time is limited and everyone needs to hit the ground running with big points on offer.

We also arrive with a fresh new look for Austin, with our first-ever special-edition livery, where every formula tells a story as we invite you to See the Science of F1 and explore the innovation and ingenuity of the most technologically advanced sport on Earth. Take a closer look at the livery below, and keep scrolling for everything you need to know this weekend.

Austin cranked up the heat during Saturday's sessions, resulting in tricky conditions at Circuit of the Americas. Read on for full coverage of our weekend at the United States Grand Prix, and get the thoughts of our drivers.

  • The weather continued to affect track conditions, with strong winds causing a 15km/h tailwind out of Turn One and temperatures reaching 35°C.

  • After starting the 19-lap Sprint in P6, a Turn One incident on Lap One put an end to Fernando's race.

  • Lance's AMR25 was also damaged on the opening lap. He was able to continue after pitting for a new front wing and fresh Mediums, but a late race incident marked the end of his race.

  • Between sessions, our team worked hard to repair both cars in time for Qualifying.

  • A Red Flag put an early pause to the first Qualifying segment, but our duo were straight back out on track once the session resumed.

  • Lance unfortunately had a lap time deleted, resulting in him being unable to move into Q2. A five-place grid penalty means he'll begin the Grand Prix from the back of the grid.

  • Fernando made it through to Q3 and secured his second top-ten start of the weekend.

  • Lights out for the United States Grand Prix is at 20:00 BST. Check back here for full coverage.

TRACK INSIGHTS

Circuit of the Americas

US GP header track portrait
Sector One is one of the greatest things in racing. You go up a huge hill to start the lap, and you drop straight back down like a rollercoaster.
Jak Crawford – Aston Martin Aramco Young Driver
Track map
  • Sectors
  • Turns
  • DRS
  • Circuit length (km)
    5.513
  • Number of corners
    20
  • Race distance (km)
    308.405
Session Times
FP1
Fri17OCT
SQ
Fri17OCT
SPR
Sat18OCT
Quali
Sat18OCT
Race
Sun19OCT
Innovation. Ingenuity. Inspiration.

See the Science

A special-edition livery for the United States Grand Prix. An invitation to explore the science that doesn't just make Formula One, but inspires it.

This one's for the curious
Close Up 1
I / AM

Win the race suit

A unique PUMA race suit for a unique livery. A replica of the special-edition United States Grand Prix race suit, signed by Fernando, could have been yours.

Make sure you’re signed up to I / AM to unlock more exclusive giveaways.

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See the Science race suit competition
Talking Points

Pulling 5 g at COTA

Corners you can't see, kerbs you need to kiss, and compromises you must make at the Circuit of the Americas.

GET PEDRO'S INSIGHT
Pedro Talking Points USA list image
Need to know

F1 Sprint explained

Get your essential guide to the fast and frantic race weekend format.

DISCOVER MORE
Lance Sprint guide 50 50
Fresh fits

Upgrade your wardrobe

Shop our 2025 replica collection on the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team store. Join our team on this season's journey with brand new tees, jackets, and team and driver caps.

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