The US Grand Prix weekend left Red Bull boss Christian Horner with conflicting emotions. On the bright side, Max Verstappen secured a win in the Sprint and managed a podium finish, beating out Lando Norris. But the main race revealed a gap in performance, as Red Bull found it difficult to keep pace with Ferrari. Over at McLaren, the mood was one of frustration, as they believed a podium finish was theirs for the taking if not for a disputed penalty handed to Norris toward the end of the race.
It was another grueling weekend for Sergio Perez, who failed to pick up any points in the Sprint and ended up as the lowest-placed driver among the top four teams (excluding Lewis Hamilton) after a premature crash. These ongoing struggles have put Red Bull's junior team, RB, under the microscope and reignited the debate over whether Perez will keep his seat.
While rumors suggest Yuki Tsunoda might be the one to replace Perez, it was Liam Lawson who truly stole the spotlight. Starting from a dismal 19th position, Lawson fought his way up to 9th place, matching his best-ever result from his previous stint with the team last season.
In a conversation with Sky Sports, Christian Horner was full of praise for Lawson, noting that while it was only one race, the young driver stepped in and handled himself like a seasoned professional. Horner described him as a natural racer who should be incredibly proud of his drive, especially considering he climbed from 19th to a points-scoring finish with some impressive overtaking maneuvers.
When Jenson Button pointed out Lawson's aggressive side—specifically how he managed to get under Fernando Alonso's skin—Horner agreed, jokingly adding that if you're capable of upsetting Alonso on the track, you're clearly doing something right. He characterized Lawson as a gritty, determined competitor.
Lawson entered the race with a relaxed mindset, largely because his starting position left him with nothing to lose. Although he posted one of the fastest times in Q1, his primary role was to support Tsunoda. Ironically, Tsunoda failed to make the top ten and was visibly frustrated as he watched Lawson surge past him. Martin Brundle observed that Lawson's performance clearly demonstrated his potential as a future Red Bull driver, which only makes Horner's decision-making process more complicated.
Despite surviving a performance review over the summer, Perez's contract still contains exit clauses. If Lawson continues to deliver these kinds of results, Red Bull might be forced to make a tough call on Perez's future before the winter break begins. In other news from the event, Charles Leclerc took the victory at the 2024 United States Grand Prix.
When asked if the FIA's directives regarding rear wing designs shifted the competitive balance, Christian Horner explained that in a sport where cars are this closely matched, every tiny detail matters. He emphasized that F1 is a game of marginal gains, and while the FIA's clarification will inevitably cause some differences, the actual impact will vary depending on the specific characteristics of each circuit.
Andrea Stella, the team principal of the current constructors' champions McLaren, isn't as convinced. He doubts these changes will significantly alter the standings, suggesting that most teams likely had to make similar tweaks. He expressed surprise at the idea that only a few teams were affected by the rear wing adaptations.
Stella clarified that McLaren adjusted their rear wing after the Baku race, following discussions and guidance from the FIA. However, he insisted that this was a minor technical tweak and not the cause of any sudden shifts in performance from one race to the next.