The first round of the three planned in this last hat-trick of the season goes to Max Verstappen. The Dutchman in a rather complicated weekend ad Austin reaches another great milestone in his career, namely 50 victories. He gets there with still 4 races to go but perhaps with less certainty on his RB19. In fact, it wasn't an easy weekend for Max in Texan. On Friday he makes a mistake which forces him into a comeback race which he initially manages well. He had to earn this victory also thanks to a brilliant McLaren in the initial and central phase of the Grand Prix, but also to a rediscovered Mercedes with Lewis Hamilton. This time Ferrari had to settle for fourth and sixth place. Not the desired result, also due to an unprofitable strategy. The race held several surprises for us, so let's see the tops and flops of the United States GP at Fanta F1.
The Tops of the United States GP
Land Norris: Even though the victory didn't come this time either, Norris can't help but leave the weekend in Austin satisfied. After making an excellent start, he holds the lead of the race and remains in the lead of Max Verstappen. He is the only one who can put pressure on Max who this weekend had more problems and made more mistakes than usual. It's a shame for him at the end, where he loses position over Hamilton. But it is still the twelfth podium of his career.
Lewis Hamilton: Lewis is taking the reins of the team this year after taking pay from his younger teammate for a full season last year. After the big mistake in Qatar, a good weekend arrives for the seven-time world champion. The team misses the pit and forces him into a frantic chase to recover the ground that divides him from Norris and Verstappen. The fight with Lando is tough but it's a game that a hunter like Lewis likes, especially on the American circuit. In addition to second place, he also takes the public vote as a Sky pilot. Lots of points for Fanta F1.
Yuki Tsunoda: A masterfully managed race and the willingness to take risks at the last minute to take the additional point of the fast point being in the top 10, can only make us place him among the top. It's the first fastest lap point of his career. We wish we had written the quick point bonus rule giving more points to Fanta F1 just so we could give them all to Yuki after today's race.
The Flops of the United States GP
Stephen Ocon: when it's not Pierre's turn, it's Ocon's turn to park the car in the pits early. This time the Frenchman's retirement was caused by a contact with Piastri on the first lap of the Grand Prix. It's another -10 added to the collection of bad results at Fanta F1. We are at 7 retirements this season. 1/4 season.
Oscar Piastri: Weekend of ups and downs for McLaren. Highs with Norris, leader of the GP for the first part of the race and on the podium at the end of the race, but lows for Oscar Piastri who in Austin during the Grand Prix replicated the bad result of the Sprint, with much worse consequences. Both Saturday and Sunday he suffered contacts on the track. However, his retirement from the Grand Prix weighs more heavily on the finances of the Fantamanagers who had fielded him at Fanta F1. Important points also missed in optics manufacturers ranking.
Fernando Alonso: It may seem obvious to include among the flops the three drivers who retired from the race but with less than 10 laps to go we see Fernando Alonso return to the pits due to a suspension problem, when both he and Stroll had earned the top 10 starting from pit lane, it hurts. A beautiful comeback ruined by a problem that ruined everything, even the points of the Fantamanagers who had fielded him at Fanta F1.
