Il Austin Grand Prix it ends with seasonal victory number 13 for Max Verstappen who, for the uninitiated, was already world champion in the last GP at Suzuka. However, Christian Horner repeated it loud and clear when Max crossed the finish line. A moment that had been taken away from him in Suzuka. Not exactly a wasted celebration considering that Red Bull has officially won the title with this result builder title, Furthermore in the most difficult weekend for the team, marked by the death of its founder, Dietrich Mateschitz. A lot happened in Austin, until a few laps from the end in which we had three potential winners to challenge each other. There was no shortage of battles in the most backward positions either, even with a few blows too many. Let's see the Tops and the Flops at Fanta F1 in Austin!
Fanta F1, i TOP
We've only picked three, as well as the flops, though, for everything that's happened, we'd have to make an endless list. However, we also underline the great comeback by Alonso after the accident with Stroll, and the tenacity of Magnussen with only 1 pit stop behind him. Among the flops we add Pierre Gasly as icing on the cake.
Max Verstappen: La Red Bull he had more of Max but for the first time after a few races perhaps, he and the team seemed more human, fallible. A sweaty race sometimes happens to him too, which we admit, knows how to get away with putting in a talent that has been given to him but which he has also been able to build year after year. Perhaps the most important victory for Max comes precisely in Austin, where on the day of qualifying he had learned that he had lost one of the mentors who accompanied him up to the two world titles. Even after a disastrous pit stop he didn't lose his grit and recovered until he returned to the leadership of the group.
Charles Leclerc: We knew Charles would give us satisfaction this weekend. A great comeback made bitter only by the fact of not having been able to attack Lewis for P2. The victory was even too ambitious a result but Ferrari gave encouraging signals, and Charles did not disappoint expectations by also making one of the most beautiful overtakings of the race.
Lewis Hamilton: Get in there Lewis! Almost. For the first time he has come one step away from his first victory of the season. Mercedes got close but still not enough to unhinge Red Bull from the top step of the podium. The next races are uphill, but the hunger of a 7-times world champion cannot be satisfied with simple podiums. Al Fanta F1 brings a nice booty to the Fantamanagers who have deployed it. Furthermore, the public appreciated his performance, awarding him the title of best Sky pilot.
FLOPS
Carlos Sainz: Not that he was entirely to blame for what happened at the start – that he was wrong anyway. The fatal mistake is made by Russell, however this is the second consecutive race that the Spaniard concludes after not even 1 lap from the start. It was the perfect weekend to get a podium or even a victory with neither Perez nor Leclerc around. However, he had said that the two Mercedes were not to be underestimated. Just one of them sealed his fate.
Valtteri Bottas: Gone with the Wind is the perfect title to describe the way Valtteri ended up in gravel. Little to do for the Finn who had accused a problem and ended up spinning also due to the strong wind. However, his out has rekindled the race with Safety but this will not restore the points to the Fantamanagers who had lined him up in Fanta F1.
Lance Stroll: The maneuver on Alonso - who ended up with his nose up - should be enough to get him to take away his licence. Aston loses many points in a perfect weekend due to an avoidable mistake involving, among other things, a driver who will be his teammate next year. Fortunately, the two riders escaped unharmed and, among other things, Alonso was able to continue the race.
