2024 F1 U.S. Grand Prix Preview: Tripleheader at the U.S. Grand Prix

The intense competition begins this weekend and runs through the end of the 2024 F1 season.

Six rounds will be held over an eight-week period, beginning with the first race, the U.S. Grand Prix, followed by a triple-header in the United States. It will be held at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin and will include sprint races.

The sprint races are independent points races and are held on Saturday prior to qualifying for the main race on Sunday. Qualifying will take place on Friday, after one practice session. [The Circuit of the Americas is a 3.4-mile track with 20 corners and an elevation change of 134 feet. Some corners are reminiscent of past and present Formula 1 circuits.

The combination of more high-speed corners than Spa-Francorchamps and more low-speed corners than the Hungaroring also presents a significant challenge for teams and drivers alike.

Another major challenge is the unpredictability of the track surface due to subsidence. However, looking at the weather forecast for Austin this weekend, the weather should be favorable throughout the weekend. Pirelli has nominated C2, C3, and C4 mid-range tires for this round. [Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen leads the 2024 drivers' championship with 331 points. McLaren's Lando Norris is second with 279 points and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc is third with 245 points. McLaren leads the Constructors' Championship with 516 points. Red Bull is second with 475 points and Ferrari is third with 441 points. Last year's winner was Red Bull's Verstappen.

The driver to watch this weekend is Liam Lawson of RB, Red Bull's feeder team. Lawson is filling in for Daniel Ricciardo, and if he outperforms RB's other driver, Yuki Tsunoda, in the remaining races this season, he could eventually be promoted to Red Bull as a replacement for Sergio Perez.