After rain early in the weekend, the Capitol City put on the charm for Sunday’s seventh running of the Formula 1™ United States Grand Prix.
With Lewis Hamilton arriving in Austin prepared to battle Sebastian Vettel and snatch yet another ATX victory, events took an unlikely turn when Finland’s Kimi Raikkonen celebrated his 39th birthday in grand style by taking the checkered flag. Hamilton was left with third place behind Max Verstappen. We captured all that and more at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas racetrack October 19-21.
With Friday’s rain, track time was limited—-gaving us the opportunity to spend more time behind the scenes with the race teams.
Scuderia Toro Rosso test driver Sean Gelael during the first practice of the 2018 USGP at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas track.Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel was given a three-place grid penalty for a red flag incident.In the pits with Lewis Hamilton’s car. Hamilton, who has won five of his past six F1 outings in Austin, was fastest in the 2018 practice laps—a performance that put him in pole position Sunday.Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari before heading out for practice.Racing Point Force India mechanics waiting in the pits for #11 Sergio Perez before practice.Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal Maurizio Arrivabene during practice.Scuderia Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel (#5) waiting to start his practice runs.Sebastian Vettel of Scuderia Ferrari during practice.Australian Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull Racing during practice.Current 2018 Championship leader, Lewis Hamilton, of Mercedes AMG Petronas during practice Friday.
Saturday Action: Practice 3 + Qualifying
Ready for action! Scuderia Toro Rosso pit crew helmet and gloves.A relaxed Sebastian Vettel (Scuderia Ferrari driver) in the paddock before Saturday’s qualifying rounds.Finland’s Valtteri Bottas, a Mercedes AMG Petronas driver, caught before Saturday’s qualifying.Sparks fly for Sergey Sirotkin (#35) of Williams.The Dutch driver Max Verstappen (#33) of Red Bull Racing.Kimi Raikkonen of Scuderia Ferrari on the track.Scuderia Ferrari pit practice. Every second counts! During the race, good pit crews take a mere 2 or 3 seconds to service the cars.Star Toro Rosso driver Pierre Gasly.Fernando Alonso during qualifying for the 2018 USGP. At the end of this season, Alonso is retiring from F1 and heading to sports cars and IndyCar.Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes AMG Petronas takes pole for the 2018 USGP.
Sunday Action
The day dawned bright, and the fearless drivers did not disappoint.
Romain Grosjean of American-owned Haas F1 Team during the drivers parade prior to the running of the 2018 USGP.Daniel Ricciardo from Red Bull Racing during the drivers parade.Second place finisher Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing.Williams F1 driver Sergey Sirotkin coming off a turn during the race.A great overhead shot of Scuderia Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel.2018 USGP winner Kimi Raikkonen at the post-race Parc Ferme, an enclosed and secure area in the paddock where the cars are weighed and any other checks deemed necessary by race officials are made.Taking their podium places, Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing (L) second, Kimi Raikkonen Scuderia Ferrari (center) first, and Lewis Hamilton Mercedes AMG Petronas (R) third.Max Verstappen turns the traditional champagne spray on race winner Kimi Raikkonen.Continuing the podium tradition, third-placed Lewis Hamilton turns the champagne spray onto second-placed Max Verstappen.2018 US Grand Prix winner Kimi Raikkonen of Scuderia Ferrari waves to fans and teammates.
