After another month off, the Formula 1 circus has entered its triple-header in the Americas starting with the United States Grand Prix. Whether you stayed up at 3am (Philippine time) or watched the highlights, the fight for the driver’s championship hits differently now with six races left in 2024. Sure enough, the action at the Circuit of the Americas brought a surprising twist to all fans.

1. Haas feels the American (and Japanese) energy radiating. It seemed that its announced partnership with Toyota Gazoo Racing had boosted Haas’s morale coming into the weekend.

The American team didn’t disappoint its home crowd, apart from a pit strategy hiccup for Kevin Magnussen where a late call for a two-stopper cost his spot in the points. Meanwhile, Nico Hulkenberg continued to impress, racking up positions and maintaining a P8 finish.

It was not just the best result the team had ever accomplished in its USGP history, but it also placed Haas sixth in the constructors’ championship, two points ahead of RB.

2. The rookies are making a statement. It’s a celebration for the fresh faces of F1 as Franco Colapinto (Williams) and Liam Lawson (RB) have achieved their first points in this race.

Colapinto managed to pick up places after being eliminated in Q1, and scored P10 and a point for himself and Williams. The Argentine also aimed for the fastest lap, but a last-minute call for Esteban Ocon (Alpine) ruined any chances for an additional point.

Lawson, who replaced Daniel Ricciardo during the October break, had a tussle with Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) during the sprint race and only finished in P16. However, he was a different breed during the race as the Kiwi crossed the line in P9, proving his worth on the echelon of formula racing.

3. Mercedes was strangely out of form. Would you believe that Mercedes-AMG performed poorly on a track it had dominated five times?

During qualifying, George Russell lost grip on Turn 19 and spun over the gravel trap and into the barrier. While (let’s be real) it doesn’t sound that surprising to hear from the younger Brit, what was surprising was Lewis Hamilton going off at that same corner on the third lap of the race.

While his spin was slower than Russell’s, the result was a beached W15 with no wiggle room to continue racing, ultimately ending the seven-time world champion’s run around COTA for the first time in his career.

4. A lovely battle for P3 tainted by track limits. The biggest spectacle of the race was the fight between Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and Lando Norris (McLaren). For the seventh time after qualifying on pole this season, the Brit immediately lost his lead against the Dutchman on the first corner.

Nevertheless, both championship contenders duked for P3 as the gap started decreasing lap after lap in the last hour. On Lap 52, Norris lunged for the position, but Verstappen tried to shut the door on the outside which consequently caused the papaya car to veer off the track limit.

However, Lando went ahead of Max which prompted a stewards’ inquiry. After a few exchanges and reasonings from each driver’s moves, the conclusion was a five-second time penalty for gaining an advantage, and the three-time world champion got to keep his step on the podium.

5. Let’s not forget the Ferrari 1-2. While the championship battle was on people’s minds, we almost forgot that Ferrari executed a double podium finish. When Lando and Max went off the first hairpin, Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) took the opportunity and breezed past them like it was nothing.

Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) caught up with his teammate down the line, and surprisingly, their pit strategies were free from drama and bad decisions. Both prancing horses achieved a 1-2 finish, a sight we haven’t seen since Bahrain in 2022, and this victory puts the Italian team eight points behind Red Bull.

The Mexico City Grand Prix will be the next race in the triple-header, and it seems like the heat between Lando and Max is going nowhere. Whoever stayed up for the USGP will need to muscle up their energy for October 28 (4am Philippine time).