Formula 1 2023 is heading towards the finishing straight with four races in the Americas before the traditional Abu Dhabi finale.
The American swing begins, fittingly, with a visit to the Circuit of the Americas near Austin, Texas for this weekend's United States Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen wrapped up the drivers' title last time out in Qatar, while his Red Bull team claimed the manufacturers' trophy in Japan before that, but don't expect the dominant pairing to ease up.
- Lewis Hamilton podium finish
- Nico Hulkenberg points finish
- Carlos Sainz top-six finish
Mercedes Looking For '24 Clues
Lewis Hamilton's hopes of winning a record eighth drivers title this year never really got off the ground.
But with relatively few rule changes coming in for next year, his Mercedes team are pushing on with development of their car and are introducing an upgraded floor in Texas.
Intricately designed floors provide a lot of the performance of modern F1 cars, and while the team have admitted the new parts won't see them leapfrog Red Bull, they are hopeful it will help them maintain second place in the constructors standings.
Ferrari and McLaren have come on strong in recent races, but Mercedes will be rueing a Qatar Grand Prix that saw their drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell collide on the first lap when challenging for the lead.
Hamilton was out on the spot while Russell dropped to the back after pitting for repairs, but he charged back through the field to finish fourth.
That impressive race pace could certainly see them on the podium in Texas, a circuit where Hamilton has gone particularly well in the past, and the veteran Briton could be worth a bet to finish in the top three on Sunday.
Hamilton eyeing up another US podium
Haas Aiming To Move Forward
It has been a miserable season for Haas, who dropped to ninth in the constructors' championship in Qatar.
However, they have long been pinning hopes on a major upgrade that is set to appear on their cars at the team's home race this weekend.
Driver Kevin Magnussen has warned not to expect too much, but in a tightly-packed lower-half of the grid, small improvements in pace can lead to leaps up the order.
The Haas has shown plenty of speed over one lap on several occasions, but the performance drops off alarmingly over a race distance, and they will hope the improvements have fixed that.
Magnussen picked up the team's last point with 10th place in Singapore, but Hulkenberg is the better qualifier and looks a safer pair of hands.
Sainz hoping for a change of luck
Sainz Hoping For Change Of Luck
Ferrari's battle with Mercedes was dealt a blow in Qatar when a fuel flow problem prevented Carlos Sainz from starting the race, but the Singapore Grand Prix winner looks a decent bet to finish in the top six in Texas.
Ferrari's performance has been a bit inconsistent, but Sainz has finished in the top six in the last four races he started and can continue that run.
