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F1 LIVE | Follow FP1 for the United States Grand Prix
The first free practice session for the 2024 United States Grand Prix is about to take place. In Austin, Red Bull, McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari are all set to introduce upgrades, and they will only get 60 minutes to test and find the perfect set-up, with sprint qualifying taking place later in the afternoon. Will Max Verstappen or Lando Norris lay down an early marker? Find out in our FP1 liveblog.
FP1 LIVE | The United States Grand Prix
Why is the FP1 session crucial in the United States?
Formula 1's sprint format is being used this weekend in the United States, so there is only one practice session. A number of upgrades are being added to the cars. A lot of attention will be on Red Bull and Verstappen. In recent weeks, Red Bull has reported positive expectations about these changes. Helmut Marko believes it will give Verstappen the chance to fight for race wins again, while he expects Sergio Perez to be able to fight for a podium place. The first real indications about the upgrades will be shown during the next 60 minutes.
After winning the last race by nearly 21 seconds, Norris will also get some upgrades from McLaren. While the Woking-based team lead the Constructors' World Championship by a significant 41 points, the British driver finds himself trailing Verstappen in the Drivers' Championship. Norris has a 52-point gap to bridge and can't waste any more time pursuing the three-time World Champion. There are also some changes to the COTA Circuit.
Toto Wolff said leading up to the weekend that Mercedes will bring their final updates for the current season in Austin, Texas. Moreover, Frederic Vasseur's Ferrari has previously made changes to its cars, but it now hopes to fully understand how those changes work on track in order to maximise its performance.