Why Verstappen is once again a contender to win in Austin

Max Verstappen is likely to compete for victory in the United States, as his recent performances on similar circuits bode well for the defending world champion.

Verstappen can build on results on tracks that resemble the Circuit of the Americas in certain aspects.

The first sector mainly consists of fast corners strung together, where the RB21 has excelled even before its current run of form. Verstappen took his first victory in Japan and later secured pole position for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Verstappen can defeat the McLarens again in Austin

The fact that there is a long straight at COTA is an advantage for Verstappen. The defending world champion won at Monza just over a month ago, which a circuit known for its many straights and high top speeds.

McLaren performs well on almost every circuit this season, but is especially strong on the low and medium-speed circuits. The Circuit of the Americas is generally a medium-speed circuit, which could work in favour of the British team.

While Red Bull previously excelled mainly on high-speed tracks, Verstappen outqualified both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in Singapore.

Max Verstappen finished in second place in Singapore - Photo: Red Bull Content Pool

Red Bull now has an all-round car that allows Verstappen to stay close to, or even ahead of, McLaren on circuits that suit the British team.

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies said after the race in Singapore: “Austin will be a very different equation. Again, it’s back to the famous mid-speed corners where McLaren was also very strong here. They have been very, very strong all weekend against us, and you have a lot of them in Austin and in Mexico. So we take it race by race, and then we’ll see.”

How bad will tyre wear be for Verstappen?

Tyre wear is generally high at COTA. The traction from slow-speed corners, including Turns 11 and 12, puts extra stress on the rears.

The first sector also causes a lot of wear on the front tyres, with many high-speed corners.

Red Bull has improved in this regard as well. Earlier this season, this was often an issue, but the team could seemingly find a solution. As a result, it is questionable whether McLaren can still gain as much.

Verstappen on the podium at COTA in 2021 - Photo: Race Pictures

Verstappen has won the US Grand Prix three times in his career. Especially his first victory was special, where he finished ahead of a faster Lewis Hamilton. The Dutchman won thanks to their strategy, as stopping earlier paid off.

Strategy can also play a role this weekend, especially if McLaren proves faster, as they did in Singapore.

It is very likely that Verstappen can compete for the victory in Texas too. McLaren is very strong on the next circuit on calendar, the Dutchman’s team has made strides in recent months, positioning him to potentially secure three out of five victories since the summer break.

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