From Max Verstappen taking extra points from the McLarens to a first corner that appears to invite drama, and from Ferrari fighting to repeat last year’s victory to tracking limit violations that can impact the final result, here are five things to watch out for when Sunday’s race gets underway in front of a huge crowd in Austin…
1. Verstappen’s growing presence in the title fight
Fast forward to the final race of the European season at Monza, and Max Verstappen was no longer a factor in the championship equation.
The Dutchman had just finished second in his domestic Grand Prix but found himself some 104 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri, and the Red Bull’s performance was no match for the McLaren.
