Which Formula 1 driver made the most of the United States Grand Prix weekend?
It’s time to give your verdict on which driver did the best with the equipment at their disposal over the last three days.
Review how each driver got on below and vote for who impressed you the most at Circuit of the Americas.
Driver performance summary
| Driver | Q stage | Q pos. | Q gap to team mate | SR grid pos. | SR pos. | GP grid pos. | GP pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max Verstappen | Q3 | 2 | -0.436s | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Sergio Perez | Q3 | 10 | +0.436s | 11 | 9 | 9 | 7 |
| Lewis Hamilton | Q1 | 19 | +0.618s | 7 | 6 | 17 | 20 |
| George Russell | Q3 | 6 | -0.618s | 2 | 5 | 20 | 6 |
| Charles Leclerc | Q3 | 4 | +0.088s | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| Carlos Sainz Jnr | Q3 | 3 | -0.088s | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Lando Norris | Q3 | 1 | -0.620s | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Oscar Piastri | Q3 | 5 | +0.620s | 16 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Lance Stroll | Q2 | 14 | +0.330s | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 |
| Fernando Alonso | Q3 | 8 | -0.330s | 14 | 18 | 7 | 13 |
| Esteban Ocon | Q2 | 13 | +0.435s | 17 | 15 | 12 | 18 |
| Pierre Gasly | Q3 | 7 | -0.435s | 12 | 14 | 6 | 12 |
| Alexander Albon | Q1 | 16 | -0.011s | 20 | 17 | 14 | 16 |
| Franco Colapinto | Q1 | 17 | +0.011s | 10 | 12 | 15 | 10 |
| Liam Lawson | Q2 | 15 | -0.456s | 15 | 16 | 19 | 9 |
| Yuki Tsunoda | Q2 | 11 | +0.456s | 9 | 11 | 10 | 14 |
| Valtteri Bottas | Q1 | 18 | -0.076s | 18 | 20 | 16 | 17 |
| Zhou Guanyu | Q1 | 20 | +0.076s | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 |
| Kevin Magnussen | Q3 | 9 | -0.070s | 8 | 7 | 8 | 11 |
| Nico Hulkenberg | Q2 | 12 | +0.070s | 6 | 8 | 11 | 8 |
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
Vote for your driver of the weekend
Which driver do you think did the best job throughout the race weekend?
Who got the most out of their car in qualifying and the race? Who put their team mate in the shade?
Cast your vote below and explain why you chose the driver you picked in the comments.
Who was the best driver of the 2024 United States Grand Prix weekend?
- No opinion (0%)
- Kevin Magnussen (1%)
- Nico Hulkenberg (3%)
- Zhou Guanyu (0%)
- Valtteri Bottas (0%)
- Yuki Tsunoda (0%)
- Liam Lawson (24%)
- Franco Colapinto (18%)
- Alexander Albon (0%)
- Pierre Gasly (1%)
- Esteban Ocon (0%)
- Fernando Alonso (0%)
- Lance Stroll (0%)
- Oscar Piastri (1%)
- Lando Norris (0%)
- Carlos Sainz Jnr (5%)
- Charles Leclerc (34%)
- George Russell (1%)
- Lewis Hamilton (3%)
- Sergio Perez (0%)
- Max Verstappen (8%)
Total Voters: 91
Loading ...A RaceFans account is required in order to vote. If you do not have one, register an account here or read more about registering here
When this poll is closed the result will be displayed instead of the voting form.
2024 United States Grand Prix
- McLaren insist stewards made ‘provable error’ after losing bid for review of Norris’ penalty
- Why McLaren’s focus on Verstappen’s driving failed to overturn Norris’ penalty
- Stewards reject McLaren’s request to review Norris’ United States GP penalty
- McLaren know Norris’ penalty is likely to stand – so what do they hope to gain?
- McLaren request review of Norris’ penalty for off-track pass on Verstappen
Debates and polls
- Are you excited for F1’s live 2025 livery launch event?
- Did the change of start time affect your ability to watch the Brazilian GP?
- Did the stewards give Verstappen the correct penalties for latest Norris incidents?
- How many feeds do you use to watch Formula 1 live?
- Is Mohammed Ben Sulayem doing a good job for F1 as FIA president?
erikje (@erikje)
20th October 2024, 21:51
Had to vote for Hamilton for the comedy value.
BenHur
20th October 2024, 22:29
Of course, Shanghai ‘07 comes to mind. Although that hallowed gravel trap was vanishingly smaller and much harder to hit.
Patrick (@paeschli)
20th October 2024, 21:51
No one at the front really impressed me. Have to go with Hulkenberg, Lawson or Colapinto
BLS (@brightlampshade)
20th October 2024, 21:54
Lawson put in an excellent showing on his return, probably pips it for me.
Nick T.
20th October 2024, 21:54
Most impressed by Colapinto who scored from 16th starting behind Albon and also got fast lap (edit: just noticed Ocon did a pathetic second to last lap fast lap run) while in a car that was clearly only the 7th fastest car w/Alpine, Aston and Sauber being absolutely nowhere.
However, FC like the two others running super long first stints on hard from near the back (George and Lawson) and running in clear air got a massive advantage.
Lawson had a good race too, but he had tons of help: the first lap shenanigans and the safety car which allowed him to get a nice heat cycle into his tires for a long run and let him by a bunch of cars without having to race them; the cars vying for low points battling tooth and nail and slowing each other down or being put into dirty air behind long runners; poor Magnussen needing an ER pit stop and then coming out behind Franco.
roadrunner (@roadrunner)
20th October 2024, 23:38
Didn’t Colapinto enjoy exactly the same “ton of help” as Lawson? They both drove great, but I’d give it to Lawson, because he impressed me more with some nice overtakes on his first stint on hards and with the great q1 lap.
Nick T.
21st October 2024, 4:25
I said that he also benefited from the strategy in my post. I also pointed out the differentiator for me was the fact that the RB was clearly the faster car and that he held the fastest lap until Ocon pitted on lap 55/56 for a new set. Colapinto also inherited less places from the early chaos. So, he had to do more work. Finally, I also credited Lawson with having a standout race. Not sure what you want.
Illusive (@illusive)
20th October 2024, 22:05
Max for getting the absolute maximum from the weekend from that car.
Jere (@jerejj)
20th October 2024, 22:09
DOTW: LEC, but DOTD honor is difficult for me between LAW & COL.
MichaelN
20th October 2024, 22:45
Loved how racey Sainz was this weekend. That’s the kind of measured aggression all Ferrari drivers should have. Drivers at other teams should be anxious to see a Ferrari in their mirrors. Good stuff!
Obviously Verstappen taking a sprint win and third with his 3rd best car is another excellent result for him.
F1statsfan (@f1statsfan)
20th October 2024, 22:51
Agree that Sainz had a really good weekend and was just unlucky in turn 1, if Sainz/Leclerc roles were reversed fairly sure Sainz would have won with Leclerc second.
Leo B
20th October 2024, 22:56
I feel Max was so visibly driving better than his rivals. His defensive manoeuvres versus Norris were impeccable and no driver from the past could have done it better. He really was a cut above the rest today.
Tomas Temichele
21st October 2024, 0:06
Colapinto and no one else
EffWunFan (@cairnsfella)
21st October 2024, 1:28
Went with Lawson. Dues to LeClerc, Props to Colapinto.
Max, I’m sure, got everything out of the car that was available (which you’d think would be enough to get an equally large share of the votes) but – in my opinion – he still drives dirty, even if it may be less overtly than before.
Sad for Albon of late. Big fan of his, but not only is Colapinto outperforming him, but Alex actually seems to be going backwards.
MacLeod (@macleod)
21st October 2024, 8:29
Hard Lawson, Franco, Sainz and Charles looking at the sprint qualify I went for Lawson..
Christopher Rehn (@chrischrill)
21st October 2024, 9:41
This was hard.
My DOTD for the race alone is easily between Russell, with Leclerc second, but they both had weaker sprints+qualifying.
My Driver of the Qualifying was surely Pierre Gasly, but he fell off in the race.
So who did the best across the weekend? It might be Leclerc, he won from P4 after all. Or maybe Lawson? He matched Tsunoda from the get-go, and scored points.
In the end, I give it to Liam Lawson with honorable mentions to Charles Leclerc, Franco Colapinto, and Max Verstappen (for his continued damage limitation that will surely see him crowned world champion).
Pinak Ghosh (@pinakghosh)
21st October 2024, 16:57
To me Carlos Sainz Jr was the driver of the weekend taking into consideration performance on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. If he can keep this up and Leclerc also joins the party over the next five rounds, it would be very interesting end to the 2024 season.
baasbas
22nd October 2024, 7:49
Verstappen a distant fourth? This article starts with a question. And if I had to answer that one it would be Verstappen. Lawson needs a mention. Ferrari used their advantage, but Leclerc got done by his teammate in the sprint who in turn misjudged his first stint in the race.