Why Lewis Hamilton is ‘looking forward’ to US Grand Prix even if Mercedes’ upgrades fail

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Mercedes plan to run a substantial upgrade package at the 2024 United States Grand Prix, yet Lewis Hamilton is ‘looking forward’ to the race even if the parts fail in Texas.

Formula 1 returns from its unofficial autumn break in Austin on October 20, with the United States GP kicking off the final six rounds of the campaign. It is also the fourth of six F1 Sprint events this term, in what is the longest Formula 1 season so far with a total of 24 Grand Prix.

The extended break since the Singapore Grand Prix, where Hamilton and teammate George Russell finished in P6 and P4, has offered Mercedes a chance to develop new upgrades. The Silver Arrows duo both finished over a minute behind race winner Lando Norris of McLaren.

Lewis Hamilton is excited to have a fresh Mercedes engine for the United States GP

Mercedes have regularly been off the pace set by engine customers McLaren plus rivals Red Bull and Ferrari since the summer break. Hamilton has not ended a race higher than his fifth place at the Italian Grand Prix since the 39-year-old won the Belgian Grand Prix back in July.

Russell has taken one podium since the summer break with P3 in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez crashed fighting over the position. So, Mercedes intend to unveil upgrades at the United States GP they hope can help to stop overheating the tyres.

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Yet even if the upgrades fail to deliver, Hamilton is excited for the United States GP as he will have a fresh power unit in the back of his Mercedes. The Briton hopes the newer engine the Silver Arrows fit in his W15 adds more performance at a circuit where overtaking is possible.

“It’s a good track,” Hamilton shared, via F1i.com. “It’s one of the best circuits for racing. I’m looking forward to going there and, well, at least I have a fresh engine there. Hopefully, our upgrades work. I know the team are working incredibly hard to bring these upgrades.”

Where is the F1 United States Grand Prix in 2024?

Despite the current version of the race debuting on Formula 1’s calendar back in 2012, some fans are still asking where the United States Grand Prix is in 2024. F1 has gone to the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas each season except for in 2020 to run the United States GP.

The United States GP was missing from the calendar in 2020 due to requirements relating to the Covid-19 pandemic. But questions on where the United States GP is have also risen due to F1 also having the Miami Grand Prix since 2022 and the Las Vegas Grand Prix since 2023.

READ MORE: The best moments of Lewis Hamilton’s career in Formula 1

Hamilton won the first United States GP at the Circuit of the Americas in 2012 whilst driving for McLaren. The race marked Formula 1’s return to the USA after its four-year hiatus due to the fallout from Tyregate at the 2006 United States GP at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

It was also Hamilton who won F1’s last race at Indianapolis in 2007 during his rookie season with McLaren. Joining Mercedes in 2013 has also seen Hamilton register four further United States GP wins at COTA, where he also secured the Formula 1 drivers’ championship in 2015.