A huge topic of discussion this week revolved around the front bib and allegations that Red Bull was cheating. Although it may sound like something you wear before eating a particularly messy meal, the front bib (or T-tray) is a device located behind the front axle of the car and is one of the mounting points for the wooden plank under the car’s floor. The plank ensures cars are not running too low to the circuit. If too much of the plank is worn during the session, meaning the car was running too low and scraping the ground too much, the car will be disqualified, as we saw at last year’s United States Grand Prix.
Multiple teams approached the FIA with concerns that Red Bull can illegally adjust the front bib height during Parc Ferme. Between qualifying and the race, the cars enter “Parc Ferme”, meaning only limited adjustments can be made to the car. This prevents teams from running vastly different car setups during the two sessions. Since the cars are significantly heavier in the race due to the amount of fuel, adjusting the front bib would allow a team to run lower than its competitors in qualifying while being able to raise the front bib for the race to avoid a penalty. On Red Bull’s car, the screw to adjust the front bib is located in the cockpit and is easily accessible by mechanics. Teams alleged that Red Bull could easily adjust the front bib height before the race without the FIA stewards noticing. After an investigation by the FIA, a seal has been added to the screw on the front bib adjuster, preventing mechanics from modifying the front bib during Parc Ferme. The FIA couldn’t determine if Red Bull had ever adjusted the front bib illegally in the past. Although McLaren has called for a more thorough investigation, the FIA now considers the matter closed.
Formula One has decided to scrap the bonus point for setting the fastest lap in the race for 2025. Since 2019, the driver who sets the fastest lap in the race (excluding sprint races) earns a single point in the championship standings, unless they finish outside the top ten. Although the initial intention was to create more thrilling races, the fastest lap had little impact on the quality of the racing, often benefitting drivers who had enough of a gap to the pursuing car to make a free pit stop in the closing laps. The FIA World Motor Sport Council approved the change at their Thursday meeting. The decision comes just a few weeks after Daniel Ricciardo controversially denied Lando Norris the fastest lap by pitting in the closing laps of the Singapore Grand Prix, despite being well out of the top ten, finishing the race in last place. The fact that the move benefitted Max Verstappen stirred up a lot of discussion, considering to close ties between RB and Red Bull.
Adjustments have been made to the 2026 financial regulations to accommodate teams not based in the UK or Italy. The primary concern comes from Sauber, based in Switzerland, a country with significantly higher wages. According to 2023 figures from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Switzerland has the fourth highest average annual wage of US$79,204 compared to the UK, which sits fifteenth on the list with an average salary of US$55,173. The difference in expected salary puts teams like Sauber at a disadvantage, as they spend more of their cost cap on staffing costs. With the budget cap regulations expanded for 2026 to include more aspects of the teams’ operation, teams need an equal playing field. The 2026 regulations will include a “cost cap offset” based on data from the OECD, granting teams like Sauber a higher budget for the season.
Teams will be required to run a rookie driver in the first free practice session during two race weekends per car in 2025. The plan was approved by the FIA World Motor Sport Council at their Thursday meeting to increase seat time for upcoming talent. The current regulations require teams to do this only once per car per season.
Pirelli was forced to pull its trophies ahead of the United States Grand Prix due to potential copyright infringement. The trophies, called “Heroo”, were designed by Matteo Macchiavelli. They featured a black body with articulating carbon fibre arms and chrome heads. After being revealed on Monday, many fans drew comparisons to other popular culture items including Lego (a popular toy brick company), Mickey Mouse (a beloved Disney character), and Deadmau5 (a Canadian music producer and DJ). But it was the similarity to the Japanese toy brand Bearbrick that finally caused Pirelli to pull the plug on the idea. Instead, Pirelli had to fly a set of large replica Pirelli tyres, similar to the ones given to the pole sitter, to the circuit as a replacement.
With only one practice session ahead of sprint qualifying, Carlos Sainz set to work by setting the fastest time in free practice for the United States Grand Prix on Friday. He was closely followed by teammate Charles Leclerc, showing the strong pace the Ferrari was capable of around the Circuit of the Americas. Most teams were running upgrades from the three-week break since the race in Singapore and were eager to see the results. The newly resurfaced track proved challenging, especially for the Mercedes, with both their drivers suffering spins. Max Verstappen was third fastest, just beating out both McLarens and Lewis Hamilton.
Pole position for the sprint race was earned by extremely narrow margins, with Max Verstappen narrowly out-pacing George Russell. Oscar Piastri was the shock exit in SQ1, having his lap time deleted for track limits while Alex Albon was eliminated after spinning his fast lap. In SQ2, Sergio Perez set a lap time only worthy of P10 but was dropped into the elimination zone after Yuki Tsuonda improved his lap time. SQ3 was briefly yellow-flagged when Franco Colapinto spun his Williams. Russell set the early pace but a late run by Verstappen was enough to take pole position by just 0.012s. Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris were on the second row ahead of Carlos Sainz and Nico Hulkenberg, having an impressive showing in the Haas.
Max Verstappen returned to the top step of the podium for the first time since the Austrian Grand Prix sprint race back in June, now winning the US GP sprint race from pole position. George Russell had a slow start from the front row of the grid, losing a position to Lando Norris in the first corner and then to both Ferrari drivers throughout the race. Norris couldn’t keep up with Verstappen, falling into the clutches of the Ferrari cars behind. Although Charles Leclerc led the way on the opening lap, Carlos Sainz overtook his teammate after a particularly aggressive fight in the opening laps. He went on to overtake Norris for P2. Leclerc was all over the back of Norris in the closing laps but failed and had to settle for P4, nearly colliding with the McLaren on the final lap. Click here to read a full recap of the sprint race.
Eager to challenge his championship rival, Lando Norris earned pole position ahead of Max Verstappen during qualifying. Lewis Hamilton was the shocking Q1 exit this time around, setting a lap time that could only best Zhou Guanyu. Many drivers struggled to keep their cars within the white lines, with multiple lap times being deleted for track limits. Norris was quickest in Q2 and Liam Lawson was the slowest, although he would be starting the race from the rear of the grid for engine penalties anyway. In Q3, Norris set the early pace, but Verstappen was looking on track to beat it. His efforts were nullified though as George Russell had a dramatic spin into the barriers at the penultimate corner, bringing out the yellow flags. Ferrari locked out the second row of the grid. Russell would have been on the third row with Oscar Piastri but would start from the pit lane on Sunday due to repairs, promoting Pierre Gasly alongside the New Zealander in a similar orange-liveried car.
Charles Leclerc led the way to a Ferrari 1-2 finish in a dramatic race on Sunday. Lando Norris had a solid getaway from pole position but was forced wide in the first corner by Max Verstappen. This enabled Leclerc to strike and take the lead, appearing untouchable for the rest of the race. Despite an early fear of a mechanical issue, Carlos Sainz was the first of the lead cars to pit, managing to undercut the other cars to take P2 in the race. Norris extended his first stint to give himself a tyre advantage, allowing him to catch championship rival Max Verstappen in the closing laps. After following the Red Bull close for many laps, Norris tried going around the outside of turn 15, but Verstappen forced him off the circuit. Norris gained the position, his team believing he was ahead at the apex. The stewards disagreed, handing him a five-second penalty, which demoted him to P4 behind Verstappen. Click here to read a full recap of the race.
Organizers from the Circuit of the Americas were fined €500,000 after fans invaded the circuit while cars were still completing their cooldown lap. Due to the danger of the situation, the FIA takes these matters very seriously. Last year’s Australian Grand Prix suffered a similar situation, forcing the organizers to ban the track invasion at this year’s event. COTA officials were summoned to explain the situation, after which they were handed the fine. Part of the fine (€350,000) has been suspended, meaning the organizers will not need to pay it if no similar violation occurs at FIA-sanctioned events before the end of 2026. the officials also have until the end of the year to submit an action plan to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
The triple-header continues next weekend as the teams and drivers travel to Mexico for the Mexican Grand Prix on October 27.
It can be challenging for even the most avid fans to keep up with the fast-paced world of Formula One. The Weekly F1 Recap is a series published each Monday that breaks down the action, both on and off the circuit, into bit-sized pieces. It's perfect for casual and experienced fans alike.
