As the drivers touch down in Austin ahead of a vibrant and action-packed Sprint weekend at the Circuit of The Americas, the energy is already building. After the heat and intensity of Singapore, the grid took a brief moment to recover, reset, and refill their cups before diving back into the climax of the season.
Some turned tourists, others headed straight to the sim (…or Mario Kart!). There were touching tributes, track time, and a few adventures – all of which helped the drivers to reset before the long run to the season’s end in seven weeks time.
Asian adventures
Some drivers took advantage of the week off after the Singapore Grand Prix to make the most of their time in Asia. Mercedes duo Kimi Antonelli and George Russell hopped over to Malaysia to swap their racing helmets for hard hats during a visit to the Petronas headquarters, while Lance Stroll headed to India to stop by Cognizant HQ and meet the team behind the scenes at Aston Martin’s title partner.
Soon-to-be Cadillac driver, and current Mercedes reserve, Valtteri Bottas popped up in South Korea and left with a spot-on caricature to remember his trip by, while Alex Albon squeezed in a whirlwind 24 hours in Thailand, soaking up the home comforts before jetting off to Austin to go racing again.
Building a touching tribute
The love has been pouring in for Lewis Hamilton following the passing of his beloved companion – and superstar in his own right – Roscoe.
During the break, Hamilton received a special gift: a LEGO portrait of Roscoe. It’s a fitting tribute, especially for someone who’s been looking to grow his art collection – though it’s hard to imagine any piece meaning more to him than this one.
Even more racing
A week off from F1 doesn’t necessarily mean a week off racing – just ask Fernando Alonso. He spent the weekend karting, going back to one of the things that first got him behind the wheel. Karting is often a staple in the drivers’ lives, and is the perfect opportunity to race, test themselves, and just enjoy driving without the pressure of the F1 paddock watching.
It’s a trend familiar across the paddock: whether it’s sim sessions, GT races, or just a bit of friendly karting with mates, many drivers use even a short break to chase the thrill of racing and keep their skills sharp.
Mario Kart training
Pierre Gasly ensured his week off was the perfect mix of work and play. He spent time in the gym and on the sim, logging laps and shifting weights to stay sharp before Austin.
But when it came to switching off, unsurprisingly his competitive streak didn’t go far – swapping his steering wheel for a smaller controller to take on F1 25, a few rounds of Wii Sports golf, and even some Mario Kart action. After all, it’s all about finding those extra gains… even if they come with a Wii remote in hand!
Bit of this, bit of that
During the break, Liam Lawson and Nico Hulkenberg gave fans a glimpse of what they’ve been up to – and it was a little bit of everything. Travel shots, training moments, random adventures, and the occasional offbeat snapshot made up their photo dumps, a peek at the lighter and more unpredictable side of life away from the track.
