US GP: How Do Hamilton, Verstappen & Other F1 Drivers Pair Up for Press Conference at COTA, Austin?

F1 is all set to flag off the United States Grand Prix for the first time since 2019, and what better way to start the race weekend than watching the driver’s press conference! Of course, not many F1 fans had shown interest in keeping tabs on the pre-weekend press conferences in the past.

However, this year has been quite different. Unlike in the past, all drivers get a chance to attend the press conference, and not in groups of four or five but in pairs.

Formula One F1 – Italian Grand Prix – Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza, Italy – September 11, 2021 Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton during the sprint qualifying REUTERS/Massimo Pinca

And we’ve already come across some exciting pair-ups including Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton amidst the duo’s ongoing rivalry. But, this time around, the organizers have opted to add the element of fun with this weekend’s driver pairings.

Exciting F1 driver pair-ups to watch out for

First and foremost, it’s the former Red Bull teammates, Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen. The duo, despite holding onto some bitter memories like Baku 2018, is still very much the best and most importantly, one of the funniest pair-ups.

Then, there’s another similar pairing, only in this case, it’s former Ferrari teammates – Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso; two of the oldest and the most experienced F1 drivers on the grid. They were racing from within the shadow of Ferrari for one year in 2014.

Race winner Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing celebrates with third place finisher Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and Red Bull Racing on the podium during the Malaysia Formula One Grand Prix at Sepang Circuit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

Next up are the two drivers who could well be rivals next season; George Russell and Sergio Perez. The former is set to join Mercedes next season, as the team’s second driver similar to Perez at Red Bull. Hence, there is a massive chance that the duo could spur some intense rivalry in 2022.

Complete press conference schedule for the US GP

Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) & Nicholas Latifi (Williams)
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) & Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
Kimi Raikkonen (Alfa Romeo) & Fernando Alonso (Alpine)
Mick Schumacher (Haas) & Lando Norris (McLaren)
Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) & Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo) & Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri)
Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) & Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin) & Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
Esteban Ocon (Alpine) & Nikita Mazepin (Haas)
Sergio Perez (Red Bull) & George Russell (Williams)

Overall, a rather interesting pair-ups scheduled for the press conference over the upcoming race weekend at the Circuit of The Americas. Could this build up to an exhilarating US Grand Prix?

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