One year and one day later, Alex Rins’ second victory at the Grand Prix of the Americas remains one of the most unexpected wins in recent MotoGP history. While there have been other surprising victories, like Jack Miller’s in Assen in 2016, Rins’ triumph at COTA in 2023 solidified his reputation as a talented rider who excels on the Austin track. Both of his premier class wins at COTA required some external assistance, with the leader suffering a crash. However, last year’s Honda should not have been in second place, especially considering it was only Rins’ third start with the bike. Throughout the season, Rins led a total of 15 laps, 13 of which were at COTA.
With his past success at COTA and a new Yamaha bike at his disposal, there was anticipation for another impressive performance from Rins. However, that was not the case. Despite his affinity for the track, Rins, even more than his Yamaha teammate Fabio Quartararo, was not in a position to compete for anything other than moral victories. MotoGP riders, like Johann Zarco from LCR Honda, acknowledge Rins’ skills at COTA but recognize that he couldn’t keep up with their speed. Rins may not have been as fast as on the 2023 Honda, but he was still ahead of the struggling 2024 Hondas.
This year, both Honda and Yamaha seem weaker than before, with the so-called “Japanese cup” becoming a more realistic target for both brands. Rins, who faced challenges adapting to the Yamaha M1, did not feel particularly competitive at the beginning of the weekend. The heavy feeling of the M1 affected his performance in the fast changes of direction in the corners at COTA. Despite these difficulties, Rins showed some competitiveness in terms of lap times compared to Quartararo. However, Quartararo still had an advantage in race pace, and Rins acknowledged that he needed to adjust his riding.
Rins’ race at COTA did not go as planned. He found himself in last place on the first lap due to a series of incidents involving other riders. Although he managed to recover and reach Quartararo, he could not keep up with the pace of the French rider. In the main race, Rins briefly climbed to seventh place on the first lap, but was quickly overtaken by several riders. Unfortunately, he crashed on the 11th lap. Rins explained that the crash was partially due to the ongoing process of finding the right setup with the Yamaha. Currently, the combination of team and rider is not in a position to fight for the top positions.
Perhaps Rins’ adaptation to Yamaha would have been smoother if they had had a proper testing session after the Portimão GP. However, due to weather conditions, Rins and Quartararo were only able to complete a few laps. Despite this setback, Yamaha is not limited by test days under the concession system, so they will have opportunities to make up for lost testing time. COTA showed that Rins has the potential to succeed with Yamaha, and although he may not have had the ideal start to the season, he is still a valuable asset to the team.
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The Formula 1 driver, Lewis Hamilton, achieved another victory at the Monaco Grand Prix this Sunday. With a flawless performance, Hamilton led the race from start to finish, leaving his opponents behind. This was the seventh victory for the British driver at the Monte Carlo circuit, further consolidating his dominance in the category.
The race began with Hamilton starting from pole position and maintaining the lead right from the first corner. Despite the pressure from Max Verstappen, the Mercedes driver managed to keep the advantage and control the pace of the race. Verstappen finished in second place, followed by Charles Leclerc, who completed the podium to the delight of the Monegasque fans.
The victory in Monaco puts Hamilton even closer to the season title. With this result, he extended his lead in the championship, leaving his competitors increasingly distant. With his consistent performance and skill on the track, the British driver shows why he is considered one of the best in Formula 1 history.
In addition to Hamilton’s victory, the race in Monaco was also marked by several incidents. Several drivers had mechanical problems and retired from the race, while others were involved in accidents. Nevertheless, the competition was thrilling from start to finish, with overtakes and fierce battles.
The next stage of the championship will be the Canadian Grand Prix, which will take place in two weeks. Hamilton arrives as the favorite, but his opponents will not make it easy for him. The fight for the title promises to be intense and every point will be important in determining the season’s champion.
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