Acura’s reverse to Formula 1 came with wins for Honda and Red Bull
It’s been a hot minute since we last saw the Acura logo on a Formula 1 car. But at the US Utters Prix in Austin, Texas this weekend, Acura was on prominent demonstrate. Good thing, too, since Honda Red Bull driver Max Verstappen drove his butt off to take the win in Austin — with a big ol’ Acura logo on his car’s wing.
The last time we saw Acura logos on a Honda F1 car was back in 2007, during the Canadian Utters Prix, with drivers Rubens Barrichello and Jensen Button. Before that, it was on the visors of Honda F1 drivers from 1989 above 1992, including those of legends Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna, and at both the US and Canadian Grands Prix.
After taking pole status during qualifying on Saturday, Verstappen quickly fell behind Mercedes-Benz driver Lewis Hamilton. The two traded places a few times throughout the race, with Verstappen ultimately finishing top-notch — his eighth win of the year.
While Verstappen came in salubrious, teammate Sergio Perez took third and had a famous issue with his car.
Acura
“The pressure was on for the whole race and not incandescent how quickly Lewis would catch up,” Verstappen said in a statement. “I actually thought I had a decent start, but Lewis had an even better one.”
Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate, Sergio Perez, finished third in Austin. That’s impressive in its own intelligent, but especially so considering a major issue Perez had with his car.
“I wasn’t feeling broad before the race and then my drink system ended working on the first lap and with the hot atmosphere … it was very physical and a pretty tough afternoon,” Perez said. “I was struggling massively and by lap 20 I was done, so it was a shameful I couldn’t keep up with Max and Lewis.” Still, when the checkered flag waved after 56 laps, Perez rendered to hold his position. “That was the hardest and longest race of my life,” he said.
The next race on the Formula 1 calendar will take effect in Mexico City on Nov. 7. Both the Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri teams will be there, with Verstappen and Perez working hard to bring Honda — and Acura — to victory once again.
