In a double-red-flag-interrupted Grand Prix of the Americas, PETRONAS Sprinta Racing’s Darryn Binder took seventh, but it could have been much more.

After an initial seven laps, the race was restarted as a five-lap sprint which was also red-flagged after two laps when Darryn held second position. Due to the duration of the restarted race completed, the result was backdated to prior to the first red flag, denying Darryn a podium.

Darryn made an aggressive start from 17th on the grid to make up a remarkable nine places on the opening lap, climbing to 7th to run alongside team-mate McPhee as the pair continued to cut through the field. He was disadvantaged by the red flag as it cancelled out his progress to a high of second overall, preventing him from capitalising on his progress.

Darryn will now enjoy a short rest, before racing resumes later this month with the Gran Premio dell’Emilia Romagna (22-24 October).

Darryn Binder
7th (+1.391)

It’s been a really difficult weekend for me – I’ve been struggling to find one-lap speed, but in the race I knew that if I could just get my head down and keep chipping away I could get to the front. Just before the first red flag came out I’d actually got myself into fifth which I was happy with but when the flag came out we went back a lap so I restarted seventh. I really knew I was in with a shout and I was really keen on a five-lap sprint race. I got off to a great start and was sitting in second place. I don’t know what happened to Guevara’s bike but the next corner I was a bit skeptical if there was something on the track so I got passed for third. I was back into second when the second red flag came out which was a real shame. Still, I’m happy because the team just kept working so hard and we kept improving. I mean we came through Q1 and qualified 17th but on Sunday we managed to pull everything together, and the same with John too. It was so nice to be fighting for the podium with my team-mate again, and I feel it’s the way it should be. Congratulations to John! It’s exactly what we all needed and I feel like the team especially really deserve these results.