2013 United States Grand Prix Thursday Snap Shot

Thursday - or 'media day' - at the Circuit of the Americas was a busy one with track walks, engineer meetings, media commitments and setting up to do alongside the odd driver announcement.

(c) Octane Photographic

Kevin Magnussen was confirmed as a McLaren driver for 2014 in the morning, replacing Sergio Perez, and their announcement was shortly followed by the news that Heikki Kovalainen would stand-in for Kimi Raikkonen at Lotus for the final two races. See all the goings-on from the track in the penultimate Thursday Snap Shot of the season.

For a guide to the race weekend, see my JLF1 Blog preview and for something a little different, be sure to check out my '5 things you might not know' piece for Car Throttle on the United States Grand Prix. Relive last year's race with my One Year Rewind and look back at one of the most controversial races in recent F1 history with my F1 Flashback.

(c) Octane Photographic

After announcing in a statement on Twitter that he would leave McLaren on Wednesday, Perez had plenty of questions to answer in the FIA driver press conference.

(c) Octane Photographic

Paul di Resta was also involved in the FIA press conference on Thursday, answering questions from the media.

(c) Octane Photographic

My photography partners Octane Photographic are in Austin for the race and snapped Heikki Kovalainen returning to the F1 paddock as a race driver for the first time since Brazil 2012.

(c) Octane Photographic

Sergio Perez talks to a member of the Lotus F1 Team in the paddock on Thursday, who will he be driving for (if anyone) next year?

(c) Getty Images

Vettel answers questions from the media in the Red Bull Racing hospitality area.

(c) Octane Photographic

2014 Toro Rosso driver Daniil Kvyat talks to media in the Circuit of the Americas paddock on Thursday ahead of his first ever run in an F1 car on a race weekend.

(c) Octane Photographic

Felipe Massa is swamped by photographers after announcing his move to Williams for 2014 earlier in the week.

(c) Octane Photographic

Mark Webber talks to media on the penultimate 'media day' of his F1 career.

(c) @Lotus_F1Team

After a seat fitting at the Lotus factory on Wednesday, Kovalainen settles in to his temporary surroundings.

(c) @MyCaterhamF1

The Caterham F1 Team head out on their track walk, taking in the 20 turn Circuit of the Americas.

(c) @Marussia_F1Team

Max Chilton talks to BBC F1's Lee McKenzie in the paddock as he looks to continue his incredible run of finishing records in his rookie season.

(c) @GvanderGarde

Giedo van der Garde tweeted a picture of his special helmet design for this weekend.

(c) @OfficialSF1Team

Five drivers, four on the 2013 grid and one reserve driver, took part in the FOTA Fans Forum in Austin on Wednesday which you can watch here.

(c) @WilliamsF1Team

The Williams F1 Team members, led by Valtteri Bottas, head out for their penultimate track walk of 2013.

(c) Octane Photographic

Here is a shot of Heikki Kovalainen in his Lotus F1 Team kit.

(c) @MercedesAMGF1

Hamilton talks to gathered media in the Mercedes hospitality area at the Circuit of the Americas.