Lewis Hamilton will be looking to keep up his stunning run of form in the States when the F1 field takes to the Circuit of the Americas on Sunday the 21st of October.
The F1 season is fast approaching its final stretch with the teams sojourning to the Americas for the next month. This is the time of the year that reigning Drivers’ champions and current Drivers Championship leader Lewis Hamilton comes into his own. The ‘Brit has an impeccable record out in North America and will be extremely hard to stop.
United States Grand Prix
Sunday 21 October
Circuit of the Americas
To Win Race Outright
- Lewis Hamilton 53/100
- Sebastian Vettel 3/1
- Valtteri Bottas 7/1
- Kimi Raikkonen 12/1
- Max Verstappen 16/1
- Daniel Ricciardo 20/1
Previous Race
It was the Lewis Hamilton show out in Japan with the ‘Brit claiming a light to finish line victory which saw him move 67 points clear at the top of the Drivers’ Championship standings. It was a good day for Mercedes with Hamilton’s teammate, Valtteri Bottas, claiming second spot. While the podium was rounded out by the Red Bull of Max Verstappen.
The best drive of the day came from Verstappen’s colleague Daniel Ricciardo, who went from 15th on the grid to finish the race in fourth. The Australian was followed across the line by the Ferrari’s of Kimi Raikkonen (Fifth) and Sebastian Vettel (sixth).
Force India managed to claim some vital points with both of their drivers finishing in the top ten. Sergio Perez brought his car home in seventh while Esteban Ocon took ninth. Sandwiched between the duo was the Haas of Romain Grosjean, while Carlos Sainz rounded out the top ten.
Track
The Circuit of the Americas is to F1 what Madison Square Garden was to Stadium Rock, a giant sweaty cauldron of loud echoes. The gigantic compound can hold just under 120 000 spectators and sells out year on year. It’s quite the sight and is the only circuit that provides that sort of crazy atmosphere.
Sunday’s race will see the field cover 308.405 kilometres over fifty-six laps which contain twenty corners. The first corner, which starts a hairpin turn, is the tracks most infamous bend. While the corner itself is tricky to negotiate, it is made harder by the forty metre climb that leads into the turn.
Another set of corners that will provide a challenge is the sequence between turns three to six; they’re inspired by the Maggots and Becketts sequence at Silverstone, and like their colonial cousins, they’re more than capable of catching drivers out.
The weather conditions for Austin are set to be extremely wet for Friday and Saturday’s practice and qualifying sessions, while things are supposed to dry up on Sunday.
Last year’s race was won by Lewis Hamilton, with Sebastian Vettel claimed second and Kimi Raikkonen taking third.
Value Bet
Podium Finish – Kimi Raikonnen -Yes – @ 15/10
This is a bit of a speculator but I fancy Kimi to land himself a podium berth this Sunday. The ‘Finn managed to claim third place out in Austin last year and comes into this one in relatively solid form having claimed fourth place in Russia and fifth place in Japan.
Fastest Qualifier and To Win Outright – Lewis Hamilton @ 5/10 and 53/100
The Silver Arrows main man has been an all-conquering force at this track for the past half a decade, winning the last four Grand Prix held there and the 2017 and 2007 editions. He absolutely loves this track and should have no troubles sealing pole and a race this weekend.
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