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Four races remain in the 2018 Formula One world championship and this weekend’s United States Grand Prix could see a five-time world champion crowned. Join The Roar for a live blog of the race starting from 5:10am AEDT.
Lewis Hamilton stands on the cusp of becoming only the second driver to have matched the great Juan Manuel Fangio’s record of five titles, with only eight points required over Sebastian Vettel to equal the Argentinian.
The 5.5km Circuit of the Americas is regarded as one of the best modern tracks on the Formula One calendar, with its challenging and technical layout – in addition to an undulating surface.
56-laps comprise the race, which Hamilton has won on five occasions in Texas, since the first race back in 2012.
The only other win in Austin was from Vettel in 2013, however following that – it has been domination from Hamilton and Mercedes AMG.
The Briton already has the ascendency, having claimed pole position over the Ferrari pair, who appear to be back on the pace.
He won’t be joined on the front row of the grid by Vettel, who qualified second but will take a three-place grid drop for not slowing down sufficiently during a red flag scenario in practice.
This will elevate Kimi Räikkönen to the front-row, who will start the race on the ultrasoft tyre and will have the advantage of better grip over Hamilton, who is on the supersoft compound.
With the title realistically out of the picture for Ferrari, do they just allow both their drivers to race freely and in Räikkönen’s situation, does he get a shot at winning his race since 2013?
Vettel now starting behind Valtteri Bottas, can expect Mercedes AMG’s wingman to cause trouble, as the team would be hoping for a clean race for their championship leader.
Daniel Ricciardo will start fourth as a result of the Vettel penalty too, and having not stood on the podium since his Monaco victory – the Aussie will be hoping to end his Red Bull career on a high.
Contesting the ‘Formula 1.5’ championship, as coined by Haas boss in Gene Haas, the coveted sixth place was claimed by Esteban Ocon and his teammate Sergio Perez was also inside the top ten.
Nico Hulkenberg will start ahead of Romain Grosjean in seventh, in the Renault vs Haas battle in the constructor’s championship for fourth – with their respective teammate just outside the ten and on a free choice of tyre for the start.
Will Hamilton then waltz away with a fifth consecutive win in Austin and indeed a fifth world title? Or can Ferrari steal back some pride and only delay the inevitable.
Tune in for live blog coverage of the United States Grand Prix on The Roar from 5:10am AEST on Monday morning, as we await the crowning of a five-time champion.
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