Formula 1 is back this weekend at the fabulous Circuit of the Americas! Here is a quick fire guide containing everything you need to know about this weekend’s race:
Race Information:
Track: Circuit of the Americas
Number of Laps: 56
Circuit Length: 3.4 miles (5.5km)
Race Length: 191.6 miles (308.4km)
Fastest Lap: 1:35.657, Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing Renault, 2012
Fastest Race Lap: 1:39.347 (Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing Renault, 2012
Tyre Compounds: Soft, Medium, Intermediate, Wet
First F1 Grand Prix (Country): 1959 at Sebring International Raceway
First F1 Grand Prix (Track): 2012
Most Wins: Michael Schumacher, 5 – all at Indianapolis. Hamilton and Vettel share 1 each at Austin.
Race Preview:
We go into the US GP weekend with the sad knowledge that the race will only feature an 18 car grid, with both Caterham and Marussia going into administration within days of each other. This means that the grid will be the smallest since the 2005 Monaco Grand Prix where BAR were banned from participating.
There are reports, however, that the grid could be even smaller. It is expected that outgoing champion Sebastian Vettel will have to change his entire power unit for this event, meaning that he will start from the pit lane. Alonso has been linked to this too.
But even then it isn’t that simple, with murmurs in the paddock suggesting Force India are behind in their payments to Mercedes for their engines. It is believed that if Merc do not receive their money, Force India will not receive their engines.
This will make qualifying particularly interesting. An 18 car grid would mean we lose 4 cars in Q1 and Q2 – but if Vettel and Alonso failed to take part that would mean we lose only 2 in the first part of qualifying. Should only 16 car take part if the Force India rumours turn out to be true, only 3 would be lost from each session.
But enough of the negatives – there are still plenty of things to look forward to. The title fight will rage on this weekend, with Hamilton one of only two men to have won at this track – and he is the only man on the grid to have won the US Grand Prix at two different circuits.
Lewis’ team mate Nico Rosberg will be looking to close the championship deficit, which grew to 17 points at Sochi following his brake lock up at turn two on the opening lap in Russia.
At the other end of the field, Sauber will feel they have a great chance of taking ninth in the WCC due to the lack of cars on the grid. The Swiss team are yet to score a point this year and currently sit 10th in the championship, 2 points behind Marussia and a few 11th places ahead of last placed Caterham – neither of whom will be competing in at least this race.
Sit back and enjoy the race, this track has produced some great races over the last few years and with the Merc fight raging on, this year should be no different.
