By Joe Murphy
As we head into the home stretch of this fascinating 2021 Formula 1 Championship season, there is still plenty to play for across the grid. Long gone are the days where Lewis would have the title won by this point, as he faces his most stellar challenge since he last lost the Championship to Nico Rosberg back in 2016. Not just this, but the midfield battle looks set to go down to the wire. With pride and more at stake, let’s have a look at what could go down, this weekend.
Mercedes to extend lead in both championships…
This is a circuit where Mercedes have been incredibly successful at. Both Driver and Constructor have won championships at this venue and although that won’t happen this weekend, they should be strong yet again.
That being said Max Verstappen has impressed at this venue with some brilliant recovery drives in recent years, so this is a track where he could seriously challenge at. I do expect a front row of Verstappen and Hamilton, with the Red Bull man perhaps even taking pole. However, as Lewis has seen himself in the past, that inside line heading into turn one, is extremely useful and could prove decisive in determining the result on Sunday. Regarding outright race pace, the Silver Arrows may just have the edge on their rivals, with Lewis perhaps taking the lead in the standings before we head to Mexico, a track where, more than likely, the Dutch driver will be favourite to take the win.
Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez will be expected to fight it out for that final podium place. However, should any of the affotmentioned drivers encounter any drama, it will be once again left to a certain team in orange to capitalise.
McLaren to look strong again, leaving Ferrari behind…
Yes. Should any drivers have issues ahead, McLaren would be the obvious choice to be next up, and for good reason. The car is quick and has regularly challenged the front two teams for race position and in qualifying.
Whereas I don’t believe that Daniel Ricciardo or Lando Norris can indeed win this weekend, a podium finish is certainly not out of the question. The team will be hoping to bounce back and reinforce their advantage in third in the constructor’s championship standings.
Speaking of Ferrari, it is probably that they are unable to replicate their success of Turkey, despite both their drivers giving excellent individual displays. Looking at the sheer pace of McLaren at tracks such as this one in Austin, the prancing horses will struggle to match them. A double points finish is about as good as the red team can expect from this weekend’s action. Quite the fall when you consider Kimi Raikkonen’s win for the team, not so long ago.
Solid points haul for Alonso
Fernando Alonso’s performances have somewhat gone under the radar since the summer break, as per the expectations surrounding a former two-time world champion. His Alpine car has been, at best, steady, in terms of pace yet the Spaniards has managed to get his car consistently into the later stages of qualifying and into decent points positions.
By no means is a podium on the cards this weekend, which is a shame considering the wide variety of talented drivers who have stepped on one so far this season. That being said, there is no reason why the veteran driver cannot continue to impress and achieve a sixth or seventh place finish, at the COTA. Alpine and Fernando alike will need things to fall their way, in front of them.
Will Alpha Tauri be off the pace?
Whereas Alpine can expect to be challenging for points, Alpha Tauri may find it rather more difficult. Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda didn’t have the best showing last time out in Turkey, and members of the team and fans alike may expect the Italian constructor to bounce back in Texas.
That being said, the car shouldn’t have the pace to compete, meaning it will take a minor miracle for either driver to compete. You can expect Ferrari, McLaren, Alpine and Aston Martin to be quicker over the course of the weekend.
If the sister to the Red Bull team are to do well this weekend, it will fall, as it so often has done already this year, on Gasly’s shoulders. His Japanese teammate is set to make his American F1 debut this Sunday and looks set to be in the low teens, as per Wheel2Wheel’s predictions for this event. A long weekend in store then, for Alpha Tauri.
What can Haas do in their home Grand Prix?
Speaking of teams in for a difficult weekend, Haas makes their not so triumphant “home” return to the States. This track really lends itself to pace throughout and will prove difficult for the drivers, maybe even more difficult than usual which for Haas, is saying something.
Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin will hope that they get some luck over the course of this week’s action, but it will take something incredibly special, to even compete with the Alfa Romeo or Williams, cars. They will need at least a safety car, and other than potentially turn one, one isn’t likely to be forthcoming. The garage will have their collective fingers crossed that Gene Haas and his team can have at least one good day this campaign, with there surely no better venue for this to take place than in the birthplace of the team, itself.
WHEEL2WHEEL REPORTS 