By Joe Murphy
Max Verstappen may have won the championship, but there are still plenty of questions that need to be answered in the final four races of the season. The Circuit of the America’s is next on the agenda as Formula 1 heads back to the United States for the second time this season. Will break another record? Can Ferrari cement second place? And how will Daniel Ricciardo get on in what could be the final races of his career. Let’s find out!
Second place to win the race!
I have always thought that second place is the better start position around Austin. You may start eight metres further back but you have that all important inside line that could send the driver who gets Pole, off the track around the edge of turn one. Max will be the favourite to start first come Sunday, and if Charles Leclerc qualifies in second, he could prove to be a smart bet for the race win. If Checo plays his part in a Red Bull one-two on Saturday, then he could very well let Max run away with it as Red Bull clinch the constructors title. Keep an eye on Saturday’s result, it could be more important here than at other tracks from the season so far.
Can Mercedes throw a spanner in the works?
They are yet to have a race win this season. Imagine if I had said that statement twelve months ago. You would have thought I was mad. However, it’s starting to look like a real possibility that Lewis Hamilton goes a first season winless since his debut fifteen years ago. On the other hand, there are still races remaining. Max may take his foot off the gas once he breaks a certain record, potentially in Brazil. And with Ferrari fighting for very little, it could open the door ajar ever so slightly. I can’t honestly see a scenario where that happens this weekend, however. Regardless of how good a record the seven time champion has at the Texan venue.
Danny Ricc to have a high?
It hadn’t been a season full of ups for the Australian driver. And it could get worse if he doesn’t find a replacement seat before too long. However, he seems to view the States as a second home and could very easily pick up some useful points this weekend. It could be somewhat of an audition for Ricciardo as Haas have already stated that pressure is on Mick Schumacher in the close of the season. Beating Lando in a head to head could be a real confidence boost and perhaps catch the eye of the already glaring American outfit.
Valterri could come good as F1 heads Stateside…
It doesn’t seem too long ago that Valtteri Bottas was putting his Mercedes in the top four around this very track less than a year ago. Almost contrastingly, it feels a lifetime when the Finn had his Alfa Romeo in the podium places for the majority of the race in Barcelona. Funny how time can travel both extremely quickly and yet drag at the same time. For Alfa and their driver, the second half of this campaign has been a sobering one and both parties involved could do with a lift. This could very well occur in Texas this weekend, a venue in which Bottas has seen relative success in the past. Any points would be an achievement, for which they may require just a slice of luck. Finnish fingers will we crossed, that’s for sure.
Alpine’s new French driver to fight with Alpine’s current French driver…
Gasly and Ocon will be teammates in just a few short months time. However, when we consider where both drivers could be in terms of pace this weekend, it could be pretty level pegging. Alpine have had the edge over all of the so-called ‘midfield’ teams so far this season. However, Alpha Tauri might just have something to say about that around a track where they themselves have shown glimpses of serious pace in recent years. With Pierre now with nothing to lose and an ever improving Yuki in their ranks, we could see a real fight between two future teammates, in just a matter of days time.
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