US Grand Prix preview
By Oli Dickson Jefford
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen’s title battle continues this weekend at the US Grand Prix in Texas.
After Valtteri Bottas’ win at the Turkish Grand Prix, race 17 of the 2021 season takes place at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin this Sunday.
With a sellout crowd and the first proper title fight in several years nearing boiling point, a cracking weekend of racing is set to take place.
Grand Prix Profile
The first American Grand Prix was held back in 1908, and it has intermittently been a part of F1 in the championship’s 71-year history.
Iconic circuits such as Watkins Glen and Indianapolis have previously held the US Grand Prix, but since returning to the calendar in 2012 it has solely been held in Austin.
The Circuit of the Americas has grown in popularity since its introduction, with an electric atmosphere guaranteed and some high-quality races in the past decade.
The 5.5km long circuit features two lengthy straights but also tight chicanes and corners which will test all 20 drivers on the grid.
Cancelled in 2020, the race was last held in 2019 when Bottas prevailed ahead of Mercedes teammate Hamilton in second and Verstappen in third.
Hamilton has won five of the eight races held in Austin, and he’ll aim for a first win in the US since 2017.
Title race watch
The championship lead has switched back and forth between Hamilton and Verstappen throughout a pulsating season, and it is the Dutchman now holding a slender lead.
Verstappen’s second-place finish in Istanbul leaves him on 262.5 points in his quest for a maiden F1 title, while Hamilton- who led ahead of Istanbul- is now on 256.5 points after finishing in fifth.
Seven-time champion Hamilton has the experience in Austin with his five previous victories, and Mercedes are expected to lead the pace in Texas.
Victory for the Brit would see him once again regain the lead in the title race - though Verstappen might have something to say about that.
What else to look out for
Watch out for Bottas, who seems more relaxed after it was finally confirmed he would be moving from Mercedes to Alfa Romeo for the 2022 season.
The Finn was dominant in Istanbul and was victorious in Texas two years ago, and will look to stretch his lead over Lando Norris in the battle for third place.
Bottas is the driver most likely to challenge the two main protagonists and it will be intriguing to see how he fares.
Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez will hope to get involved towards the front of the field after returning to the podium in Istanbul.
Victory in Baku aside, the Mexican has not had an easy season and will be targeting a strong end to the season - and to catch Norris in fourth place.
Norris himself will want to get back on the podium after failing to do so in the past two races, and could well do so if he drives like he has throughout most of 2021.
Also, there is an interesting battle between Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.
The Ferrari car is much better than it was a year ago, and Sainz and Leclerc sit in sixth and seventh in the championship with just 0.5 separating them.
Whoever finishes ahead of the other will gain a slight advantage in that inter-team battle.
PHOTO CREDITS: GETTY IMAGES