United States Grand Prix Preview

With only three rounds left in the Formula One World Championship, the racing now shifts this weekend to a more home style sort of site as the city of Austin, Texas host the United States Grand Prix. It is the third race in this capital of the lone star state, and it has drawn many fans to it recently, where the attendance among the fans and the quality of the track makes the Circuit of the Americas one of the most popular venues on the calendar.

While many circuits are designed much on their own personalities, the Circuit of the Americas is one where there are many ideas from other circuits brought in to this venue. Of course, the track has some personality of its own as the starting line goes up a hill and a quick left hander follows, before moving on to some colorful combinations of turns.

The past two winners, Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel, know what it is like to taste victory on this track of many elevation changes. But sadly, the former has not had very much of a season, with no victories and only a couple of podium appearances. In addition, Vettel is now leaving Red Bull Racing, probably disgusted by the better results accomplished by teammate Daniel Ricciardo, who in his first season with the team, triumphed in three grands prix.

As for Hamilton, a second win here would be even more of a slice of the pie, as the Briton is now leading the world championship over his teammate Nico Rosberg by 17 points. As a matter of fact, these are the only two challengers left fighting for the title, unless both Mercedes drivers have disasters and Ricciardo, who is in third place in the standings, can win more races and take the title at the last minute with a double point’s finale in Abu Dhabi.

However, this idea is far-fetched, and the Mercedes duo has dominated in all but three races, so it will come down to these two to fight it out for the driver’s title after two weeks ago in Russia the squad won their first constructor’s championship in over 60 years.

While the fight for the title rests between these two, this weekend also is a great enforcer of this sport in this country. In the 1970’s, there were a pair of American drivers, two U.S. teams and two races on the calendar in this country. However, things have changed to where there was nothing but American audiences watching races in their country. Now, we have had the U.S. Grand Prix at Indianapolis for seven seasons before Austin threw their hat into the schedule, and in two years, there will be a new U.S. formula one team in Haas F1. Only the absence of an American driver remains, and this could come with Haas.

So, the country which does not find F1 racing popular enough can be reassured that things are beginning to pick up where the sport can remain as a popular activity for fans to view.

Mark Gero

Mark Gero has written formula one racing stories since 2002 on the Internet for such sites as Motorsport.com, Racing Information Service News and for a brief time at the Munich Eye newspaper in Munich, Germany along with Autoweek online. Mark also has a diploma in journalism from the London School of Journalism in London, England and in addition a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Ashford University in Clinton, Iowa.

racingnation.com

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