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Hamilton poised for the win, unless Vettel leads into turn 1.

Seb will get the inside line going into turn one. He could force hamilton wide and possibly take the lead like hamilton did to nico in 2015

Mayhem wrote:Seb will get the inside line going into turn one. He could force hamilton wide and possibly take the lead like hamilton did to nico in 2015

And Hamilton will drag him up the hill Merc Grunt should do it. As long as it is done through racing not crash or mechanical I will be happy

moby wrote:

Mayhem wrote:Seb will get the inside line going into turn one. He could force hamilton wide and possibly take the lead like hamilton did to nico in 2015

And Hamilton will drag him up the hill Merc Grunt should do it. As long as it is done through racing not crash or mechanical I will be happy

For sure, seb has nothing to lose at this point. Its all or nothing. He has to win this race so it will be very interesting if he gets a better start off the line.

All comes down to the start or the in/out laps from the pits. Dirty air will kill the car behind through S1.

Could get tasty.

How were Red Bull looking in long runs?

GingerFurball wrote:How were Red Bull looking in long runs?

Very good IIRC. Dan was quickest out of the pair but Max hadn't put the new engine worth about 10bhp in yet so potentially they could go even better.

Mayhem wrote:Seb will get the inside line going into turn one. He could force hamilton wide and possibly take the lead like hamilton did to nico in 2015

Second grid spot is off racing line. Unless Lewis has a bad start, I don't see Vettel being a head at the first corner. Remember also it is a short run to the first corner for the leaders. No chance for slip streaming.

cmax wrote:

Mayhem wrote:Seb will get the inside line going into turn one. He could force hamilton wide and possibly take the lead like hamilton did to nico in 2015

Second grid spot is off racing line. Unless Lewis has a bad start, I don't see Vettel being a head at the first corner. Remember also it is a short run to the first corner for the leaders. No chance for slip streaming.

It will be complicated for sure, but Seb he must to try anything to inflict maximum issues on Hamilton.

Seb did look kind of resigned to his fate today though after qualifying

Provisional US GP starting grid:

1) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
2) Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari
3) Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
4) Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull
5) Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari
6) Esteban Ocon, Force India
7) Carlos Sainz, Renault
8.) Fernando Alonso, McLaren
9) Sergio Perez, Force India
10) Felipe Massa, Williams
11) Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso
12) Romain Grosjean, Haas
13) Marcus Ericsson, Sauber
14) Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren
15) Pascal Wehrlein, Sauber
16) Lance Stroll, Williams
17) Max Verstappen, Red Bull
18) Kevin Magnussen, Haas
19) Nico Hulkenberg, Renault
20) Brendon Hartley, Toro Rosso

I'm hoping to see Hartley do well tomorrow, he seems like he would be a refreshing addition to the grid at least personality wise. Excited to see what Sainz does in the Renault, he looked great in qualifying.

Alonso and Ric are in good positions for some potentially fun outcomes.

They're the stories ill be following tomorrow.

@Veffy, I agree.

Also to add to that I hope Hamilton will win.

In case anyone missed it, Magnussen and Stroll were both given a 3-place penalty for impeding other drivers.

Looks like Verstappen will start from P16. I always like the races where he starts from the back.

Llotyhy wrote:In case anyone missed it, Magnussen and Stroll were both given a 3-place penalty for impeding other drivers.

Looks like Verstappen will start from P16. I always like the races where he starts from the back.

Stroll and Rogro could easily have been a very bad one. Don't know if he moved off because he senses a car there, but it would have been bad

Lotus49 wrote:All comes down to the start or the in/out laps from the pits. Dirty air will kill the car behind through S1.

Could get tasty.

That assumes that Hamilton is desperate to win at all costs, I think Hamilton sees the bigger picture, he will just give way to stay in the race and finish, he should beat the rest of the field and even if Vettel wins he pulls back just 7 of 59 points.

It will be interesting to see how Hamilton and Vettel handle the start. Vettel has nothing to lose and Hamilton has everything to so Vettel should really be making a lunge into T1.

That’s assuming Hamilton doesn’t cover him off on the inside but how will Hamilton feel about sweeping to the left to cover a driver in his blind spot after what happened at Singapore?

Black_Flag_11 wrote:It will be interesting to see how Hamilton and Vettel handle the start. Vettel has nothing to lose and Hamilton has everything to so Vettel should really be making a lunge into T1.

That’s assuming Hamilton doesn’t cover him off on the inside but how will Hamilton feel about sweeping to the left to cover a driver in his blind spot after what happened at Singapore?

I agree, if LH gets a good launch I think he will go for it, he is a racer after all. If not then he may well give way, however, Vettel is under pressure as well, if he got involved in another lap 1 incident it would look really bad for him.

https://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2017/10/22/ ... -incident/

Stroll given a penalty for something that the stewards clearly seem to think the team is at fault for rather than Stroll. Guess they are just following the rules though. This is the first penalty point Stroll has collected and given the amount of criticism he first got, He's done well not to get any until now.

18/20 drivers now all have penalty points. Stroll has the smallest amount out of who have them and the only drivers without any are Bottas and would you believe it, Ericsson. At least he isn't clumsy enough to earn himself any penalty points. I think his pace is pretty much as good as his team mates but he's made a fair few mistakes that cost him the race this year, unlike Wehrlein. Although Wehrlein has beaten Ericsson very often in qualifying their times have usually been incredibly close. But Ericsson has at leased managed to do better in a couple of more recent qualifying sessions. 16th position isn't bad for Sauber at this stage in the season at all. Both him and Wehrlein moving up 3 places due to other drivers dropping back should give them a chance for better results.

Black_Flag_11 wrote:It will be interesting to see how Hamilton and Vettel handle the start. Vettel has nothing to lose and Hamilton has everything to so Vettel should really be making a lunge into T1.

That’s assuming Hamilton doesn’t cover him off on the inside but how will Hamilton feel about sweeping to the left to cover a driver in his blind spot after what happened at Singapore?

The way the track is shaped at turn 1, a lunge into risks being overtaken on the inside and Hamilton is good at those. I think Vettel would be sensible and try an overtake during the race or do an undercut during the pitstops.

Hamilton swept to his right during the start of the last race to cover Vettel.

Option or Prime wrote:

Black_Flag_11 wrote:It will be interesting to see how Hamilton and Vettel handle the start. Vettel has nothing to lose and Hamilton has everything to so Vettel should really be making a lunge into T1.

That’s assuming Hamilton doesn’t cover him off on the inside but how will Hamilton feel about sweeping to the left to cover a driver in his blind spot after what happened at Singapore?

I agree, if LH gets a good launch I think he will go for it, he is a racer after all. If not then he may well give way, however, Vettel is under pressure as well, if he got involved in another lap 1 incident it would look really bad for him.

If we are to be super cynical, then I would imagine Hamilton defending harder against Vettel than anybody else in the field. If they take each other out, then that's not really a disaster for Hamilton. If anything, of the two I think Vettel would likely blink first.

Black_Flag_11 wrote:It will be interesting to see how Hamilton and Vettel handle the start. Vettel has nothing to lose and Hamilton has everything to so Vettel should really be making a lunge into T1.

That’s assuming Hamilton doesn’t cover him off on the inside but how will Hamilton feel about sweeping to the left to cover a driver in his blind spot after what happened at Singapore?

Other way round. Hamilton can afford 2 DNFs. Vettel realistically needs to win all 4 remaining races.

GingerFurball wrote:

Black_Flag_11 wrote:It will be interesting to see how Hamilton and Vettel handle the start. Vettel has nothing to lose and Hamilton has everything to so Vettel should really be making a lunge into T1.

That’s assuming Hamilton doesn’t cover him off on the inside but how will Hamilton feel about sweeping to the left to cover a driver in his blind spot after what happened at Singapore?

Other way round. Hamilton can afford 2 DNFs. Vettel realistically needs to win all 4 remaining races.

Exactly and if Hamilton leads after T1 he will win. Vettel isn’t a fool he must know this, he has been quicker in the race and not able to overtake Bottas before so he has no chance against Hamilton. The one stop races also means he can’t offset his strategy from Hamilton’s, as soon as some clean air comes up Mercedes will pit taking away the chance of an undercut.

You need to be over a second quicker to realistically make an overtake stick on track and Ferrari may have superior race pace but it won’t be by that much. Vettel’s only chance (unless he gets lucky with a safety car) is at T1 IMO.

Thunder, lightening and torrential rain here in Austin.

Still 6hrs 20mins until the race.

Clarky wrote:Thunder, lightening and torrential rain here in Austin.

Still 6hrs 20mins until the race.

Keep us updated Clarky!

Black_Flag_11 wrote:It will be interesting to see how Hamilton and Vettel handle the start. Vettel has nothing to lose and Hamilton has everything to so Vettel should really be making a lunge into T1.

That’s assuming Hamilton doesn’t cover him off on the inside but how will Hamilton feel about sweeping to the left to cover a driver in his blind spot after what happened at Singapore?

With due respect, I beg to differ. It's Vettel who will lose if he collides. Knowing that there are 4 races, Vettel still would be hoping to clinch the title & that would be his motivation. If he collides & retires along with Hamilton, Vettel's chance of being a WDC this year will completely diminish. If he somehow wins, his chances remain alive.

Hamilton on the other hand, should be relaxed. He has to score lesser points when compared to Vettel & wouldn't take any risk. Knowing Hamilton, he wouldn't be subdued & would aim for the victory as well.

The race start is the most crucial point for Vettel. He needs to keep it clean & be a little cautious. This could be his last chance to fight for the title.

Clarky wrote:Thunder, lightening and torrential rain here in Austin.

Still 6hrs 20mins until the race.

Woah. That surely will wash away all the rubber from the track.

I would want the rain to stop but the track to be damp enough for intermediates. Then the bravest shall switch to slicks & win.

UnlikeUday wrote:

Black_Flag_11 wrote:It will be interesting to see how Hamilton and Vettel handle the start. Vettel has nothing to lose and Hamilton has everything to so Vettel should really be making a lunge into T1.

That’s assuming Hamilton doesn’t cover him off on the inside but how will Hamilton feel about sweeping to the left to cover a driver in his blind spot after what happened at Singapore?

With due respect, I beg to differ. It's Vettel who will lose if he collides. Knowing that there are 4 races, Vettel still would be hoping to clinch the title & that would be his motivation. If he collides & retires along with Hamilton, Vettel's chance of being a WDC this year will completely diminish. If he somehow wins, his chances remain alive.

Hamilton on the other hand, should be relaxed. He has to score lesser points when compared to Vettel & wouldn't take any risk. Knowing Hamilton, he wouldn't be subdued & would aim for the victory as well.

The race start is the most crucial point for Vettel. He needs to keep it clean & be a little cautious. This could be his last chance to fight for the title.

I get where you’re coming from but I think it’s past that now. Vettel’s chances are so slim but that he needs to approach every race with a win or nothing mentality now. If he was 25 or 30 points behind I’d agree with you.

Soure - www.f1fanatic.co.uk

Schedule for pre buildup to the race.

UnlikeUday wrote:
Soure - http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk

Schedule for pre buildup to the race.

I can't see how Brundle's (or indeed anyone else's) pre-race grid walk can happen in the midst of all that. For a start there'll be no drivers for anyone to interview on the grid. A shame, pre-race interviews are often quite revealing.

That order is annoying me,lol. Pick a system!.

If you're doing it for WCC positions then carry it through, don't suddenly switch to the WDC order for the last 2 groups.

Black_Flag_11 wrote:

UnlikeUday wrote:

Black_Flag_11 wrote:It will be interesting to see how Hamilton and Vettel handle the start. Vettel has nothing to lose and Hamilton has everything to so Vettel should really be making a lunge into T1.

That’s assuming Hamilton doesn’t cover him off on the inside but how will Hamilton feel about sweeping to the left to cover a driver in his blind spot after what happened at Singapore?

With due respect, I beg to differ. It's Vettel who will lose if he collides. Knowing that there are 4 races, Vettel still would be hoping to clinch the title & that would be his motivation. If he collides & retires along with Hamilton, Vettel's chance of being a WDC this year will completely diminish. If he somehow wins, his chances remain alive.

Hamilton on the other hand, should be relaxed. He has to score lesser points when compared to Vettel & wouldn't take any risk. Knowing Hamilton, he wouldn't be subdued & would aim for the victory as well.

The race start is the most crucial point for Vettel. He needs to keep it clean & be a little cautious. This could be his last chance to fight for the title.

I get where you’re coming from but I think it’s past that now. Vettel’s chances are so slim but that he needs to approach every race with a win or nothing mentality now. If he was 25 or 30 points behind I’d agree with you.

Agreed, vettel needs to take chances to make the pass on hamilton. As where hamilton can be more relaxed at take less of a risk. Vettel has to win, and imo will be more forceful if the opportunity presents itself.

cmax wrote:

Mayhem wrote:Seb will get the inside line going into turn one. He could force hamilton wide and possibly take the lead like hamilton did to nico in 2015

Second grid spot is off racing line. Unless Lewis has a bad start, I don't see Vettel being a head at the first corner. Remember also it is a short run to the first corner for the leaders. No chance for slip streaming.

With the rain over night now its an even playing field. Shorter run to turn 1 yes, but vettel can block if hes close enough forcing ham wide. He just has to be along side to maximize his chance. So it will be interesting for sure. (All speculation and foresight) but thats what i would try if i was vettel.

Yet another engine change for Vandoorne.

GingerFurball wrote:

Black_Flag_11 wrote:It will be interesting to see how Hamilton and Vettel handle the start. Vettel has nothing to lose and Hamilton has everything to so Vettel should really be making a lunge into T1.

That’s assuming Hamilton doesn’t cover him off on the inside but how will Hamilton feel about sweeping to the left to cover a driver in his blind spot after what happened at Singapore?

Other way round. Hamilton can afford 2 DNFs. Vettel realistically needs to win all 4 remaining races.

Seb realistically needs to risk forcing a DNF and here would be very good, because it's a strong track for Hamilton and a Mercedes track. If the aggressive move goes wrong and only Seb retires oh well, at least he tried something. Hamilton has it all to lose now because most people have already crowned him champion.

Do you seriously think Vettel would premeditate and fabricate a crash, (which is what I am assuming you mean). He is above that. He might react in the midst of the action but I don't believe he would plan to "force a DNF" as you suggest.

It's sunny as of now:

Sky gonna hype up the season every single race until the title is decided aren't they?

Option or Prime wrote:Do you seriously think Vettel would premeditate and fabricate a crash, (which is what I am assuming you mean). He is above that. He might react in the midst of the action but I don't believe he would plan to "force a DNF" as you suggest.

I don't think that is what he is saying at all. He is merely trying to point out that Vettel needs to take chances even if it means he crashes out. Where do you see anything in his statement does he imply "deliberately" frabicating a crash. What an asinine interpretation you have put forth.

I highly suspect that Seb is smart enough to know the difference between taking chances to try to win and intentionally crashing to end his WDC chances.

Blake wrote:

Option or Prime wrote:Do you seriously think Vettel would premeditate and fabricate a crash, (which is what I am assuming you mean). He is above that. He might react in the midst of the action but I don't believe he would plan to "force a DNF" as you suggest.

I don't think that is what he is saying at all. He is merely trying to point out that Vettel needs to take chances even if it means he crashes out. Where do you see anything in his statement does he imply "deliberately" frabicating a crash. What an asinine interpretation you have put forth.

I highly suspect that Seb is smart enough to know the difference between taking chances to try to win and intentionally crashing to end his WDC chances.

You understood and explained my point perfectly. Thanks.

Blake wrote:

Option or Prime wrote:Do you seriously think Vettel would premeditate and fabricate a crash, (which is what I am assuming you mean). He is above that. He might react in the midst of the action but I don't believe he would plan to "force a DNF" as you suggest.

I don't think that is what he is saying at all. He is merely trying to point out that Vettel needs to take chances even if it means he crashes out. Where do you see anything in his statement does he imply "deliberately" frabicating a crash. What an asinine interpretation you have put forth.

I highly suspect that Seb is smart enough to know the difference between taking chances to try to win and intentionally crashing to end his WDC chances.

Not sure if serious. This is the post Option or Prime was replying to.

"Seb realistically needs to risk forcing a DNF and here would be very good, because it's a strong track for Hamilton and a Mercedes track. If the aggressive move goes wrong and only Seb retires oh well, at least he tried something. Hamilton has it all to lose now because most people have already crowned him champion."

Seb realistically needs to risk forcing a DNF and here would be very good, because it's a strong track for Hamilton and a Mercedes track. If the aggressive move goes wrong and only Seb retires oh well, at least he tried something. Hamilton has it all to lose now because most people have already crowned him champion.

"Seb realistically needs to risk forcing a DNF and here would be very good, because it's a strong track for Hamilton and a Mercedes track. If the aggressive move goes wrong and only Seb retires oh well, at least he tried something. Hamilton has it all to lose now because most people have already crowned him champion."

How much more explicit do you need it Blake?