After a three-week break, Formula One is back on this weekend with the United States Grand Prix. And with just three races left this year, including this Sunday’s run, the tension between the top drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg of Mercedes AMG is likely higher than ever. Hamilton currently has the edge over this teammate but an error or car trouble this weekend could see the roles switched.
As for the weather, conditions are looking good throughout the weekend. Sunday is forecast to have partly cloudy skies and a peak temperature of 73 degrees F (23 degrees C). The weather can be very varied in Texas, with lots of wind and drops in temperature, so things could easily change.
Pirelli has nominated its medium and soft compounds for the race, which the Italian firm says are suited for the varying demands of Austin’s Circuit of the Americas, which takes in three long straights, but also a number of more technical corners.
As previously reported, both Caterham and Marussia will be sitting out the race. This has made it necessary for the qualifying format to be revised. Where normally the six slowest cars are eliminated after Q1, with six more dropped after Q2, race organizers have made the decision that the slowest four cars will exit after Q1, followed by another four after Q2. This will leave the usual 10 cars remaining for the final Q3 session.
Going into qualifying tomorrow and Sunday’s race, Lewis Hamilton leads the 2014 Drivers’ Championship with 291 points. Nico Rosberg remains in second with 274 points while Infiniti Red Bull Racing’s Daniel Ricciardo sits in third with 199 points. In the Constructors’ Championship, Mercedes AMG has already been declared the champion thanks to its unbeatable 565 points. Infiniti Red Bull Racing is in second with 342 while Williams is in third with 216.
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