Exciting Preview: The 2015 American Grand Prix in Austin
The big question for the rest of the season is who will come second in the drivers’ championship, as Formula One teams gear up for the American Grand Prix on Sunday, October 25, 2015, in Austin. Earlier in the season, Mercedes’ dominance made it hard to bet against their two drivers finishing one-two. Indeed, their recent win in Sochi secured the constructors’ championship for Mercedes. Lewis Hamilton has nearly clinched the drivers’ championship after his victory in Sochi. However, with Sebastian Vettel finishing second and Nico Rosberg unable to finish, Vettel has now moved up to second place in the championship standings.
The biggest surprise in Sochi was Sergio Perez from Force India finishing third, largely due to Ferrari’s Kimi Räikkönen colliding with Williams driver Valtteri Bottas on the last lap. Bottas did not finish, while Räikkönen struggled to the finish line in fifth place but was later penalized for the crash, dropping him to eighth. Williams driver Felipe Massa finished fourth and is now only two points behind Bottas in the championship.
The penalty moved Red Bull’s Daniil Kvyat up to fifth, allowing him to surpass his teammate Daniel Ricciardo in the championship standings. Sauber’s Felipe Nasr and Lotus driver Pastor Maldonado finished sixth and seventh, respectively. It looked like McLaren’s Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso might both finish in the points, but Alonso received a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits and dropped to eleventh, giving Toro Rosso’s Max Verstappen the final points spot.
American Grand Prix
The Circuit of the Americas, perched on a hill, is anything but flat. It’s well-designed with challenging corners and a long, fast straight between turns eleven and twelve, which ends with a great overtaking opportunity. The first sharp turn is tricky as the cars bunch up after the uphill start, but the real thrill comes from the ‘esses’ stretching from turns three to nine. The track can be slippery, though the new tarmac from three years ago has settled down.
Lewis Hamilton won the inaugural race here in 2012 and again last year. Sebastian Vettel was the winner in 2013. Pirelli has chosen medium and soft tires for this race, just like last year, a shift from the first race when they selected the two hardest compounds.
News From the Pitlane
A recent FIA decision allowing this year’s engines to be used next season could be a lifesaver for Red Bull and Toro Rosso in their quest to remain in Formula One. Following a messy split with Renault, the teams struggled to find a new supplier, with Mercedes declining and some in the Ferrari camp, like Sebastian Vettel, reluctant to compete with the same engines. However, this rule allows them to use this season’s Ferrari engines if needed.
Renault has yet to finalize its takeover of Lotus, and rumors suggest this may take until well after the season ends, leaving little time to prepare for next year.
Romain Grosjean’s teammate at the newly-formed Haas team next season looks set to be Mexican Esteban Gutierrez. While the plan was to announce this at his home grand prix in Mexico the week after Austin, it may now be brought forward.
With Fernando Alonso confirmed to stay at McLaren next year alongside Jenson Button, reserve driver Kevin Magnussen has left the team and is seeking a new seat. Newly crowned GP2 champion Stoffel Vandoorne is also hoping for an F1 seat next year but could end up as McLaren’s reserve driver.
Meanwhile, Sauber and Force India have filed a complaint with the European Commission, arguing that current rules and revenue distribution favor some teams over others.
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