Formula 1 – United States Grand Prix – Preview and Tips

The 2012 Formula 1 season enters the penultimate round with the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas. This is the first Formula 1 event to be held in the USA since 2007 in Indianapolis. From 2014 onwards this will be one of two events in the US, alongside the Grand Prix of America in New Jersey.

Sebastian Vettel’s 3rd place finish from the back of the grid restricted the inroads Alonso could make to his Championship lead to just three points. The Spaniard now trails Vettel by 10 points with 50 points still up for grabs. Vettel could wrap up the championship this weekend should he win and Alonso finish 6th or worse.

This article previews the United States Grand Prix and looks at the betting odds.

2012 Season Results

Below are the 2012 season results to date.

Driver and Constructor standings

The Drivers’ Championship is now a two-horse race, with Vettel’s third place finish in Abu Dhabi ruling the third placed Räikkönen out of contention.

1 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) – 255
2 Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) – 245
3 Kimi Räikkönen (Lotus) – 198
4 Mark Webber (Red Bull) – 167
5 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) – 165
6 Jenson Button (McLaren) – 153
7 Felipe Massa (Ferrari) – 95
8 Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) – 93
9 Romain Grosjean (Lotus) – 90
10 Sergio Perez (Sauber) – 66

Red Bull have all but secured the Constructors’ Championship. There remain only 100 more points for grabs.

1 Red Bull Racing-Renault – 422
2 Ferrari – 340
3 McLaren-Mercedes – 318
4 Lotus-Renault – 288
5 Mercedes – 136
6 Sauber-Ferrari – 124
7 Force India-Mercedes – 95
8 Williams-Renault – 73
9 STR-Ferrari – 22
10 Marussia-Cosworth – 0
11 Caterham-Renault – 0
12 HRT-Cosworth – 0

Circuit of the Americas

The Circuit of the Americas is a 5.515 km long track near Austin, Texas. The layout was conceived by Tavo Hellmund and Kevin Schwantz with the assistance of the well-known circuit designer, Hermann Tilke. In addition to Formula 1, the circuit will host the Texas Motorcycle Grand Prix (as part of the Road Racing World Championship), V8 Supercars, the FIA World Endurance Championship, the American Le Mans Series and the Rolex Sports Car Series.

According to Wikipedia, “The design draws from several European Formula One circuits, including a recreation of Silverstone’s Maggotts-Becketts-Chapel sequence, Hockenheim’s arena bends, and a replica of Istanbul’s Turn Eight. Other corners were loosely inspired by the Senna ‘S’ at Interlagos and the Österreichring’s Sebring-Auspuffkurve… One of the features of the circuit is a deliberate widening of the circuit in the corners, to encourage drivers to follow multiple racing lines.”

From the start line, drivers head uphill to the first corner, which is the highest point of the circuit. They then descend back down the hill through a series of fast sweepers modelled on Silverstone’s Maggotts-Becketts-Chapel complex and through a blind corner at Turn 10, taking them to a hairpin at Turn 11. The cars then follow a 1.00 km straight before entering the final sector of the lap, weaving through a series of corners modelled on the stadium section at Hockenheim. This is followed by a downhill, multi-apex corner with limited run-off before the final two corners – a pair of left-hand bends – that lead back to the main straight. The circuit is one of just a few on the Formula 1 calendar to run anticlockwise. This puts different lateral stresses on the drivers than they are accustomed to.

United States Grand Prix Preview

Pirelli have been conservative with their selection of tyres, offering the hard and medium compounds for the race. The weather can be very varied in Austin. Winds as well as drops in temperature could be a factor this weekend.

When asked about the circuit, most drivers discussed the steep gradient changes and the fact that the design borrows various features from other circuits. The only experience they have with the track is in simulator training so they are stepping into the unknown as much as we are. Teams are keen to find out on Friday testing how much grip they will get from the asphalt surface. Most drivers feel the tyre selection is too cautious, so we may not get many pit stops on Sunday.

Abu Dhabi Prix Betting

Below are the latest betting odds (subject to change). Click here to compare live F1 Grand Prix odds across a range of Australian and international bookmakers.

Given the uncertainties that come with a new circuit it would be wise to refrain from backing the race favourite Vettel until the Friday and Saturday practice session times are in. I agree with the bookmakers who have installed Hamilton as a 2.75 second favourite for pole, but again, I wouldn’t back him until I see the practice times.

It’s interesting to note that Webber’s race win odds are much longer than his qualifying win odds. Bookmakers obviously feel that team orders could come into play on Sunday. Alonso, on the other hand, is 15.00 odds to qualify on pole and 5.75 to win the race. This highlights the disparity in the Ferrari’s qualifying pace relative to its race pace.