Page 1 of 7 123 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 65
  1. #1
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Location
    Greenwich, London UK
    Posts
    3,437
    Like
    14
    Liked 789 Times in 651 Posts

    2018 United States GP [Texas]



    [BRING BACK THE GRID GIRLS]
    Back to the fast pace track in the Texas sunshine. Twenty corners tucked into a 5.513km lap, five of which are some of the most acute hairpins on the calendar. The pit straight ends at an apex at the top of a steep incline up a 157.4m hill that pours down into a series of head swinging esses which undulate downwards to its lowest point 126.5m into a mini valley which is also a very tight hairpin leading into the second longer fast straight. There are two DRS detection points on the two straights of the track.

    This is a 56 lap race totaling 308.4km from lights to the chequered flag. Lewis Hamilton has won this race five times but Sebastien Vettel holds the track lap record of 1.37.766 since the 2017 season. It may be a one stop race for those cars that are kinder to their tyres, but two stops is most likely. David Coultard was the first man to take an F1 car round this track; actually while it was still under construction.

    It would be a good consolation to Ferrari if they could win this race and the following three races. So l expect they would be well stoked coming into this race. Lewis Hamilton would be world champion if he finishes anywhere on the podium but the constructors championship rages on. l have a feeling, that Ferrari would be very keen to snatch the constructors title from Mercedes' grasp.

    If Mercedes wins the 2018 constructors title, they would match Ferrari's five consecutive title wins with Schumacher and eclipse Redbull whom they caught up with in 2017 with four consecutive titles with Vettel. The only real difference would be Hamiliton did not win all the corresponding driver titles consecutively as did Schumacher and Vettel.

    This is a Hamilton track, hence he is favorite to win this race but my money is on Vettel.
    Last edited by Nitrodaze; 18th October 2018 at 11:46.
    Better a witty fool than a foolish wit.
    William Shakespeare

  2. #2
    Senior Member Tazio's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    San Diego, Ca
    Posts
    15,353
    Like
    1,115
    Liked 639 Times in 505 Posts


    The Boss 2012 baby!
    May the forza be with you

  3. Likes: Duncan (21st October 2018)
  4. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Posts
    6,114
    Like
    628
    Liked 660 Times in 460 Posts
    COTA has become one of my favorite tracks. Several real passing opportunities, changes of character, and the first turn usually creates some off line encounters as even the best of the best sometimes screw up that exit. I'm expecting Merc to dominate and Seb to crumble again, as I think Lewis is deep in his head at this point.


    There was a great thread posted by someone here when the track was under construction, but my search foo didn't find it. He had a lot of great photos of the area as the track was built.

  5. #4
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    To the right of the left
    Posts
    3,746
    Like
    3
    Liked 141 Times in 111 Posts
    Nitrodaze, I'm glad you are keeping abreast of the upcoming event. thanks for the update & photo.
    "Old roats am jake mit goats."
    -- Smokey Stover

  6. Likes: Jag_Warrior (17th October 2018)
  7. #5
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Posts
    1,583
    Like
    68
    Liked 182 Times in 139 Posts
    I am glad that the title mentioned specifically the Texas site so that we are now aware which one of the US GPs we're discussing here.

  8. #6
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Location
    Greenwich, London UK
    Posts
    3,437
    Like
    14
    Liked 789 Times in 651 Posts
    The Ferraris look swift in practice three. I wonder if they could translate this form into pole position in Qualy.

    Vettel has been handed a three place grid penalty for infringing a red flag. If he gets pole, he shall be starting the race from the 4th grid slot. Hamilton needs eight points ahead of Vettel in this race to win the title in Texas this weekend. The best Vettel can do from 4th is to somehow win the race or finish at least 2nd to extend the fight to the next race.

    As if it was not hard enough, events have made it even harder for Vettel. He would need to do something magical to get out of this situation ahead of Hamilton this weekend.
    Last edited by Nitrodaze; 20th October 2018 at 21:51.
    Better a witty fool than a foolish wit.
    William Shakespeare

  9. #7
    Senior Member Tazio's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    San Diego, Ca
    Posts
    15,353
    Like
    1,115
    Liked 639 Times in 505 Posts
    Sausage bites Max!
    Last edited by Tazio; 20th October 2018 at 22:59.
    May the forza be with you

  10. #8
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Posts
    2,857
    Like
    62
    Liked 478 Times in 371 Posts
    Savage qualifying. Shame about Vettel’s penalty in the end, as would have made the race incredible. Bottas had a sloppy final lap by comparison to the rest. Made a mess of the exit of 20.

    What a track COTA is. Best Tilke track by a country mile.

  11. #9
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Location
    Greenwich, London UK
    Posts
    3,437
    Like
    14
    Liked 789 Times in 651 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by The Black Knight View Post
    Savage qualifying. Shame about Vettel’s penalty in the end, as would have made the race incredible. Bottas had a sloppy final lap by comparison to the rest. Made a mess of the exit of 20.

    What a track COTA is. Best Tilke track by a country mile.
    It is a rollercoaster ride of a lap round this track. TV does not do it justice, you really have to see it to properly appreciate it. It was built with sunshine in mind, hence it is tends to be quite dicey in the wet with rivers flowing across the track in a number of places.
    Last edited by Nitrodaze; 21st October 2018 at 18:02.
    Better a witty fool than a foolish wit.
    William Shakespeare

  12. #10
    Senior Member truefan72's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Philadelphia
    Posts
    5,943
    Like
    1,228
    Liked 373 Times in 289 Posts
    absolutely pathetic that the one GP in the USA is not even on ESPN or ABC but on some SD channel called LiveWell
    Way to go F1 and ESPN, way to bring in those US audience. SMH
    Shambolic.
    you can't argue with results.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •