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Thread: 2018 United States GP [Texas]
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16th October 2018, 19:52 #1
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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 10:46.
Better a witty fool than a foolish wit.
William Shakespeare
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17th October 2018, 01:35 #2
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The Boss 2012 baby!May the forza be with you
- Likes: Duncan (21st October 2018)
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17th October 2018, 12:10 #3
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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.
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17th October 2018, 22:32 #4
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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
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19th October 2018, 13:01 #5
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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.
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20th October 2018, 20:37 #6
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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 20:51.
Better a witty fool than a foolish wit.
William Shakespeare
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20th October 2018, 21:55 #7
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Sausage bites Max!
Last edited by Tazio; 20th October 2018 at 21:59.
May the forza be with you
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20th October 2018, 23:04 #8
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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.
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21st October 2018, 13:35 #9
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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 17:02.
Better a witty fool than a foolish wit.
William Shakespeare
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21st October 2018, 18:35 #10
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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.
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