After a two week break, we are now ready to resume the 2014 season and pump out the final three races of the championship. We will first stop in Austin, Texas for the 2014 United States Grand Prix. The event organizers for this event have been under fire for scheduling the event for the exact same time as the NASCAR race in Texas. Now fans will need to choose between Formula One™ and NASCAR. Those who choose to attend or watch Formula One™ are surely going to be in for a treat.
Unfortunately, two struggling teams have withdrawn from the event. Caterham has been locked out of their factory and their equipment has been repossessed as a result of debt. Marussia has also been struggling with a lack of funds all season long and has lost their major shareholder. In addition, it was confirmed early on that Sebastian Vettel’s Red Bull car would miss qualifying. This was because the team would like to same unnecessary engine mileage. However, Vettel did make an appearance in qualifying, to please the FIA. Teammate Daniel Ricciardo will take place in qualifying because he is in a championship position.
The Circuit of the Americas needs to put on a good show this year, since according to some sources, the event is under a threat of cancellation. Although this has been unconfirmed, rumors of a return to Las Vegas are making this theory all the more believable. The United States has a history of constantly changing the location of the United States Grand Prix.
Despite dominating all three of the free practice sessions, Lewis Hamilton did not get the pole position. Nico Rosberg pulled through when it mattered most, to gain the pole. Despite Hamilton’s minor disadvantage, I believe that he will still be able to charge past Rosberg, for the win of the Grand Prix. Rosberg will of course get second place, driving the extremely fast Mercedes car.
Felipe Massa has made an excellent improvement during the weekend; earning an eleventh place in free practice 1, but eventually getting fourth on the grid. With his teammate, Valtteri Bottas, starting from third on the grid, there will surely be a battle between the two Williams drivers. It will surely be a close one, but based on previous performance in the Grands Prix events earlier in the season, I think that Bottas has the momentum to maintain a podium finish. Massa is a great driver and would also be capable of defending his fourth place finish.
Fifth place was a tough decision yet again. It was again between Fernando Alonso and Daniel Ricciardo. However, I believe that Alonso will have the better car and be able to slingshot Ricciardo for the final top five position. Throughout the weekend, it has appeared that Red Bull have been struggling to get a good setup for this track. Alonso has showed a good, consistent pace in all of the sessions thus far.
The one thing that I can be certain of is that everyone should watch the race. If you are a NASCAR fan, this Texas race will be much more exciting and important that your Texas race. I can’t wait to see how things pan out in this one.
1 Lewis Hamilton
2 Nico Rosberg
3 Valtteri Bottas
4 Felipe Massa
5 Fernando Alonso
