As the Formula 1 paddock heads to Texas this weekend, Lewis Hamilton is all but guaranteed to be crowned world champion as he only needs to secure an eighth-place finish.
The Stevenage-born driver holds a 74-point lead over teammate Valterri Bottas, and with only 3 races left this season, Bottas has to win the race or Hamilton automatically wins the World Driver Championship.
The ‘Circuit of The Americas’ (or COTA), is located in Austin, Texas which has proven to be a favourable circuit for Hamilton who has won the 56-lap race five times.
In the likely scenario Hamilton wins the championship on Sunday, he will set F1 and British history, with six championships under his belt, one less than Michael Schumacher, and the most successful British driver of all time.
Updates, news and results can be found here as the weekend progresses.
Schedule
Qualifying: Saturday 2nd November, 9pm
Race: Sunday 3rd November, 7:10pm
Despite Hamilton’s promising title chances this weekend. He will have some work to do start from fifth place on the grid.
Bottas stormed to pole position on Saturday, sending a message to his rivals and his teammate that he won’t be going down without a fight.
Hamilton had to abort his final Q3 run, realizing that he would not improve his time after the timer hit zero, leading to his poor qualifying result.
If the grid finishes how it starts however Hamilton will still win the championship, but with an uphill and hectic first corner at COTA, anything can happen.
Words: Ferris Shaw
Image: chuttersnap on Unsplash