2017 United States Grand Prix - COTA, 20-22 October

[ChrisDanger]

Circuit and Event Information









Tyre Allocations



2016 Qualifying Results (link to wiki)



2016 Race Results (link to wiki)



2016 Pole Lap



Championship Tables

World Driver's Championship Table


World Driver's Championship, Positions


World Driver's Championship, Points


World Driver's Championship, Points - Midfield Zoom


World Constructor's Championship Table


World Constructor's Championship, Positions


World Constructor's Championship, Points


World Constructor's Championship, Points - Midfield Zoom

[Sevach]

Ultra softs at COTA, sounds interesting.

[TAG]

Only Hamilton and Vettel have ever won here. No indication that trend is about to change this year.

[GPR-A duplicate2]

Could we see a two stopper? 56 laps of 59% full throttle per lap on a circuit that demands a great deal of downforce. Why not?

Rain expected for Friday and Saturday. A Dry sunday! Weather predictions for US are far more dependable than anywhere else.

[dans79]

Rain expected for Friday and Saturday. A Dry sunday! Weather predictions for US are far more dependable than anywhere else.

The chance of rain on Friday and Saturday is very low though, only 10% and 20% repetitively. It's 40% on Sunday, but that will most likely be post race or right at the very end.

https://weather.com/weather/tenday/l/USTX0057:1:US


My prediction would be an overcast weekend, with low track temps, and rain post race.

[Mattchu]

Will anyone [Mercedes] try and do qualy 2 on any other tyres than the Ultra Soft. If we take last years SS as being this years US then maybe Hamilton and Bottas will try and get through on the SS then run SS/US or maybe just S if one stopping...
Not many tried a 1 stopper last year and from what i remember a 2 stopper was the way to go.

Red Bull were very close last year all things considered, maybe they`ll be the surprise this weekend and it wont just be a Merc/Ferrari shoot out for pole!

[Shrieker]

Pole time ? Sub 1:30 anyone ?

[dans79]

Pole time ? Sub 1:30 anyone ?

Lewis's Q3 time from last year of 1:34.999 is the fastest lap ever. I can't see the lap time dropping by 5 seconds, 2 maybe 2.5, but not 5.

[ChrisDanger]

Pole time ? Sub 1:30 anyone ?

Lewis's Q3 time from last year of 1:34.999 is the fastest lap ever. I can't see the lap time dropping by 5 seconds, 2 maybe 2.5, but not 5.

Yes, 5 seconds seems a lot. The lap is fairly long though, and last year it was a sunny 27°C, so perhaps the predicted cooler conditions will help.

[Shrieker]

It dropped by over 3.3 seconds in Japan. I thought it was around 5 seconds, but probably confused with the best practice time in 2016. Oh well. Maybe next year

[WaikeCU]

I think Lewis will be strong here as well. First section is just like the esses in Suzuka where Hamilton was mighty. I think he was the quickest of all in the first section of Suzuka.

[godlameroso]

56 laps, 3 more than Suzuka, so the track is a little shorter. Then again it's got a lower average top speed, and less full throttle per lap. This track is on average about 5 seconds slower than a lap of Suzuka. In the race the best they could do was low 1:33's, so about 6 seconds off pole, so race laps should be in the high 37's low 38's, and if we follow this logic and subtract 6 seconds we get a pole lap of around high 31's low 32's which makes sense as it's about 3 seconds faster than last year. If we subtract 3.3 from 34.999 we get a 31.7 which is more or less what I think pole will be, at least from Mercedes' end. So far the Assetto Corsa SF70-H is pretty accurate as far as race pace lap times, and I start with 38's with a full tank and end up with 36's at the end of the race with a two stopper.

The first section is only similar to Suzuka in that there's only one line through them. That's where the similarities end, the first two turns are fully flat, then it's just a matter of lifting at the right time, dabbing the brakes for the downhill left that starts sector 2, then it's just an exercise in managing wheelspin as you go up the hill. Ferrari and Red Bull were both faster than Mercedes through the Esses in Suzuka, and in Silverstone. The Mercedes was just fast enough through the corners where what it lost in them was made up for with higher speeds in the full throttle sections.

Remember that sector 1 in Suzuka isn't just the Esses and Dunlop curve, it's the main straight, the short straight after turn 2, the full throttle run up to Degner 1, and the exit of degner 2. Lots of full throttle which is where Mercedes gains.

I expect Mercedes to smash sector 2, be behind Ferrari in sector 3, and relatively close between RB Ferrari and Mercedes in sector 1.

[TAG]

I'm still lighting a candle and praying to the F1 gods to give me one race, one battle, one straight up fight between these two before the season ends. Only four races to go and after Hamilton clinches he'll have more incentive to party than to fight.

[PlatinumZealot]

So far the Assetto Corsa SF70-H is pretty accurate as far as race pace lap times, and I start with 38's with a full tank and end up with 36's at the end of the race with a two stopper.

Steering wheel or controller?

[godlameroso]

Wouldn't even bother without a wheel.