Event of the Day: Formula One United States Grand Prix
Our event of the day is the Formula One United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin. Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes qualified in pole position with a time of 1:32.237. Sebastian Vettel qualified second, a slender 0.061 seconds slower, but will start down in fifth due to a grid penalty he incurred in practice. Kimi Räikkönen qualified third fastest, but is bumped up to second as a result of Vettel’s grid penalty, and Valterri Bottas will start in third. Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton has history within touching distance. Victory today could secure the British driver his fifth world title, if rival Sebastian Vettel fails to finish in the top two. The title race had been a tightly fought two-horse race for the first half of the season. However, Hamilton has been dominant since the British Grand Prix, winning six of the last seven races. The British driver now leads the driver’s championship by a massive 57 points, and he could not have wished for a better race to potentially claim the world title.
Hamilton’s record in the States is near impeccable. He has won the US Grand Prix four years on the bounce, and also took the chequered flag here in 2012 in what ended up being his final win for McLaren. Vettel was the man to interrupt Hamilton’s winning streak in the States in 2013. He must repeat this feat today to keep his slim hopes of world title glory alive. Although a Vettel win would surely only be delaying the inevitable, the German driver will be desperate to reignite a season that is fizzling out alarmingly quickly. Can Vettel cause an upset or will Hamilton be world champion once more?
Honourable mentions around the globe go to the Japanese MotoGP at Twin Ring Motegi. Marc Márquez could secure his third world title in a row, his fifth in total, with victory at the same track where he captured his 2016 world title. In the NFL, the Philadelphia Eagles welcome the Carolina Panthers to Lincoln Financial Field, whilst in the NBA, the Golden State Warriors travel to the Denver Nuggets. Elsewhere in the States, there’s a top of the table clash in the MLS, as FC Dallas host Sporting Kansas City. Further football action comes from Italy, where one of the biggest rivalries in world football is on display, as Inter Milan play AC Milan in Serie A. In La Liga, Athletic Bilbao travel to Eibar, whilst in Ligue 1, Nice host Marseille. Additional world class sport in France can be found at the Ernest Wallon Stadium, where Toulouse take on Leinster in the European Champions Cup. At the Kremlin Cup, it’s men’s finals day on the ATP World Tour. European Tour action comes from the Valderrama Golf Club, with the fourth and final day of the Valderrama Masters. The First ODI between India and the West Indies commences at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium.
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Photos by Formula One