F1 US Grand Prix: 4 Qualifying Predictions

This weekend is the 18th round of the 2018 Formula One championship as the circuit travels to the 'land of opportunity' for the US Grand Prix.

It is the 7th edition of the US Grand Prix taking place at the Circuit of the Americas since the track was introduced to the F1 calendar in 2012.

Lewis Hamilton won the opening race against Red Bull's, back then, Sebastian Vettel, which would be the Briton's final victory at McLaren before leaving the team at the end of that season.

Now six years on both names are battling it out once more for the world championship and it could all be wrapped up come to the end of this weekend.

Hamilton is just a whisker away from sealing his fifth world championship.

If Hamilton wins the race on Sunday and Vettel finishes third or below then the 33-year-old will become only the third driver to reach five world championships, after Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher.

But Hamilton knows there is still a task to be completed and achieved while many expect him to end this year's championship before the next race in Mexico.

Friday's practise sessions have come to an end which included very wet conditions in FP2.

Take a look at our 4 qualifying predictions for the US Grand Prix...

#4 Top 3 start for Verstappen?

Max Verstappen is one of the few drivers in good form right now especially in the second half of this year's championship.

The Dutchman has been outqualifying and outracing his colleague Daniel Ricciardo over the last few races and has been up there competing with Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel.

Verstappen will, of course, be Red Bull's number one man come to the start of the 2019 championship when it begins in March in Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix.

Friday's practise was a solid performance from the 21-year-old by consistently finishing in third place in both sessions.

Again, Verstappen proved to be faster than Ricciardo.

A top three finish for the talented young driver?

#3 A high-end result for Alonso?

Fernando Alonso could soon be calling America his new home come 2019.

The Spaniard will be saying goodbye to F1 next month after 17 years in the sport but aims to continue working in the motorsport industry.

Alonso has been highly linked to joining the IndyCar series for next year which might see him still race for McLaren in the States.

The two-time world champion tested an IndyCar earlier this year across the pond - 12 months after taking part in Indy 500 for the very first time

Alonso still has the ambition to win Indy 500 to become the second racer to achieve the 'triple crown' after Graham Hill by winning the Monaco Grand Prix, Le Mans 24 and of course Indy 500.

The McLaren man looked good in FP2 despite the wet conditions which resulted in the 37-year-old being fourth fastest out of the 20.

#2 Saturday could be a difficult one for Vettel

This weekend could be a hard one to swallow for Sebastian Vettel but also for the Ferrari team as a whole and let's not forget the supporters of the Italian group.

If Hamilton secures another world championship on Sunday, then it will be a second straight year that Vettel and Ferrari have failed to take home the driver's championship.

Kimi Raikkonen was the last man to win a driver's championship for Ferrari which was 11 years ago in 2007.

Ferrari are also currently in second place in the constructors' championship by being 78 points behind Mercedes with four races to go.

Another nightmare for Vettel and the team ahead of Sunday's race is the German being awarded a three-place grid penalty.

This comes after Vettel was penalised for not slowing sufficiently for a red flag in Friday's practise.

So it is hard times for the Italian team but they will keep fighting until both championships are very much decided.

#1 Pole for Hamilton?

Is there really any doubt for Hamilton to achieve his 81st pole position on Saturday?

You'd be very brave to go against Hamilton's form ahead of this weekend when the last few weeks have seen a very deadly version of the Briton.

Friday's practise sessions was a good day for Hamilton and Mercedes with the 33-year-old topping both sessions.

Since the Circuit of the Americas was added to the F1 family in 2012, Hamilton has won five out of the six races.

2013 was the only year Hamilton didn't come out on top as Sebastian Vettel dominated the race in a championship-winning Red Bull car.

Another pole for the Mercedes man?

What are your predictions ahead of the US Grand Prix? Comment below...

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