F1 goes State-side

Wow.

That was quite a weekend of F1 action. I think the inaugural race at the Circuit of the Americas has to go down as an epic success.

I’d been looking forward to this race for months. And it didn’t disappoint me.

I’m going to have to begin with Ferrari. Like it or not, they pulled a tactical trump card in the form of giving Massa a grid penalty in order to put Alsono on the clean side of the track. Granted, it’s maybe not the most sporting of moves, but none the less it was probably the right move. It also fire Massa himself into one of the drives of the season. We’ll never know what the outcome would have been without it, but considering the race pace of both “Prancing Horses”, I actually doubt it made much of a genuine difference.

More importantly, it takes the drivers title down to the wire.

There was overtaking, too. Lots of it.

It’s hard to pick the best. Button on Kimi maybe. Lewis on Seb. People were passing at almost any opening. Much to Vettel’s disgust.

As we’re on Vettel, I really hope he doesn’t win another title. I don’t think he deserves to be held in the same regard as other triple World Champions. He’s a very fast driver, and yes, his race craft is far better than maybe a couple of years ago, but it’s too easy to a degree. A little like Schumacher when he was unbeatable. F1 is a fickle place though, and being the underdog is far more palatable. Again, a couple of years ago, Alonso was the devil incarnate to me. This year, he has my full support. And not just because he’s been in my “Fantasy F1 Team”.

But I digress from the spectacle.

As we move onto Brazil and a climax to a great season, the biggest drawback is that this time next week it’ll all be over and the long winter of petrolhead withdrawal will begin. So, to get the tastebuds really salavating before Sunday, here’s who needs what to win:

Vettel will win the title if…

• He finishes in the top four
• He finishes fifth, sixth or seventh and Alonso is second or lower
• He finishes eighth or ninth and Alonso is third or lower
• He finishes 10th or lower and Alonso fails to make it onto the podium

Alonso will win the title if…

• He wins the race and Vettel is fifth or lower
• He finishes second and Vettel is eighth or lower
• He finishes third and Vettel is 10th or lower

Vettel looks odds on, but rain is forecast. This is by no means a certainty for Alsono, but hey, it should make it a hell of a race.