United States: 2018 Flashback and Winner Predictions
Will Ferrari finally be able to turn its current form into a victory in Austin like the one achieved last year by Kimi Räikkönen? The Motors Inside editorial team relives that moment and takes on the not-so-easy game of predictions.
2018 in broad strokes: Räikkönen reminds everyone of his capabilities
The second half of the 2018 season for Scuderia Ferrari was nightmarish. Sebastian Vettel lost all hope of the title after a series of mistakes that began in front of his home crowd in Germany with a crash in wet conditions.
The United States Grand Prix could therefore be decisive for winning a driver’s title that does not seem likely to elude Lewis Hamilton. Nonetheless, the surprise victory by Kimi Räikkönen, achieved thanks to an excellent start and an aggressive strategy by Ferrari, pushes the decision to the next race in Mexico.
For Vettel, on the other hand, it’s another difficult race he has to face. Found guilty of not slowing down enough under a red flag during FP1, the German is penalized with a 3-place grid drop. A little later during the race, he will even spin while trying to overtake Daniel Ricciardo’s Red Bull. The Ferrari driver will ultimately finish in 4th place after a late overtake on Valtteri Bottas.
The podium will be completed by a very aggressive Max Verstappen, voted driver of the day, and Hamilton who will be crowned for the fifth time a week later in Mexico.
The Editorial Team’s Prediction:
With a few rare exceptions, the editorial team places a Ferrari in pole position in Austin with a slight advantage for Charles Leclerc. However, the young Monegasque does not have the favor of our editors for the race, where the two old hands, Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel, are expected to compete for the victory.
