F1 US Grand Prix: qualifying betting preview, free tip & TV details

F1 tips, best bets and predictions for the United States Grand Prix qualifying session at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

Where to watch

Sky Sports F1, 9pm Saturday

Best bet

Max Verstappen fastest qualifier
1pt 9-2 Coral, Ladbrokes

Preview

Lewis Hamilton set the fastest Friday practice time for the United States Grand Prix, but Charles Leclerc is a warm favourite to extend Ferrari's run of pole positions to seven.

Hamilton's lap of the Circuit of the Americas was aided by a timely tow he picked up from Robert Kubica, and the fact that it was 0.8 seconds faster than his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas could manage suggests he might struggle to replicate it in normal conditions.

Similarly, Ferrari's qualifying form is a little misleading given that Leclerc started from pole position in Mexico last week only after fastest qualifier Max Verstappen was penalised.

Verstappen's Red Bull is always well suited by the Mexican track - less so in Texas - but the Dutchman was encouraged by his practice pace.

He topped the first session, ahead of Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel, and while the red cars can be expected to draw more power from their engines in qualifying, Verstappen may be capable of mixing it at the front.

Leclerc looks the right favourite, although he is a short enough price given that the number of slow corners on the track mean it may not suit the Ferrari as well as some others. It may pay to seek value in a session which could see a close fight between the top three teams.

Track guide

Venue Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas
Number of laps 56
Lap length 5.516km
Lap record 1.37.392 L Hamilton (Mercedes) 2018
Schedule – practice three 6pm Saturday; qualifying 9pm Saturday; race 7.10pm Sunday.
TV All live on Sky Sports F1
Circuit characteristics The layout is made up of reproductions of some of the greatest corners from circuits around the world and there are extreme undulations.
DRS zone The pits straight and before turn 12
Last five years (grid) K Raikkonen (2), L Hamilton (1), L Hamilton (1), L Hamilton (2), L Hamilton (2)
Last year Kimi Raikkonen took the lead into the first corner from second on the grid, then made a one-stop strategy work for him to take victory for Ferrari.
2018 pole L Hamilton, 1.32.237
2018 fastest lap L Hamilton, 1.37.392 on lap 40
2018 classified finishers 16/20
Reason for retirements Collision (3), mechanical (1)
Weather Partly cloudy but dry both days. 22C.

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