US: pre-qualifying

The race has been overshadowed, almost literally, by Hurricane Patricia. The hurricane, with the most powerful winds ever recorded in the Western Hemisphere, has struck Mexico, but its long range effects include massive rainfall in Texas. It’s entirely possible qualifying will be delayed and there’s a chance the race itself may be cancelled (and that Mexico’s return to the calendar may have to be put back to 2016).

In happier news, Jolyon Palmer will drive alongside Pastor Maldonado at Lotus next year (or Renault, as it may well be known). Assuming the team makes the grid.

P1 was soggy indeed, but for the sake of completeness: Rosberg was quickest, ahead of Kvyat, Ricciardo and Sainz. Next up was Hamilton, Vettel and Verstappen, with Raikkonen, Alonso and Bottas rounding out the top 10.

The second practice session was rained off.

If we do have a race and it’s rainy, that will relatively assist the Red Bulls and Toro Rossos, whilst harming Williams significantly. I’d be looking at bets involving Verstappen, Alonso [Button is very good in the wet but Alonso has an apparently improved engine], and Hulkenberg. I rate Vettel, Hamilton and Bottas very highly in the wet, but the first two are at the sharp end anyway, and Bottas would likely be compromised by his car’s weakness in the rain.

Third practice was delayed due to deluge. Because of the uncertainty around when that’ll happen, or even if, and whether qualifying will happen or be delayed, I’ve decided to just post this early.

The extreme weather situation also means no tip for qualifying. Assuming the race goes ahead (it could be the first for years to be rained off), I will endeavour to offer a tip for it, as usual.

Morris Dancer