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[LewEngBridewell]

Nico seems on fine form. Now all we need is a decent dice between the two... surely possible? Because Austin is a SUPERB circuit, and Lewis WILL be on form during the race, one assumes.

Fingers crossed it's a good one

[overboost]

Did anyone see that coming? Seems the more tracks are deemed Hamilton ones the more Nico steps up and claims pole, by a healthy slice too. Now with the benefit of a dry race, and barring any weird mishaps, we can see what Nico is made of after all the talk. This will be the toughest head to head test for both of them in quite a while. Hamilton isn't neary half a second shy on pure pace, but there's enough speed in Nico, and tough passing, to make it difficult. Might be an afternoon for the strategists.

This is reminding me of the early season battles where Hamilton is expected to own weekends, and has the momentum, and Rosberg is just a big fly in the ointment. From Nico's POV he had a great Sochi, was neck and neck in Singapore, big pole in Japan. This man is not beaten.

I would agree with this Roth, Rosberg is building on his momentum from the nost recent races especially Sochi. It seems he has made a step on his car setup as he was really in the groove at Sochi and now in Texas he was able to out qualify his teammate by 4 tenths. And this on a track where he has had a dismal qually record.

It could be an interesting race tomorrow if Rosberg has good race pace as well.

[What's Burning?]

Attendance in FP3 seems light? Is it the opposite effect that Sochi? There's a ton of grandstands in Austin where there were very little grandstands in Sochi.

Attendance seemed much better for qualifying.

That's because Matt Leblanc showed up.

[Hammer278]

I set the alarm for qualifying but refused to wake up when it rang. Although I dreamt Nico took an easy pole, and Lewis was saying its ok no matter...and logged in this morning to find out.. dreams come true. Maybe I don't have to wake up at a ridiculous hour tmr morning and can dream up the race result myself.

[LRW]

I do believe Nico will choke today. Hamilton has it in the bag.

[Hammer278]

Yeah I just want Lewis to get a reasonable start and keep 2nd place in the first corner....after that his chances to win are huge since he's only got a choker in front. Nico might even outbrake himself in the first corner. Lol

[Hammer278]

'One day we will get it right' - Raikkonen

Kimi Raikkonen says he is still unable to drive the Ferrari as he would want but is hoping a breakthrough will eventually unlock his true speed.

Raikkonen has struggled with a lack of confidence in the Ferrari's front end all year and has posted a series of disappointing results compared to team-mate Fernando Alonso. At this weekend's US Grand Prix he qualified ninth, which will become eighth on the grid once Jenson Button's penalty is applied, and is still suffering the same issue.

"The car doesn't feel too bad actually, but it's just pushing on a fast lap when the front starts sliding," he said. "It's a big problem for me at least and you cannot drive as you want and it's just pushing and sliding, you are fighting with it every corner. But I don't know how to fix it."

Raikkonen is sure he would be much higher up the grid if the car behaved the way he wanted it to.

"In the end we have to fix the issue and I can drive as I want and we can go much faster. Until we get the car like this you have to compromise certain things. You would like to drive differently but you cannot because of certain issues. It's a normal thing and you have to drive the best out of what you have. It's a compromise and hopefully one day we will get it right and it will all get much easier."

______________________________________

"One day..... we will get it right"

"...And it will all get much easier."

[What's Burning?]

Given the right, exact, particular, individual, correct, precise, car, Kimi can be a fantastic driver.

[stonemonkey]

I'm not sure, Kimi does seem to need particular feedback but Alonso has a wierd way of driving and turning in to corners, maybe Ferrari tried to accomodate him with the design of the car.

[Jabberwocky]

Maybe it is Redbull/Vettelesque. Alonso 's need from a car is so different that an incoming or 2nd driver would struggle. (tech changes this year have played into Ric ' favour this year)

[What's Burning?]

I wonder about those things as well, and the logical next step is what an Alonso or Hamilton would do with Redbull/Vettlesque chassis. Alot of people can look like a bad bottom killer when the weapon is an AK 47, not the same with a Hunting knife.

[What's Burning?]

Weather is warmer today in Austin, about six or seven degrees warmer than yesterday and considerably less wind which will bring things a lot closer to the Friday set up teams planned on. I hope we get to see a good battle. It would go a long way towards generating interest in the sport here.

[LiamCatterson]

Weather is warmer today in Austin, about six or seven degrees warmer than yesterday and considerably less wind which will bring things a lot closer to the Friday set up teams planned on. I hope we get to see a good battle. It would go a long way towards generating interest in the sport here.

Won't be a change up the front me feels from Friday

[What's Burning?]

Packed house in Austin!

[CookinFlat6]

Given the right, exact, particular, individual, correct, precise, car, Kimi can be a fantastic driver.

Would have to be accompanied by a short period on the wagon before that perfect day