United States Grand Prix 2015
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton needs to score seven points more than Sebastian Vettel to win the 2015 Drivers' World Championship for the second consecutive year Getty

The F1 juggernaut is entering the home stretch with just three races to go after the race in Austin, Texas, on Sunday (25 October). Lewis Hamilton is on the verge of securing his third and second consecutive World Championship after dominating the rest of the grid right from the start of the 2015 campaign. The Briton has won nine races thus far and his form suggests that it will not be his last. He just needs to score seven more points than second-placed Sebastian Vettel to secure the title.

Nico Rosberg and Vettel are his closest challengers, but will need a miracle to have any chance of beating the Mercedes driver. Hamilton has won the US Grand Prix twice since it was added to the calendar in 2012 and he will be the favourite going into the race on Sunday. The German duo are battling for the second place in the championship, one that could go to the final race of the season.

The United States Grand Prix will see an American racer in F1 on home soil for the first time since Scoot Speed was part of the grid at the 2007 US GP held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Where to watch live

The first practice session of the United States Grand Prix starts at 4pm BST (Friday), with Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports F1 HD providing live coverage in the UK.

Real-time internet updates are available on the Live Timing section of the sport's official website. Live coverage of the second practice session starts at 8pm BST.

Track Facts

  • Circuit name: Circuit of the Americas
  • First F1 Race: 2012
  • Circuit length: 5.513km
  • Number of laps: 56
  • Race distance: 308.405km
  • Lap record: 1.39'347 (S Vettel - 2012)
  • Most wins: Lewis Hamilton (2)
  • 2014 winner: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
  • 2014 pole: Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)

Drivers Championship review

Hamilton (302 points) needs to score just seven points more than Vettel (236 points) to secure a second consecutive world championship with Mercedes. The Briton liked the Circuit of the Americas and could be crowned the new champ on Sunday. Vettel has taken over second place after Rosberg's (229 points) DNF at the Japanese Grand Prix and this battle for the second place could go down to the last race. The German is all but out of the title race, but has indicated that he will not stop his pursuit until it is mathematically impossible to do so.

Kimi Raikkonen (123 points) maintains the fourth place, but is also in a battle with the two Williams drivers Valtteri Bottas (111 points) and Felipe Massa (109 points), who look strong in certain circuits that favour the Mercedes powered cars. They are followed by the Red Bull duo with the younger Daniil Kvyat (76 points) leading his more experienced teammate Daniel Ricciardo (73 points), which will be an amazing achievement for the Russian, if he can hold until the end of the season.

Lotus and Force India continue to swap places at the bottom of the top 10 with Sergio Perez (55 points) now leading Romain Grosjean (44 points) to round out the top 10.

Constructors Championship review

The Mercedes F1 team have been crowned 2015 Constructors' Champions following Lewis Hamilton's victory at the Japanese Grand Prix, and Ferrari look safe in second with just four races to go. Williams are in the third place, 139 points behind the Maranello-based team. They in turn also look safe to retain third place, as Red Bull Racing are 69 points behind, and barring a catastrophe for Williams in the final races, it will be difficult for the Austrian-owned team to bridge the gap.

The battle for the fifth place between Force India (92 points) and Lotus (66 points) is the set to go right down to the wire, but the Vijay Mallya-owned team are favourites owing to their recent upturn in form, which has seen their drivers consistently finish in points in consecutive races.

McLaren-Honda have begun testing parts for next year's car as the Japanese constructor writes off their first season back in the sport. The Woking-based team have struggled to match the power of the other constructors and are only above bottom placed team Manor Marussia F1 in the standings.

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