Our F1 Insider has two short-priced fancies for the US Grand Prix

F1 Insider: United States Grand Prix tips plus race history and TV info

By Sporting Life

16:49 · FRI October 19, 2018

Our F1 Insider returns with two selections for the US Grand Prix, with Force India and Mercedes both expected to enjoy strong weeks in Texas.

Force India to score a double points finish at 11/8

This season has been a little more turbulent than last for the Silverstone-based outfit, which was forced to enter administration and effectively reform as a new entry in order to save the team from folding. But recent performances on-track have been reminiscent of the striking consistency of 2017, when they punched their way to fourth in the constructors' championship.

Seven of the last nine races have seen both pink cars in the points, with Sergio Perez landing "best of the rest" honours behind the Mercedes, Ferraris and Red Bulls in Japan two weeks ago. Perez and Esteban Ocon can be trusted to get the maximum out of the car, as evidenced by the fact they have finished nose-to-tail in the order in eight of the 13 races both drivers have finished. This gives them the edge over Haas, whose car is arguably a fraction faster at its ultimate potential but cannot operate consistently at that level. 11/8 on another double-score looks more than fair.

Mercedes to take a double podium finish at 5/6

Mercedes have really hit their straps over the final furlong of this F1 season, pulling clear of Ferrari and Red Bull in pure performance terms.

The Ferrari, in Sebastian Vettel's hands at least, was definitively the fastest car in the middle part of the season but the Scuderia have had no answer to the development upgrades introduced on the Silver Arrows in Singapore, Russia and Japan.

This leaves Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas with a small but significant edge in both qualifying and race pace, one which should continue in Austin this weekend. Hamilton will want Bottas to follow him home in a one-two in order to clinch the title in Texas but Vettel might just be able to get his nose in between the pair.

Either way, the Mercedes double podium finish (listed as 'combination podium finish' by best-priced bet365) is a good bet at a shade of odds-on.

Lewis Hamilton (pictured) and Valtteri Bottas are both expected to go well

How Hamilton can win the title in Texas

Lewis Hamilton moved 67 points clear of Sebastian Vettel in the Formula One Championship with just four rounds remaining following his win in Japan on Sunday.

The British driver will now clinch his fifth world title at the next round in Austin on October 21, Texas...

If he wins and Sebastian Vettel is third or lower.
If he is second and Vettel is fifth or lower.
If he is third and Vettel is seventh or lower.
If he is fourth and Vettel is eighth or lower.
If he is fifth and Vettel is ninth or lower.
If he is sixth and Vettel is 10th or lower.

If Hamilton is seventh or lower, the championship will continue to Mexico (October 28). The other Grand Prix are in Brazil (November 11) and Abu Dhabi (November 25).