Formula 1: 2021 United States qualifying – Full starting lineup, odds
By Asher Fair
The starting lineup for the United States Grand Prix, the 17th race on the 2021 Formula 1 schedule, is set after Saturday’s qualifying session.
After a week off following the Turkish Grand Prix at Intercity Istanbul Park two Sundays ago, Formula 1 is back in action this weekend with the 17th of 22 races on this year’s calendar.
After being knocked off the calendar last year due to various COVID-19-related restrictions, the United States Grand Prix is back for 2022.
Related Story. Formula 1 mock draft. light
Where is the United States Grand Prix?
The United States Grand Prix is a 56-lap race around the the 20-turn, 3.427-mile (5.515-kilometer) Circuit of the Americas (COTA) road course in Austin, Texas, a race won by Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas the last time it was contested in 2019.
COTA broadcast information
ESPN is set to broadcast the United States Grand Prix live from Circuit of the Americas beginning at 3:00 p.m. ET this Sunday, October 24. Start your free trial of FuboTV today if you have not done so!
Who is on pole at COTA?
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took the pole position for the United States Grand Prix by topping the speed chart in the third and final round of knockout qualifying for the race. He topped the speed chart in this session by recording a lap at 92.910 seconds (132.787 miles per hour).
The points leader is set to start alongside championship rival Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes in second place. Red Bull’s Sergio Perez is set to start in third, while Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas, who qualified in fourth, is set to drop to ninth with an engine penalty. So fifth place qualifier Charles Leclerc of Ferrari is set to begin alongside Perez on the second row in fourth.
Three other drivers, Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel, Alpine’s Fernando Alonso and Williams’ George Russell, are set to start at the back of the grid with engine penalties as well. They originally qualified in 12th, 14th and 15th place, respectively.
Here is the full starting lineup for the 2021 United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas.
Starting Lineup
1st – Max Verstappen
2nd – Lewis Hamilton
3rd – Sergio Perez
4th – Charles Leclerc
5th – Carlos Sainz Jr.
6th – Daniel Ricciardo
7th – Lando Norris
8th – Pierre Gasly
9th – Valtteri Bottas
10th – Yuki Tsunoda
11th – Esteban Ocon
12th – Antonio Giovinazzi
13th – Lance Stroll
14th – Nicholas Latifi
15th – Kimi Raikkonen
16th – Mick Schumacher
17th – Nikita Mazepin
18th – Sebastian Vettel
19th – Fernando Alonso
20th – George Russell
COTA betting odds
Check out the top drivers in the betting odds for this Sunday’s race, courtesy of WynnBET.
- Max Verstappen: -120
- Lewis Hamilton: +165
- Sergio Perez: +1100
- Valtteri Bottas: +3000
- Charles Leclerc: +3000
- Lando Norris: +4000
- Carlos Sainz Jr.: +4000
- Daniel Ricciardo: +4000
- Pierre Gasly: +7500
COTA betting prediction
With Verstappen on pole, he is justifiably the favorite for this race ahead of Hamilton, who opened the weekend as the favorite to win ahead of his title rival.
There are a few key statistics to note here before you make your pick. Five of the last seven times Verstappen has started on pole, he has won the race. The other two times, he has been involved in a race-ending incident with Hamilton.
Hamilton still managed to win one of those two races. But notably, both of those “pole positions” were earned via the sprint qualifying race format. So in his last five starts from pole in traditional fashion, Verstappen has a high, low, and average finish of 1.0 — another way of saying he hasn’t lost.
Make your pick now at WynnBET!
Should Verstappen and Hamilton tangle, don’t rule out Perez stealing a win like he did when both title contenders had separate issues in Baku.
And if they tangle in the first corner, a bet on Perez at +1100 would go well with a bet on Verstappen or Hamilton to be the first driver to retire (+1100 and +1750, respectively).
One driver not to rule out is Bottas. While he is set to start back in ninth place, we saw him drive from the back of the field to finish in third place at Monza, where it is generally tough to pass due to the DRS train created by the long straights.
It goes without saying that Bottas at +3000 is even more attractive given the potential for the top two to get into an incident as they share the front row for the seventh time in 2021.
Next. Top 25 Formula 1 drivers of all-time. dark
WynnBET Promo: Bet $1, Win $100 if any NFL or college football team scores. Claim offer now.