Five things to look out for in the United States Grand Prix

We're approaching the back-end of the 2019 F1 season, but there's still plenty of things to look out for! None more important than Lewis Hamilton's chances of winning his sixth Formula 1 world championship...here are five things to look out for in the US GP

1. Hamilton sixth F1 title 

Hamilton needs to score just four points to be crowned 2019 F1 world champion. A result which would put him one behind Michael Schumacher's total of seven world trophies. The British driver might be started from fifth place at COTA, but an eighth-place finish will be enough to win even if Valtteri Bottas steps onto the top step of the podium. 

2. First corner sprint 

We've got three different constructors in the top three grid places for the United States Grand Prix. With Sebastian Vettel on a similar strategy to Bottas, he knows one of his best chances of overtaking the Mercedes is by doing it at the opening corner. It's a long run, uphill and a heavy braking zone. Charles Leclerc lines up next to Max Verstappen and that's always capable of fireworks. 

3. FIA clamp down on corner-cutting

At turn eight, a yellow sausage kerb has been added to stop drivers running wide and gaining an advantage Lots of drivers were choosing a racing line on the inside off the track to cut the corner a bit and get a better exit to turn 9. This will not be allowed during the race unless they want a ride over the kerb. 

4. Albon on the soft tyres 

Pirelli believe a one-stop starting with the soft tyres and changing to the mediums in the fastest strategy. Alex Albon is the only driver in the top six who is starting on the soft tyres after Red Bull Racing split strategies. He's a driver who needs a positive result this weekend and it seems as if he has a good chance of doing so this weekend. 

5. A surge from McLaren

McLaren have firmly placed themselves as the best of the rest. They're lined up in P7 and P8 and we know just how quick they are out of the starting blocks. If there are any spills from the big six at the top, then Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz will surely pick up the pieces.