The US Grand Prix at Austin has become a firm favourite on the calendar despite its relative youth. Combining a circuit with real flow, an eye catching elevation change, some fiddly sections which encourage mistakes, and a couple of genuine overtaking areas with the energy and quirkiness of the city where live music rules the roost, this is a brilliant venue. The climate in October is usually pretty warm during the days, cooling off a touch at night, but it can deliver a surprise as we saw in the wake of tropical storm Patricia last year.
Additional attention will no doubt surround the race this weekend, and not just because Taylor Swift is playing a concert on Saturday night. For the first time, home fans will have a team to shout about in the shape of Haas, and with both cars in Q3 last time in Japan, there has to be some optimism for a points paying finish. Romain Grosjean had one of his best ever races here a few years ago in a Lotus, finishing 2nd in a Red Bull sandwich and his passionate nature will hopefully have won him some fans in the States, even if we have been aware of some downside to that passion in recent races when things aren't right with the car. On the other side of the garage, Esteban Gutierrez is approaching what may well be the highlight of his career, a home Grand Prix in Mexico, but he is under pressure to deliver after a point-less season so far.
Talking of points, at the sharp end of the table the events of Japan have put a whole new twist on the championship outcome. Lewis Hamilton has said in the past he's at his best when coming from behind and he's got the opportunity to prove it now. He has to put together the perfect end to the season, ideally a string of four victories, but in doing so it still may not be enough if Rosberg can hang onto his coat-tails throughout. Mercedes still have the best all round package for most circuits we visit, and therefore the prospect of a one-two between them is always likely. But Circuit of the Americas is a track at which Red Bull have been very competitive and, in good news for Ferrari, it is also a place where Vettel has always shone. So there is still the chance of the Mercedes boys being separated either in qualifying or in the race which could swing the points pendulum hugely one way or the other.
I get the feeling that this championship still has some unexpected moments ahead. The pressure is building, Hamilton has been in this situation before and conquered those nerves whereas Rosberg is yet to come away with the ultimate prize. Both of them are extremely motivated; next year there could be a different ranking amongst teams and there's no guarantee that Mercedes will be winning as comfortably. Hamilton is hoping to emulate Prost and Vettel in becoming a four time World Champion, Rosberg is hoping to become the second son of a World Champion to repeat the feat 20 years since Damon Hill achieved it. But the Texas flag tells a story; at the end of the season, there will be only one winner, a Lone Star.