F1: six things you need to know about the US Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton could wrap up the title in Texas this weekend, needing to outscore Sebastian Vettel and Nico Rosberg by just nine and two points respectively to claim his third world championship.

The 30-year-old won last year’s race at the Circuit of the Americas after a bold overtaking move on his Mercedes teammate in the braking zone down into Turn 12, comfortably maintaining the lead thereafter on his way to the chequered flag.

Rosberg has admitted that “the title is a long shot” with just four races remaining, but is refusing to back down until he is mathematically out of contention.

“I'll be pushing flat out to the end,” says the German. “And, hopefully, having some fun out there in the final few rounds this year.”

With heavy rain set to peak around qualifying on Saturday, here are six things you need to know ahead of the US Grand Prix...

Echoing comments made by Bernie Ecclestone at the Monaco Grand Prix earlier in the year, Circuit of the Americas founder Bobby Epstein believes the Merc driver’s exploits outside the sport are extremely good for business.

“Hollywood is based in America,” says Epstein. “This is the centre of the entertainment business. Formula One has some great personalities and we shouldn’t hold them back. They are the people who sell tickets.

“Lewis has recognised that and he’s got outside the traditional comfort zone for some people in F1. I think it’s great. We need more of that. He’s a personality. Cars don’t have the same personality.”

The circuit chairman also described Hamilton as the “biggest winner” in the sport, concluding: “We don’t like rooting for the guy who comes in 20th.”

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With Lewis Hamilton in the news every other day for various antics and celebrity encounters, Daniel Ricciardo has joined a management company in order to boost his “commercial and brand partnerships”.

The Red Bull driver – who has never had a manager before now – has signed up with a company run by Simon Bayliff, whose past and present clients include David Beckham and a host of Premier League footballists.

“Daniel is without doubt one of the most engaging, personable and talented athletes on the F1 grid,” said Bayliff. “He’s got incredible personality and natural likeability mixed with the drive and ambition of a real winner.

“These unique on and off track characteristics have our team extremely excited to be working alongside him to help achieve his commercial ambitions.”

Ambition No. 1 on Ricciardo’s list will surely be staying in F1, with a decision on Red Bull and Toro Rosso’s future in the sport expected by the end of the month.

Days after controversially backing suspended FIFA boss Sepp Blatter, F1’s chief exec expressed his desire to rebuild F1, a sport which in his eyes “needs pulling down and starting again.”

Ecclestone, who singled out Alain Prost as the best-ever F1 driver, said: “Prost had to look after his brakes, gearbox, everything, and he did a good job. So he finished more races and finished in a better position, whereas today they don't have that.

“They sit there on the starting grid and there is an engineer who starts the race. It is just not on.”

Former FIA president Max Mosley also criticised driver assistance in a joint interview with German television, saying: “You can look on the internet and see a picture of a modern F1 steering wheel with all the buttons and so on. I have followed it for the past 30 or 40 years and I could not tell you what most of those buttons were for.”

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Home fans at Circuit of the Americas will have someone to cheer for this weekend, with Manor-Marussia’s Alexander Rossi set to become the first American in eight years to race in F1 on home tarmac.

The last native to feature in a US GP was Scott Speed for Toro Rosso when the race took place in 2007.

“I can't adequately describe how excited I am about competing in my home Grand Prix for the first time,” said Rossi.

“It's a huge deal for me, not only because it makes me extremely proud to be the first American driver to race on US soil since 2007, but also because it's the realisation of a goal that I and the people around me have been working towards for effectively 13 years.”

The Californian finished 14^th and 18^th in his first two grands prix in Singapore and Japan.

Sergio Perez finished on the podium in Sochi a fortnight ago, and Force India will be looking to continue their run of good form as the Mexican’s home grand prix comes into view after Austin.

Force India are fifth in the constructors standings, 26 points ahead of Lotus and 47 in front of Toro Rosso heading into the final four races of the season.

Nico Hulkenberg was less fortunate in Russia two weeks ago, registering his fourth DNF of the year after spinning out on the opening lap.

“Of the newer tracks on the calendar, I think Austin is probably my favourite,” said the German, who now lies 16 points behind his teammate in the drivers table.

“The track is smooth and it's easy to find your rhythm, while the DRS is worth quite a lot and the long straight between turns 11-12 is a really good opportunity for overtaking. They've designed a very nice facility.”

Few people will have escaped the explosion of Back to the Future references across the internet yesterday, and it seems Jenson Button was not an exception.

The McLaren driver posted a picture on Instagram of his wife stood next to a DeLorean, the couple having been out in Santa Monica to celebrate her birthday earlier in the day.

It’s not the first time Jenson’s path has crossed with the 80s trilogy, though.

The 35-year-old teamed up with Fernando Alonso back in January in a Honda ad entitled Back to the Racetrack. Acting was required. It did not go well.

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