US Grand Prix 2012: Austin track guaranteed to deliver thrills as Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso fight it out There are plenty of elevation changes, a magnificent, blind apex hairpin at Turn One, a high-speed sequence of turns resembling the Maggots-Becketts section at Silverstone, and further nods to circuits such as Hockenheim and Istanbul. The question now is whether that potential can translate into great drama. There do not appear to be many overtaking opportunities but when you have a title race poised as it is this weekend, with Sebastian Vettel trying to put 15 points between himself and Fernando Alonso to secure a third successive championship, and the Spaniard applying his considerable reserves of grit to force the battle on to Brazil next week, it can't fail to be exciting. The track looks fairly well suited to Red Bull, and I would expect Fernando to have to drag his car up through the field again, but as we have seen so often this season he has been well capable of doing just that. American race fans may be more interested by what is happening in Homestead, Florida, this weekend - where the Nascar season, in an unfortunate scheduling clash, also reaches its climax - but in this land of opportunity I am hopeful that Formula One will grab its big chance and leave our hosts wanting more. Circuit of The Americas Laps 56 Circuit Length 5.513km Timings Saturday: Qualifying 6pm UK time (midday local) Sunday: Race 7pm UK time (1pm local) TV Details Qualifying Live Sky Sports F1 HD, Highlights BBC2 10.30pm Race Sky Live on Sky Sports F1 HD, Highlights BBC1 10.30pm Weather Today 19C (partly cloudy) Tomorrow 21C (possible showers)