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          U.S. Grand Prix: Strategy guide

          Mark Sutton/Sutton Images
          • Laurence EdmondsonOct 23, 2016, 06:00 AM
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              • Joined ESPN in 2009
              • An FIA accredited F1 journalist since 2011

          ESPN looks at the potential strategy options for the U.S. Grand Prix

          Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Max Verstappen have already played their first strategic move at the U.S. Grand Prix by opting to set their fastest time in Q2 on soft tyres. As a result, they will start the race on the yellow-striped tyre while the rest of the top 10 starts on super-softs.

          The useful running of the super-softs is limited by degradation, meaning its extra grip over the soft soon disappears after a few laps. As a result, drivers starting on the super-softs are likely to make a pit stop around lap 10 before moving on to the softs or mediums for the rest of the race on either a two-stop or three-stop strategy. However, Hamilton, Rosberg and Verstappen can run much longer into the race before making their stop and comfortably target a two-stop race.

          Warmer conditions are expected on Sunday, which should play to the strengths of the high-working-range soft compound over the medium, but could see higher degradation levels across all three compounds. The key to a quick race is likely to be maximising time spent on the soft tyres without running into degradation issues.

          Pirelli recommends no more than 15 laps on the super-softs, 21 laps on the soft and 30 laps on the mediums.

          On that basis, Pirelli has predicted the following possible pit-stop strategies:

          QUICKEST
          Two-stopper: 1 stint on supersoft (14 laps on new tyres) + 2 stints on soft of 21 laps (new tyres)

          SECOND-QUICKEST
          Three-stopper: 1 stint on supersoft (10 laps on used tyres) + 3 stint on soft of 15-16 laps

          SLOWEST
          Two-stopper: 2 stints on soft (16 + 20 laps considering the first set used) + 1 20-lap stint on medium

          Also possible
          Two-stopper: 1 stint on supersoft (10 laps on used tyres) + 1 stint on soft of 20 laps + 1 stint on medium of 26 laps

          The only difference between Verstappen's tyre allocation and that of the Mercedes drivers is an extra set of fresh super-softs whereas Mercedes has two sets of fresh mediums. It is unlikely any driver will use more than one set of mediums, but Verstappen, Hamilton and Rosberg all have an allocation to allow them to go soft, soft, medium. Daniel Ricciardo, who will start from third on the super-softs, will have to adopt a different strategy and has two sets of new softs and one set of new mediums at his disposal for maximum flexibility. Perhaps the oddest allocation left over is Jenson Button's. The McLaren driver has three sets of new super-softs and only one set of softs (used) after unexpectedly getting knocked out of qualifying in Q1.