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This weekend is the US Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas where the drivers' and constructors' championship could well be won.
For the fifth year running Formula 1 heads to Austin a track which has so far been dominated by Lewis Hamilton with four wins out of the five races with championship rival Sebastian Vettel winning one in 2013.
The big hill approaching turn 1, the tower overlooking the 900 acre of racing land and Justin Timberlake hosting a festival of an evening the day before the big race certainly makes this grand prix a special one in the F1 calendar.
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Get your cowboy hat on and get set for a busy weekend full of possibilities in the world of F1.
5) Carlos Sainz's first drive for Renault
An arrival coming earlier than expected for Carlos Sainz. The Spanish driver agreed to join Renault for the 2018 season in September but earlier this month Sainz agreed to leave Toro Rosso four races before his original planned departure, replacing Jolyon Palmer in the process.
The US Grand Prix sees the 23-year-old drive in the black and yellow livery for the first time but as many question the point of having him on board with only four races remaining this season Sainz mentioned in the press conference that it was essential for him to get prepared with his new team.
Sainz said: "I think it's very important. I wouldn't have minded to finish this season with Toro Rosso but this opportunity gives me a chance to get to know everyone inside the team, get to know my engineers, start to adapt myself to the car and the car to myself.
"From there start a baseline that hopefully these next four races will help for next year. And if I can also help the team score some points that would be amazing."
4) Max Verstappen extends his contract at Red Bull
Just hours before the first free practise got underway, Red Bull Racing had announced Max Verstappen had signed an extension to his contract which should see the Dutchman stay with the team until at least 2020.
May not be the biggest or most shocking news ahead of the US Grand Prix but the 20-year-old has clearly impressed the bosses at Red Bull after recently winning his second race in Malaysia.
Team Principal Christian Horner shared with Sky Sports on Friday their intentions to keep Verstappen Red Bull was crucial in the team's bid to be back at contending races and championships alongside Daniel Ricciardo.
Horner said: "As we now look to the long term with Max he is in the best place in the sport to build a team around him to deliver our shared ambition."
This season has seen Red Bull as the third best team on the grid with Mercedes and Ferrari ahead of them and the relationship between Verstappen and Ricciardo have seen them as good friends on and off the track and potentially the best partnership out of the ten teams.
But if Red Bull were to go up a step and compete for championships next season then the Dutchman and the Australian's friendship may just be put aside.
3) Hartley makes his F1 debut
The Toro Rosso transactions throughout the season so far has happened countless times and looks as though the team's plan and future is all over the place.
When we learnt Sainz would leave Toro Rosso it had started to become complicated with Red Bull's sister team's driver line-up. Pierre Gasly replaced Daniil Kvyat's seat to partner with Sainz in Malaysia and Japan but had to dismiss continuing his Toro Rosso commitment in America to instead fight for the Super Formula title in the series' final race in Japan leaving an empty seat.
This became the perfect opportunity for New Zealand driver Brendon Hartley to hop in after a conversation with Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko over the phone.
Hartley once was a reserve driver for Red Bull in 2009 behind the main partnership of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber.
Eight years on and the Le Mans 24 winner has finally been given the F1 opportunity he has been waiting for.
This weekend will be an exciting one for the 27-year-old and it could get even better as there are rumours floating around the grid of a possible stay for the 2018 season.
2) Alonso feels confident at McLaren future
The wait of Fernando Alonso's future in the sport finally ended earlier this week as the double world champion signed a new contract to stay with McLaren in 2018 with options of an extension.
The Spaniard also said in an interview he wants to retire at McLaren: "I would be extremely happy to finish my career in McLaren. I don't think it's going to be one year," said Alonso.
Many fans of the sport will be relieved to learn Alonso is staying but many will hope 2018 will help forget the last three seasons with Honda's partnership with McLaren.
Alonso would not have just signed an extension with McLaren just for his F1 existence to continue but with Renault becoming the team's new engine supplier from next year it looks to be a project Alonso wants to be a part of.
In 2005 and 2006 Alonso won both his drivers' championship for the Renault team and as a kid dreamed of one day driving for McLaren. The partnership of McLaren and Renault in 2018 is Alonso's dream he could not say no to.
1) Championships over after Austin?
The main topic ahead of the US Grand Prix is that Lewis Hamilton could clinch his fourth world championship in Austin on Sunday. Hamilton himself does not expect to complete his mission this weekend but if he was to win the race and championship rival Vettel finished sixth or lower on the grid then the drivers title will be decided with three races still to go in Mexico, Brazil and Abu Dhabi.
The constructors championship is more likely to be won by Mercedes in the US to mark their 4th consecutive title as the silver arrows currently lead Ferrari by 145 points as the Scuderia team must outscore the leaders by 17 points to remain in mathematical contention until Mexico.
As mentioned earlier, the Circuit of the Americas has proved to be a fortress for Hamilton since the race track joined F1 in 2012.
The last time the British driver won the world championship was in America in 2015 taking it away from ex team mate Nico Rosberg for the second year in a row. Hamilton has told the press he does not expect to clinch the big title this weekend but aims to win the race on Sunday despite Ferrari to be tipped as favourites to take 1st place after a disastrous performance in their last three races in Singapore, Malaysia and Japan.
A bit of history could take place this weekend but many fans hope the championship between Hamilton and Vettel will at least carry on for another week.
