Five Things to Know About the United States GP

Formula 1 is heading to the Lone Star State, here’s what you need to know ahead of the US GP

Published

15 OCT 2024

Est. reading time

3 min

Are you ready? Here we go… six races in eight weeks, plenty of points up for grabs, and it all starts this weekend in Austin, Texas.

The United States Grand Prix starts a triple-header that takes us through the Americas, and the action won’t just be limited to the circuit.

Here’s what you need to know ahead of the US GP…

Centurion

When he lines up on the grid on Sunday, Alex Albon will be staring at the red lights for the 100th time in his Formula 1 career.

By doing so, Albono will take 80th place on the list of all Grand Prix starts, leaping above Sir Jackie Stewart and Robert Kubica this weekend.

Our No.23 will run a special logo on his FW46 across the USGP weekend, and a graffiti mural will honour his career to date at our Austin Fan Zone.

On the wing

For the second US GP in succession, both our FW46 machines will get the Kraken Rear Wing Takeover treatment.

A special fan-designed rear wing design will be racing with us around the 20 turns of the Circuit of the Americas.

More than 32,000 votes were cast in our second Kraken Rear Wing Takeover, selecting special Cosmos Collection digital fan alter egos designed by leading Web3 artist Candy Apple that pay homage to Williams’ Championship-winning heritage.

Discover our Rear Wing Takeover

Party in the USA

Austin is the filling in America’s three Grands Prix sandwich, with Miami and Las Vegas providing the bread in this questionable idiom.

However, America has had Formula 1 racing all over the country, with 11 venues seeing the pinnacle of motorsport over the years.

Five other circuits, Sebring, Riverside, Watkins Glen, Phoenix, and Indianapolis, used the moniker of the US Grand Prix before Austin took over in 2012. Furthermore, the nation has also had the United States Grand Prix West, the United States Grand Prix East, the Caesars Palace Grand Prix, the Detroit Grand Prix, and a single Dallas Grand Prix.

The Miami and Las Vegas Grands Prix are the latest to join the ever-growing list of F1's American races.

Fan Favo(u)rite

With 432,000 people passing through the turnstiles over the 2023 weekend, we’re expecting another mega turnout this time around.

Thousands of fans will also be pouring through the doors of our downtown Fan Zone – if you’re in Austin, why not pay us a visit at 800 Congress?

Alex Albon, Franco Colapinto, Jamie Chadwick, James Vowles and Jenson Button will all be taking to the stage in Downtown ATX and if you’re not in the city, you’ll be able to tune in live on our app.

Refreshed COTA

COTA has become F1's US home since its 2012 debut, ending the sport's struggles to settle on a single, long-term American venue in the modern era.

For 2024 it’s had a refresh, with an entirely new surface laid down around the 5.5 km venue to smooth out its previously bumpy nature.

This won’t just benefit the F1 weekend though, as like all good circuits, other series have used COTA for their events, including a single IndyCar appearance in 2019.

IMSA, too, used to race here, and NASCAR has recently begun enjoying the tricky 20 corners since the maiden 'Texas Grand Prix' in 2021.

Despite these heavyweight American motorsport series heading to Austin, F1 remains the everpresent championship and will continue racing at COTA until at least 2026.

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