Everything you need to know about the United States Grand Prix

Your ultimate guide to Circuit of the Americas

Published

20 OCT 2022

Est. reading time

6 min

We are heading to America for the second time this season after our May visit to Miami. However, this time it's a return to Formula One's regular American scheduling with the 2022 United States Grand Prix.

As much as we loved Miami – and that top-10 finish for Alex Albon – Austin's Circuit of the Americas has rapidly become synonymous with F1 in America over the last decade.

In preparation for our COTA weekend, here's everything you need to know about the US Grand Prix.

Track Facts

Formula One has long raced in the United States at tracks all across the country, but after leaving Watkins Glen in 1980, there wasn't a track that felt like home until the 5.514km Circuit of the Americas hosted the USGP in 2012.

While every other American Grand Prix since the 50s had been a street race or at a pre-existing track, COTA became the first purpose-built US circuit for Formula One to race on. NASCAR, IndyCar, MotoGP, and many more series have since held events at the Texan track.

Something unique about COTA is how deliberately un-unique the layout is. With help from illustrious circuit designer Hermann Tilke, the track took inspiration from Istanbul Park, Silverstone, Hockenheim and other famous circuits to create a best-of-everything ribbon of tarmac.

Although many sections of the track are similar to other circuits, COTA is also very contemporary, with an extremely wide width and generous run-off areas to encourage overtaking. It works, too – every USGP in Austin has had an abundance of passing.

While Red Bull could win the Constructors' Championship this weekend, title deciders aren't new to COTA. The 2013 and 2017 Constructors' titles, plus the 2015 and 2019 Drivers' Championships, were all clinched in Austin.

What are the drivers saying?

This weekend is Alex’s first time back at COTA since his P5 finish in 2019. Coupled with his P9 in Miami earlier this year, that makes all of Albono's races on US soil point-scoring affairs, and our No23 is unsurprisingly looking forward to the race:

“It’s back to another home race for the team, at a great track with a great atmosphere. I really enjoy Circuit of the Americas; it has a good flow to it, and it will be interesting to see how the bumps are this year with these new stiffer cars.”

After securing P9 and two points in Japan after a brilliant strategy call, Nicholas Latifi is looking to continue that momentum into Austin, at a track which he enjoyed racing at in 2021:

“I’m super excited to be heading back to Austin. It was one of the more enjoyable races last year and this will be only my second visit there as an F1 driver. In a way, it's the team's second home race.

“The atmosphere in Austin is always great. The track is enjoyable and hopefully a bit smoother this year after repaving it as it has been bumpy in the past.

“I'll be sitting out of FP1 for the first time, so I'll be taking a slightly different approach to the weekend just trying to get up to speed in FP2. Nonetheless, I'm hoping to make the most of it and have another strong weekend.”

Logan Sargeant will be making a much-anticipated appearance at FP1 this Friday, and our young American can’t wait to get into the FW44 in front of a home crowd:

“To be making my FP1 debut at COTA in my home country is special moment for me. I’d like to thank Williams and Dorilton Motor Sports for this opportunity and the support they’ve given me since I joined the Academy this time last year in Austin.

“I’ve been spending a lot of time in the simulator at Grove and shadowing the team at previous race weekends to help with my preparations for FP1.

“It’ll be interesting to see how the new generation of cars compare to the what I previously drove at the Young Driver Test last year. I’m excited to jump in the car and make the most of the session.”

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From the Pit Wall

The high-speed sections of the COTA circuit, particularly the 1km back straight, could help the FW44 and its impressive top speeds. Dave Robson, Head of Vehicle Performance, explains what he's expecting to see this weekend:

“As we start to head towards the end of the 2022 season, the car is essentially unchanged from Japan and our job is to maximise the options around us to best suit the demands of COTA.

“Although there are some similarities to Suzuka, the overall demands of the circuit are different, and we’ll need to make some changes to the car to suit both the track layout and the softer tyre compounds that Pirelli have made available this weekend.

“Logan Sargeant joins us on track for the first time this year having previously driven the FW43 at last year’s post-season test. He will drive Nicholas’ car in FP1 and will complete the usual engineering programme on that car.

“With this weekend having another extended FP2 session during which all teams will test candidate 2023 tyres for Pirelli, Logan’s input during FP1 will be vital to our progress. Although Nicholas will get a short amount of time to refamiliarize himself with the track before he starts the FP2 Pirelli programme, he will miss out on a lot of normal Friday running. However, he comes into this weekend off the back of a strong performance in Suzuka, and he will be able to use that momentum to get himself into a good position by qualifying.

“We know from previous experience of coming to Austin that the weather at this time of year can be very variable, but the forecast for this weekend is for hot and sunny conditions throughout, which will mean that tyre management will be key on Sunday.”

Did you know?

The United States Grand Prix has featured on and off in the Formula One World Championship since 1959 at six venues (Sebring, Riverside, Watkins Glen, Phoenix, Indianapolis, and Austin), but F1 has also held Grands Prix in Detroit, Long Beach, Dallas, Las Vegas, Miami under different monikers over the years.

Austin's nickname 'The Live Music Capital of the World' is thanks to the city having the highest music venues per capita in the USA, and that extends to F1 at COTA. A-list names like Justin Timberlake, Taylor Swift, and Britney Spears have all entertained with live performances at the US Grand Prix.

We hold one USGP victory to our name. Alan Jones led Carlos Reutemann to a Williams Racing 1-2 in 1980 after Alan had secured the title one week earlier. There are more Williams wins in America, but 1980 is the only one under the USGP badge.

Last year, Austin took the record for the highest-attended F1 race in the three-day weekend format when 400,000 fans went through the turnstiles from Friday to Sunday, with a capacity crowd of 140,000 watching the Grand Prix.

COTA is one of only five counter-clockwise circuits on the 2022 Formula One calendar and the third the drivers will have faced this season after Azerbaijan and Singapore. São Paulo and Abu Dhabi both also run anti-clockwise.

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