After two Grand Prix contested on urban circuits, in Baku then in Singapore, the twenty drivers on the Formula 1 grid returned to a more traditional track. On a circuit that has long smiled on Lewis Hamilton, another Briton wants to try to start a series: Lando Norris. But after a long break, Red Bull and Max Verstappen want to make significant improvements so as not to let the drivers’ title slip away.
A circuit puzzle
The “Circuit of the Americas”, also called COTA, is unique in its design. Inaugurated in 2012, it is inspired by several historic Formula 1 circuits. Thus the first corner is reminiscent of that of the Red Bull Ring (Austria), we then find a copy of the legendary sequence of Silverstone (Great Britain) Maggots-Becketts-Chapel, before crossing the Senna S of the Interlagos track (Brazil) or even a portion of the Hockenheim circuit (Germany).
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Since the United States Grand Prix was held in Austin in 2012, only five drivers have won there. Lewis Hamilton has five victories (2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017), ahead of Max Verstappen and his three victories (2021, 2022, and 2023) then Sebastian Vettel (2013), Kimi Raïkönnen (2018) and Valtteri Bottas (2019) . Note that Hamilton also won the 2007 United States Grand Prix, which was held in Indianapolis.
The characteristics of the Circuit of the Americas
Length : 5,513 km
Number of turns: 20 (11 left and 9 right)
Number of turns: 56
Most wins: Lewis Hamilton (5)
Qualifying lap record: 1’32”039 (Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, 2019)
Race lap record: 1’36’’169 (Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, 2019)
An on-board tour of Austin
2023: serial disqualifications
You don’t have to go very far back in the Formula 1 archives to find traces of an eventful Grand Prix. Or rather a controversial post-race. In Austin in 2023, the examination of several single-seaters gave rise to several disqualifications once the Grand Prix ended, when Max Verstappen won his fifteenth victory of the season, the fiftieth of his career.
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Respectively second and sixth under the checkered flag, Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) were pinned down by the race direction. The reason: the floor of their car was judged to be too worn after the Grand Prix. The consequence, among other things, of a very bumpy track, which can sometimes make driving very uncomfortable. The daring adjustments of the two teams did not pay off, and both drivers saw their points withdrawn for the day.
