After a short break, the F1 paddock will reconvene in Austin, Texas, this weekend for the United States Grand Prix.
It is the sport’s fourth trip to the Circuit of the Americas, with the popular track hosting the 16th round of the 2015 Formula 1 season.
After an eight-year stint at the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the United States Grand Prix was removed from the F1 schedule. However, it returned four years later in 2012 at a new home – the country’s first purpose-built F1 venue.
Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel are the only drivers on the current grid to have won a Formula 1 race in the USA. The Englishman took victory in 2007 and the first race at COTA in 2012, before adding to his tally last year. Meanwhile Vettel won 2013’s event, continuing his dominant and record-breaking run to his fourth world title.
Michael Schumacher is the most successful driver in the race’s history, having won it five times - including a run of four consecutive triumphs between 2003 and 2006. Meanwhile Ferrari tops the constructors’ table with seven victories.
This year’s event is the 37th time that the United States Grand Prix has been part of the F1 calendar. However, plenty of other races – including the Caesars Palace Grand Prix in Las Vegas, the Dallas Grand Prix and the Long Beach Grand Prix – have taken place in the country.
The Circuit of the Americas is the 10th track in the United States of America to host a Formula 1 race. The layout received positive feedback from drivers after the circuit’s inaugural race, with a mix of corner types and some that replicate turns from other tracks around the world.
Austin’s laid-back atmosphere, culture, music scene and challenging F1 circuit – which many brand the best of the new additions - have made it one of the paddock’s favourite places to visit and it always produces a great race.
A lap of the 3.427 mile layout starts on the long start/finish straight, with drivers emerging from the pit exit to the right. There is a steep rise uphill on the run to Turn 1 and cars will approach the tight left-hand hairpin at over 190mph.
The corner has a wide entry to encourage overtaking and a tricky blind apex, due to the 133 foot incline. The track then heads downhill for the fast, sweeping right-hander of Turn 2. A short straight leads on to the left-right-left section of corners three, four and five. This part of the circuit is similar to the Maggotts/Becketts complex at Silverstone.
Next up is the long, medium-speed right-hander of Turn 6, the final part of the opening sector. The tricky left of Turn 7 follows, before the right-left complex of the eighth and ninth corners. Turn 10 is a flat-out kink and the entry to the hairpin is wide to, again, promote passing. Several different lines can be taken through the corner.
A good exit is crucial here for the run down the long, three-quarter mile back straight, which is where the first DRS zone will be positioned. The braking zone for the tight left-hander of Turn 12 is the heaviest on the circuit, making it a good overtaking opportunity.
The third and final sector starts with a slow, double-apex right-hander, before the unusual Turn 15. The tricky corner requires a late turn-in to clip the apex. This section is modelled on the stadium section of the Hockenheimring in Germany.
Turns 16, 17 and 18 make up a long, medium-speed right-hander that is very similar to Istanbul Park’s famous Turn 8. The lap ends with a set of medium-speed left-hand corners, which are separated by a short straight. The tricky pit lane entry is just prior to the final bend. Good traction is important for the run onto the pit straight, where the second DRS zone will be.
Due to the circuit’s wide-ranging demands - with a mix of high, medium and low-speed corners – Pirelli will take the medium and soft compound tyres to the event, like last year. The track surface is quite smooth, while traction demands are just as important as lateral grip.
The track is one of only a handful of anti-clockwise layouts on the calendar and it has quite a low average speed. With several big braking zones and blind apexes, lock-ups and off-track excursions can be expected, particularly if it rains.
Newly-crowned constructors’ champions Mercedes (for the second year running) looks set to be the team to beat once again. Ferrari will be chasing, while Williams may struggle slightly with the high-speed corners. The track will suit the Red Bull car more than recent layouts, while Force India and Lotus will be strong on the straights.
United States Grand Prix Fact File:
Location: Austin, Texas
Track Length: 3.427 miles
Direction: Anticlockwise
Turns: 20
Laps: 56
First race: 1959 - Sebring (2012 Circuit of the America)
Lap record: Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing, 2012: 1:39.347
Tyre compounds: Medium and soft
2014 race winner: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
2014 pole position: Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, 1:36.067
2014 fastest lap: Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing, 1:41.379
Live on: Sky Sports F1 (Highlights BBC One)
 |
| © Octane Photographic |
After an eight-year stint at the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the United States Grand Prix was removed from the F1 schedule. However, it returned four years later in 2012 at a new home – the country’s first purpose-built F1 venue.
Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel are the only drivers on the current grid to have won a Formula 1 race in the USA. The Englishman took victory in 2007 and the first race at COTA in 2012, before adding to his tally last year. Meanwhile Vettel won 2013’s event, continuing his dominant and record-breaking run to his fourth world title.
 |
| © Octane Photographic |
Michael Schumacher is the most successful driver in the race’s history, having won it five times - including a run of four consecutive triumphs between 2003 and 2006. Meanwhile Ferrari tops the constructors’ table with seven victories.
This year’s event is the 37th time that the United States Grand Prix has been part of the F1 calendar. However, plenty of other races – including the Caesars Palace Grand Prix in Las Vegas, the Dallas Grand Prix and the Long Beach Grand Prix – have taken place in the country.
The Circuit of the Americas is the 10th track in the United States of America to host a Formula 1 race. The layout received positive feedback from drivers after the circuit’s inaugural race, with a mix of corner types and some that replicate turns from other tracks around the world.
Austin’s laid-back atmosphere, culture, music scene and challenging F1 circuit – which many brand the best of the new additions - have made it one of the paddock’s favourite places to visit and it always produces a great race.
 |
| © Octane Photographic |
A lap of the 3.427 mile layout starts on the long start/finish straight, with drivers emerging from the pit exit to the right. There is a steep rise uphill on the run to Turn 1 and cars will approach the tight left-hand hairpin at over 190mph.
The corner has a wide entry to encourage overtaking and a tricky blind apex, due to the 133 foot incline. The track then heads downhill for the fast, sweeping right-hander of Turn 2. A short straight leads on to the left-right-left section of corners three, four and five. This part of the circuit is similar to the Maggotts/Becketts complex at Silverstone.
Next up is the long, medium-speed right-hander of Turn 6, the final part of the opening sector. The tricky left of Turn 7 follows, before the right-left complex of the eighth and ninth corners. Turn 10 is a flat-out kink and the entry to the hairpin is wide to, again, promote passing. Several different lines can be taken through the corner.
A good exit is crucial here for the run down the long, three-quarter mile back straight, which is where the first DRS zone will be positioned. The braking zone for the tight left-hander of Turn 12 is the heaviest on the circuit, making it a good overtaking opportunity.
The third and final sector starts with a slow, double-apex right-hander, before the unusual Turn 15. The tricky corner requires a late turn-in to clip the apex. This section is modelled on the stadium section of the Hockenheimring in Germany.
 |
| © Octane Photographic |
Turns 16, 17 and 18 make up a long, medium-speed right-hander that is very similar to Istanbul Park’s famous Turn 8. The lap ends with a set of medium-speed left-hand corners, which are separated by a short straight. The tricky pit lane entry is just prior to the final bend. Good traction is important for the run onto the pit straight, where the second DRS zone will be.
Due to the circuit’s wide-ranging demands - with a mix of high, medium and low-speed corners – Pirelli will take the medium and soft compound tyres to the event, like last year. The track surface is quite smooth, while traction demands are just as important as lateral grip.
The track is one of only a handful of anti-clockwise layouts on the calendar and it has quite a low average speed. With several big braking zones and blind apexes, lock-ups and off-track excursions can be expected, particularly if it rains.
Newly-crowned constructors’ champions Mercedes (for the second year running) looks set to be the team to beat once again. Ferrari will be chasing, while Williams may struggle slightly with the high-speed corners. The track will suit the Red Bull car more than recent layouts, while Force India and Lotus will be strong on the straights.
 |
| © Formula1.com |
United States Grand Prix Fact File:
Location: Austin, Texas
Track Length: 3.427 miles
Direction: Anticlockwise
Turns: 20
Laps: 56
First race: 1959 - Sebring (2012 Circuit of the America)
Lap record: Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing, 2012: 1:39.347
Tyre compounds: Medium and soft
2014 race winner: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
2014 pole position: Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, 1:36.067
2014 fastest lap: Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing, 1:41.379
Live on: Sky Sports F1 (Highlights BBC One)
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