United States
Austin Texas
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Track: Circuit of the Americas
The United States Grand Prix, is another one of the most entertaining Grand Prix races in the Formula One Calendar. The track has been highly respected by the fans, and manages to bring the exciting world of Formula One, to the United States.
Onboard Lap using EA SPORTS F1® 24
2024 US GP (DirecTV)
United States Grand Prix
The first time Formula One has raced at the United States, was during the 1959 FIA Formula One World Championship. The first US GP, was held at the Sebring International Raceway. Before it was even used as a track, it served as a WWII airbase. The race was won by Bruce McLaren, Founder of McLaren.
1959 US GP (Formula1)
US Grand Prix (1959) Track Layout
1959 - 1960 (Wikipedia)
​Length: 8.36km 5.2mi
Laps: 42
Unfortunately, Formula One has been having issues, trying to find the best place to host the United States GP. Over the next few years since the first US GP, they had been switching between different tracks, to see whether if any of them are capable of hosting the US GP. But they had been switching every year. Around the 1980s, Formula One has just been hopping, to different locations every time. They even hosted the Las Vegas GP in 1981, which had ultimately failed due to poor ratings and facilities. They started to race in the streets at Long Beach, then moved on to Detroit at the same time for the Detroit GP. During the 80s, F1 has just been hosting separate Grand Prix races, all around the United States. They eventually stopped switching locations, after hosting the Grand Prix at Phoenix in 1991.
But, during the 2000 FIA Formula One World Championship, F1 would return to the United States once again, to host the Grand Prix in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. F1 believed that the facilities and the services would be a lot better at Indianapolis, considering the track to be 1 of 3 of the The Triple Crown of Motorsport.
US Grand Prix (2000) Track Layout
2000 - 2007 (Wikipedia)
​Length: 4.19km 2.60mi
Laps: 73
Indianapolis, has been able to serve a few memorable moments in the sport. The most notable one, being Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello's close finish in the 2002 US GP. Both team mate drivers wanted to cross the line together, and were separated by 0.011 seconds. Barrichello managed to take the win, despite the very close gap between Schumacher.
2002 US GP (Motorsport Images)
Another memorable moment, is the announcement of Formula One racing at Indianapolis for the final time. Unfortunately, it still hasn't worked out for the sport at Indianapolis, as the track still didn't have the needed facilities and support for the track. The final race would be won by young superstar Lewis Hamilton.
2007 US GP (Motorsport Images)
United States GP
Formula One would try again, to host a United States GP. They chose to race at the Circuit of the Americas, a brand new racing circuit constructed in Austin Texas. Hopefully for fans, and the sport that this would be the last time for F1 to move to another track in America.
Circuit of the Americas Layout​
Turns: 20
DRS Zones: 2
Length: 5.51km (3.42mi)
Fastest Lap: Johnny O'Connell
1:33.284
F1 would finally return to the United States, for the 2012 FIA Formula One World Championship in Austin Texas. The race was surprisingly a success as more than 100,000 spectators were gathered at the Circuit of the Americas. The American spectators would also be able to witness Lewis Hamilton's final year in McLaren, before moving to Mercedes.
2013 US GP (MaxF1)
In 2015, it would be the first time that the US GP would be held in the rain. The weather conditions were extreme as drivers were forced to put on both Intermediate and Wet Tyres, in order to have enough grip on the track. This race would also mark Lewis Hamilton's Pole Trophy, for having the most Pole Positions of the season.
2015 US GP (Formula1)
In the 2018 US GP, this would be a special career victory for Kimi Raikkonen, as he takes victory in the Circuit of the Americas. Raikkonen held a strong lead from his rival, Lewis Hamilton and managed to keep the pace which allowed him the chance to win. This would also be Raikkonen's final victory in F1, before retiring in 2021.
2018 US GP (The New York Times)
The 2020 Formula One season, is a season like no other. The COVID-19 had massively affected the entire world, and the sport itself. Nearly half of the entire 2020 calendar was cancelled, due to COVID having high presence everywhere. The United States, was one of the countries that were heavily affected by the virus, and so the United States Grand Prix, was cancelled.
The US Grand Prix, would be back again in the 2021 Formula One calendar. The 2021 US GP, would be memorable for the fierce rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. Both drivers had an intense rivalry throughout the season, and continues to go on at the Circuit of the Americas. Hamilton manages to take the lead of the Grand Prix, despite loosing pole position to Verstappen. However, Verstappen ended up overtaking Hamilton, and eventually go on to win the Grand Prix.
2021 US GP (Formula1)
The 2022 US GP, would be a scary moment for drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. Alonso unfortunately crashed behind Stroll's Aston Martin, which made Alonso's car tilt up in high speeds. The race went under a safety car after this incident. Fortunately for both drivers, they were okay after the crash.
2022 US GP (PlanetF1)
Recently in the 2024 US Grand Prix, the race would ruin Lando Norris's chances of fighting for the Drivers Championship. Norris gained a 5 second time penalty, for going of the track and gaining an advantage over his rival Max Verstappen. Red Bull, wouldn't also have another race victory, as Ferrari's Charles Leclerc won the US GP, with an incredible overtake during the first lap at turn 1.
2024 US GP (Forbes)
Hopefully, this would be the last time Formula One would move locations for the United States GP. The track has been highly praised by the fans and drivers, and Formula One has been a massive success and gained a lot of popularity in the United States, thanks to Netflix's Drive to Survive series, and the incredible season of 2021, that has managed to catch a lot of attention around the world. F1's success in the US, has managed to include 2 new additional tracks in the calendar, that are located in the US. Miami, and Las Vegas. Hopefully, Formula One's presence in the United States, will continue to grow and gain more popularity overtime.
WINNERS
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1959: Bruce McLaren
1960: Stirling Moss
1961: Innes Ireland
1962: Jim Clark
1963: Graham Hill
1964: Graham Hill
1965: Graham Hill
1966: Jim Clark
1967: Jim Clark
1968: Jackie Stewart
1969: Jochen Rindt
1970: Emerson Fittipaldi
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1971: Francois Cevert
1972: Jackie Stewart
1973: Ronnie Peterson
1974: Carlos Reutemann
1975: Niki Lauda
1976: James Hunt
1977: James Hunt
1978: Carlos Reutemann
1979: Gilles Villeneuve
1980: Alan Jones
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1989: Alain Prost
1990: Ayrton Senna
1991: Ayrton Senna
2000: Michael Schumacher
2001: Mika Hakkinen
2002: Rubens Barrichello
2003: Michael Schumacher
2004: Michael Schumacher
2005: Michael Schumacher
2006: Michael Schumacher
2007: Lewis Hamilton
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2012: Lewis Hamilton
2013: Sebastian Vettel
2014: Lewis Hamilton
2015: Lewis Hamilton
2016: Lewis Hamilton
2017: Lewis Hamilton
2018: Kimi Raikkonen
2019: Lewis Hamilton
2022: Max Verstappen
2023: Max Verstappen
2024: Charles Leclerc