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 third trip to the Circuit of the Americas, with the popular track hosting the 17th round of the 2014 Formula 1 season.
After an eight-year stint at the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway, F1 abandoned the United States of America. 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, while Vettel won last year’s event to continue his dominant and record-breaking run of first place finishes.
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 36th 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 – which was conceived by promoter Tavo Hellmund and Kevin Schwant, with the assistance from Hermann Tilke - received positive feedback from drivers after the circuit’s inaugural race.
Construction of the venue started in January 2011, and – unlike some recent new additions to the calendar – it was completed and opened well before the mid-November race date. The first F1 event at the track proved to be a great success, with almost a capacity crowd of 117,500 spectators.
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.
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 incline on the run to turn one 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 two. A short straight leads on to the left-right-left section of turns three, four and five.
This part of the circuit is similar to the Maggotts/Becketts complex at Silverstone. In fact, several sections of the track are inspired by European F1 layouts. Next up is the long, medium-speed right-hander of turn six.
The second sector starts with a challenging left-hander, before the slower right-left complex of turns eight and nine. The 10th corner is a flat-out left-hand kink, which leads on to a short straight. The entry to the turn 11 hairpin is wide, like the opening corner, to promote overtaking.
Several different lines can be taken through the corner. A good exit is crucial here for the run on to 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 required 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 eight, but it isn’t as challenging.
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 corner. A good exit is very important for gaining time on the pit straight, which is where the second DRS zone will be positioned.
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. 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, expect plenty of lock-ups over the race weekend.
Newly-crowned constructors’ champions Mercedes will continue to be the team to beat, but with more high-speed corners, the Circuit of the Americas should suit the Red Bull Racing RB10. The track’s long straights should play into the hands of Force India and McLaren, while Ferrari will definitely be in the mix as well.
The 2014 grid will be down to 18 cars in Austin, following the Caterham F1 Team being handed over to administrators and the Marussia F1 Team also struggling financially. Hopefully we will see both back in action before the end of the season.
Of course, the thoughts of the motorsport community continue to be with Jules Bianchi following his serious accident at the Japanese Grand Prix. #ForzaJules.
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: 1m39.347
Tyre compounds: Medium and soft
2013 race winner: Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing
2013 pole position: Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing, 1:36.338
2013 fastest lap: Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing: 1:39.856
Live on: Sky Sports F1 (Highlights BBC One)
 |
| © Octane Photographic |
After an eight-year stint at the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway, F1 abandoned the United States of America. 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, while Vettel won last year’s event to continue his dominant and record-breaking run of first place finishes.
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.
 |
| © Octane Photographic |
This year’s event is the 36th 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 – which was conceived by promoter Tavo Hellmund and Kevin Schwant, with the assistance from Hermann Tilke - received positive feedback from drivers after the circuit’s inaugural race.
Construction of the venue started in January 2011, and – unlike some recent new additions to the calendar – it was completed and opened well before the mid-November race date. The first F1 event at the track proved to be a great success, with almost a capacity crowd of 117,500 spectators.
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.
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 incline on the run to turn one and cars will approach the tight left-hand hairpin at over 190mph.
 |
| © Octane Photographic |
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 two. A short straight leads on to the left-right-left section of turns three, four and five.
This part of the circuit is similar to the Maggotts/Becketts complex at Silverstone. In fact, several sections of the track are inspired by European F1 layouts. Next up is the long, medium-speed right-hander of turn six.
The second sector starts with a challenging left-hander, before the slower right-left complex of turns eight and nine. The 10th corner is a flat-out left-hand kink, which leads on to a short straight. The entry to the turn 11 hairpin is wide, like the opening corner, to promote overtaking.
Several different lines can be taken through the corner. A good exit is crucial here for the run on to 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 required 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 eight, but it isn’t as challenging.
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 corner. A good exit is very important for gaining time on the pit straight, which is where the second DRS zone will be positioned.
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. 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, expect plenty of lock-ups over the race weekend.
Newly-crowned constructors’ champions Mercedes will continue to be the team to beat, but with more high-speed corners, the Circuit of the Americas should suit the Red Bull Racing RB10. The track’s long straights should play into the hands of Force India and McLaren, while Ferrari will definitely be in the mix as well.
The 2014 grid will be down to 18 cars in Austin, following the Caterham F1 Team being handed over to administrators and the Marussia F1 Team also struggling financially. Hopefully we will see both back in action before the end of the season.
 |
| © Formula1.com |
Of course, the thoughts of the motorsport community continue to be with Jules Bianchi following his serious accident at the Japanese Grand Prix. #ForzaJules.
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: 1m39.347
Tyre compounds: Medium and soft
2013 race winner: Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing
2013 pole position: Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing, 1:36.338
2013 fastest lap: Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing: 1:39.856
Live on: Sky Sports F1 (Highlights BBC One)
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