United States Grand Prix: Race Preview

For decades Formula 1 was in pursuit of a popular and permanent venue for the championship’s United States round, and criss-crossed the country to compete in multiple different locations. In 2012 the purpose-built Circuit of The Americas, located just outside of Texas’ vibrant capital Austin, was opened, and Formula 1 quickly found a place it could call home. The popularity of the United States Grand Prix has grown exponentially across the past decade-and-a-half, and while Miami and Las Vegas have since joined the calendar, Austin remains the host venue of the country’s grand prix, and last year its contract was extended through the 2034 season inclusive.

The Circuit of The Americas is among the most popular tracks on the calendar for drivers owing to its varied layout. Turn 1, called Big Red, rises steeply, offering multiple lines, before the exit carries drivers into a rapid sequence of high-speed esses that are a test of a car’s aerodynamic prowess. A lengthy back straight into a tight left-hand turn provides the best overtaking spot on the track, while drivers are also tested through the triple-apex right-hander of turns 16/17/18, beneath COTA’s iconic tower. COTA’s construction on soft clay means the circuit is prone to evolving year-on-year, creating new bumps, which adds to the challenge for drivers.

TGR Haas F1 Team supported driver Kaylee Countryman will continue her F1 Academy season at the Circuit of the Americas, her first event on home soil in the category.

LAST TIME OUT

Ollie Bearman finished inside the points in ninth position on his maiden attempt at the United States Grand Prix in 2025, while Esteban Ocon occupied 15th place.

Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal:

“We’re excited to come back to COTA, one of three US races on the calendar, but what we consider our biggest home race. I think we made a step forward in Singapore in terms of car setup and operations, so we’re keen to continue on that trend and capitalise on every opportunity we get. We have a very exciting collaboration with Godzilla for the United States Grand Prix, following our launch in Japan earlier in the year. It has always been planned to be a season-long collaboration, and of course, with ‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ coming out in cinemas soon, we’re doing a special livery and fan event to celebrate. It’s great to be able to host these additional events on top of activating at track, so we’re looking forward to a great home race.”

Ollie Bearman:

“The United States Grand Prix is always a great event, a homecoming of sorts for the team, and I’m looking forward to getting out on track in Austin. The Circuit of The Americas is a challenging circuit with a good mix of corners and some great overtaking opportunities. As it’s a US race, we’re even busier than usual, working with our partners, and for this race, launching our second special livery celebrating Godzilla – where I’ll also match my helmet for the occasion. After the last triple where we scored in two out of three races, we know what our target must be over the next bounce of three races.”

Esteban Ocon:

“The Circuit of The Americas is a great track, and Austin is a pretty awesome location that we all enjoy coming back to. It’s not a Sprint weekend this year, so we will be able to build up through the sessions to give ourselves the best chance in qualifying on Saturday. You approach each race the same, but it’s hard to ignore the fact that it’s the home race of the team, as there’s so much going on throughout the week. It will be great to be able to meet so many fans again, and that definitely gives us a little bit more motivation come race day. It’s a good way to start another intense triple-header, and we’ll be doing our best as always in front of the passionate American fans.”