United States Grand Prix: COTA Grid Slot Statistics

In 2023, Max Verstappen became the first driver to win having not started on the front row at COTA. Here’s everything you need to know about each grid slot’s history at the United States Grand Prix!


UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX GRID STATS IN BRIEF

  • One win from outside the front row
  • Two non-scores from pole in last two years
  • 4th retired from 4 years in a row between 2015 and 2018
  • 18th has furthest back podium

UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX RESULTS: GRID OVERVIEW

GridLast WinLast PodiumLast PointsLast DNFBest Finish
120212021202120221st
220222023202320191st
3-2022202220122nd
4-2023202320183rd
5-2019202320222nd
620232023202320151st
7-2012202320223rd
8--201920234th
9--202320184th
10--202220236th
11--202320214th
12-2022202220193rd
13-2015202220183rd
14--202220177th
15--2023-9th
16--201820154th
17--2016-10th
18-2018202120172nd
19--202220219th
20--2018-7th

Facts and stats about Bahrain Grand Prix polesitters
  • Five wins from pole
  • Not classified in last two years
  • Every other result has been a podium finish

Five of the 11 races held so far at the Circuit of The Americas have been won from pole position.

In 2022, Carlos Sainz became the first polesitter at COTA to fail to finish on the podium, retiring on the first lap of the race. Charles Leclerc also failed to score having started from pole at the 2023 United States Grand Prix. He finished sixth on track but was later disqualified.

2018 is the only other occasion that the COTA polesitter has not finished in the top two. Lewis Hamilton finished third that year.

PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM POLE POSITION AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023
2 1 2 2 1 1 3 1 1 DNF DSQ


  • Five victories in total
  • Has an advantage at the start
  • Vettel’s DNF in 2019 is only non-podium result

Second on the grid has given as many wins at Circuit of The Americas as pole. The driver starting here has been victorious on five occasions. Part of the reason behind that is because of the track layout, with second on the grid generally having the better line heading into the first corner of the race.

The driver starting from second has led after the first turn in five of the last seven races at the track.

In 2019, Sebastian Vettel became the first driver to retire having started from the front row of the grid at COTA. It remains the only time that the driver starting here has failed to finish on the podium.

PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 2ND ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023
1 3 1 1 2 2 1 DNF 2 1 2


  • Points in every race except 2012 and 2023
  • No wins, two runner-up finishes
  • Disqualified last year

From the 11 United States Grands Prix held at Circuit of the Americas, only five have resulted in podium finishes for the driver starting third.

The driver starting third has never won but has finished as runner up twice. Romain Grosjean finished second in 2013, while Lewis Hamilton finished second in 2022.

The first race here, in 2012, is one of only two times that the driver starting third has failed to score. That year, Mark Webber retired having started third on the grid.

The other non-score came at the 2023 United States Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton originally finished on the podium but was disqualified after his car failed post race checks.

PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 3RD ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023
DNF 2 5 10 3 5 5 3 3 2 DSQ


  • 2023 was first podium finish
  • Four consecutive retirements from 2015 to 2018
  • Top six result every time the driver starting here has finished

In 2023, Carlos Sainz recorded the first podium finish for the driver starting fourth at COTA. He didn’t get to stand on the podium, though, as he was promoted to third as a result of post-race penalties.

Every year between 2015 and 2018 saw a Red Bull start from here, and on all four occasions – Daniil Kvyat in 2015, Max Verstappen in 2016 and Daniel Ricciardo in 2017 and 2018 – the car failed to see the chequered flag.

In the seven races which the driver starting here has finished, 2023 is the only time that they finished in a position better than where they started.

PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 4TH ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023
6 6 4 DNF DNF DNF DNF 4 4 5 3


  • Top five finishes are regular
  • Three podium finishes
  • Two retirements since 2016

The driver starting fifth at COTA usually finishes in the top five at the United States Grand Prix.

Kimi Raikkonen’s retirement in 2016, Carlos Sainz’s seventh place in 2021 and Lace Stroll’s non-finish in 2022 are the only times since 2013 that the driver starting here has not done so.

This grid slot has celebrated three podium finishes – third places for Daniel Ricciardo and Raikkonen in 2014 and 2017 respectively and the runner-up spot for Lewis Hamilton in 2019.

PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 5TH ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023
16 4 3 5 DNF 3 4 2 7 DNF 5


  • Only non-front row grid slot to win at COTA
  • Points in 9 of the 11 races here
  • Win is only podium finish to date

At the 2023 United States Grand Prix, Max Verstappen became the first driver to win at COTA having not started from the front row of the grid.

Of the 11 races held so far at the Circuit of the Americas, the driver starting sixth has scored nine times.

The times that they failed to score were in 2015 and 2018. Nico Hulkenberg retired from proceedings in 2015, while Esteban Ocon originally finished eighth in 2018 – but was disqualified as his Force India car exceeded fuel flow limits.

Prior to Verstappen’s 2023 win, the best finishing position from sixth on the grid was fourth, for Sebastian Vettel in 2016.

PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 6TH ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023
8 5 6 DNF 4 6 DSQ 5 5 6 1


  • Podium in first race, no top five finishes since
  • Three DNFs since 2015

The first race at Circuit of the Americas resulted in a podium finish for Fernando Alonso, who started seventh.

Seventh on the grid has not reached those heights again, with sixth places for Nico Hulkenberg in 2018 and Pierre Gasly in 2023 being the best results since.

There have been three retirements from seventh: for Felipe Massa in 2015, Nico Hulkenberg in 2016 and Valtteri Bottas in 2022.

PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 7TH ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023
3 7 8 DNF DNF 7 6 8 8 DNF 6


  • Four DNFs in last six races
  • Three points finishes, last in 2019
  • Best result of 4th, in 2015

The driver starting from eighth has retired from four of the last six races at COTA. Fernando Alonso was sidelined with engine problems in 2017, Romain Grosjean was out following an early race collision in 2018, Pierre Gasly suffered suspension issues in 2021 and Esteban Ocon retired early on in the 2023 United States Grand Prix.

The position has only scored points three times, in 2012, 2015 and 2019, with a fourth place finish for Max Verstappen in 2015 being the best result so far.

PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 8TH ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023
7 14 13 4 16 DNF DNF 7 DNF 13 DNF


  • Perez finished fourth from here in the last two years
  • Only two top five finishes
  • Eight points finishes in 11 races to date

The driver starting ninth has finished fourth at COTA in each of the last two seasons – both times that driver has been Sergio Perez.

Before 2022, the grid slot had never previously finished in the top five at the track.

The driver starting ninth in Texas has scored more often than not, with eight points finishes in the 11 races here.

Two races have resulted in non-finishes for the driver starting ninth. Adrian Sutil was out on the first lap in 2014, while Charles Leclerc retired in 2018.

PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 9TH ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023
9 8 DNF 11 7 8 DNF 6 6 4 4


  • Failed to score four times
  • Recorded second retirement in 2023
  • Best result is sixth, in 2016

There’ve been only four occasions on which the driver starting tenth at the United States Grand Prix has failed to score since the first COTA race in 2012.

In 2023, Oscar Piastri recorded the first DNF for this grid slot since Romain Grosjean in 2015.

The best result from tenth on the grid is sixth, recorded by Carlos Sainz at the 2016 United States Grand Prix.

PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 10TH ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023
10 11 9 DNF 6 9 8 16 9 8 DNF


  • Points finishes in six of the last eight races
  • Best result of fourth, back in 2012
  • Two DNFs – in 2014 and 2021

11th on the grid has secured points finishes in six of the last eight races in Texas.

Felipe Massa has the best finish from the 11th grid position so far at COTA, having finished fourth in the inaugural race in 2012.

In 2021, Esteban Ocon became only the second driver to record a DNF from this grid slot. The grid slot’s only other DNF came in 2014, when Sergio Perez retired.

PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 11TH ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023
4 15 DNF 6 8 10 7 9 DNF 14 8


  • Podium finish in 2022 is only points finish since 2017
  • Five points finishes in total

The driver starting 12th has scored five times at COTA, including with a podium finish in 2022. Charles Leclerc’s third place in 2022 made him the first driver to score from 12th on the grid at the circuit since Fernando Alonso in 2016.

The grid slot has had five points finishes in total.

PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 12TH ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023
5 9 12 8 5 14 DSQ DNF 11 3 13


  • Two points finishes – including a podium
  • Low points rate but only two retirements

Sebastian Vettel scored a podium finish from 13th on the grid at the 2015 United States Grand Prix – but that’s one of only two times that starting from this grid slot has resulted in a points finish.

In 2022, Kevin Magnussen became the second driver to start 13th at the circuit and score points, coming home in ninth place.

There have been two retirements from this grid slot, for Nico Hulkenberg in 2014 and Fernando Alonso in 2018.

PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 13TH ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023
15 12 DNF 3 11 15 DNF 12 12 9 12


  • Four DNFs in first six races – but none since
  • Best result of seventh, in 2022
  • 2014 is only other points-scoring year

14th on the grid is one of only three grid slots in Texas to have recorded as many as four DNFs – though there have been no DNFs from here since 2017.

Fernando Alonso recorded the best result to date for the driver starting 14th at COTA in 2022, completing a hard fought race in seventh place.

Jean-Eric Vergne’s tenth place finish in 2014 is the only other time a driver starting here has picked up a point.

PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 14TH ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023
DNF 16 10 DNF DNF DNF 13 13 15 7 15


  • Best result of ninth, recorded twice
  • Scored three times in total
  • No retirements from 15th on the grid to date

15th is one of four grid slots to have never recorded a retirement at the Circuit of The Americas.

The retirement may be low, but so too is the points rate. The driver starting here has scored only three times, with a tenth place finish for Jenson Button in 2013 and ninth places for Felipe Nasr in 2015 and Alex Albon in 2023.

PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 15TH ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023
11 10 14 9 13 11 14 15 13 16 9


  • Best result of fourth, in 2017
  • Points finishes in 2018 and 2023

The best result from 16th on the grid at COTA is fourth place, which is where Max Verstappen finished in 2017.

Meanwhile, Marcus Ericsson and Logan Sargeant both finished tenth in 2018 and 2023 respectively. Those are the only three times that the driver starting from 16th has scored points in Texas.

There have been two retirements so far from this grid slot – in 2013 and 2015.

PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 16TH ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023
14 DNF 11 DNF 14 4 10 14 16 15 10


  • 100% finish rate
  • Scored a single point, in 2016

17th on the grid at COTA has never failed to reach the end of the race. Despite this, the driver starting here has scored only once, with Romain Grosjean finishing tenth for Haas in 2016.

PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 17TH ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023
13 17 15 12 10 16 11 11 17 17


  • Furthest back podium from here – 2nd in 2018
  • 2021 is only other points-scoring appearance

18th is the furthest back grid slot from which a podium finish has been recorded at the Circuit of the Americas. Max Verstappen finished as runner-up in 2018 having started back in 18th.

Sebastian Vettel’s tenth place in 2021 is the only other time that this grid slot has scored. 18th on the grid has retired from the race twice.

PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 18TH ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023
12 19 DNF 12 DNF 2 17 10 12


  • Two points finishes – best result of ninth
  • Two DNFs in last three starts

Jenson Button’s ninth place finish in 2016 and Yuki Tsunoda’s tenth place in 2022 are the only times that the driver starting 19th at Circuit of The Americas has scored.

Three retirements have been recorded from this grid slot, including two in the last four COTA races. Will Stevens was out in 2015, Robert Kubica retired in 2019 and Fernando Alonso failed to reach the end of the race in 2021.

PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 19TH ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023
19 18 DNF 9 13 12 DNF DNF 10


  • 100% finish rate
  • Scored twice, best result of seventh

During the United States Grand Prix’s tenure at COTA, the 20th grid slot has never retired. It has had two points-scoring finishes. Carlos Sainz finished seventh in 2015, while Brendon Hartley finished ninth in 2018. The grid slot has been left vacant four times – in 2014, due to a shorter entry list than usual, in 2019 due to Sergio Perez starting from the pit lane and in 2022 as a result of Esteban Ocon starting from the pits and in 2023 as a result of there being four pit lane starters.

PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 20TH ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023
20 13 7 17 12 9 14


Seven pit lane starts have been made at the Circuit of the Americas, with three of them resulting in points-scoring races.

Sebastian Vettel finished seventh having started from the pit lane in 2014, while Sergio Perez finished tenth from the pits in 2019 and Lance Stroll finished seventh in 2023.

In the 2023 United States Grand Prix, there were four pit lane starters – the most at a single race in over 20 years!

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