1097th F1 GRAND PRIX | 52nd UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX | 11th GRAND PRIX AT CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS
2022 POLESITTER: CARLOS SAINZ | 2022 WINNER: MAX VERSTAPPEN
Formula 1’s popularity has boomed in the United States in recent years. Last year’s race at Circuit of The Americas attracted 440,000 spectators. The 2023 United States Grand Prix is set to take place on October 20-22.
2023 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX: WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday 20th October
Free Practice 1 – 12:30pm Local Time / 6:30pm UK Time
Qualifying – 4:00pm Local Time / 10:00pm UK Time
Saturday 21st October
Sprint Shootout – 12:30pm Local Time / 6:30pm UK Time
Sprint – 5:00pm Local Time / 11:00pm UK Time
Sunday 22nd October
The 2023 United States Grand Prix – 2:00pm Local Time / 8:00pm UK Time
2023 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX: WEEKEND MILESTONES
This will be the 75th time that Formula 1 has raced in the United States. The United States becomes the fourth country to have hosted 75 rounds of the World Championship.
The grid for the 2023 United States Grand Prix will be determined by the result of a Saturday sprint race. This will be the 11th race to use the F1 Sprint since it was introduced at the 2021 British Grand Prix.
This will be the first United States Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas in which neither Sebastian Vettel nor Daniel Ricciardo will compete. Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez will become the only drivers to have started all 11 races at the venue.
READ MORE IN MILESTONES AND RECORDS TO BREAK
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 2023 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX
WHAT HAS CHANGED AT THE CIRCUIT SINCE LAST YEAR?
There have been minimal changes to the circuit since the 2022 United States Grand Prix. The track has been resurfaced at Turn 12 and between Turns 14-16, while the gravel trap at Turn 2 has been reduced in size with the realignment of a guard rail.
HOW MANY DRS ZONES WILL THERE BE AT THE 2023 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX?
There are two DRS zones at the 2023 United States Grand Prix. Activation zones are on the circuit’s two longest straights. There were also two DRS zones at the 2022 United States Grand Prix.
COTA TRACK GUIDE
Circuit of The Americas has been the permanent home of the United States Grand Prix since the event returned to the calendar in 2012. The Texas track is a modern venue with an old school character, and takes inspiration from iconic circuits.
While the history of a Grand Prix in America harks all the way back to the early Twentieth Century, Formula 1’s presence in the country has not always been so permanent. Thus far, there have been ten different tracks which have hosted Formula 1 races in the United States. Before Texas, the event was held at Indianapolis in the early years of the new millennium. After a farcical event in 2005 which saw only six cars take the start, and a declining reputation of F1 in America, Indianapolis didn’t renew their contract when it came to an end in 2007 and F1’s tenure in America thus ended.
The idea of reviving the U.S. Grand Prix was first seriously proposed in July 2010. At a press conference, Tavo Hellmund announced plans to build the first purpose-built F1 track in the country, 25 minutes south east of Austin.
READ MORE IN OUR ULTIMATE TRACK GUIDE
WHO WILL BE IN THE 2023 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX PRESS CONFERENCES?
The world’s media will have the opportunity to talk to the drivers on Friday morning before the opening practice session. The drivers appearing in the press conference are:
Group 1
Valtteri Bottas (Alta Romeo)
Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
Lando Norris (Mclaren)
Logan Sargeant (Williams)
Group 2
Daniel Ricciardo (AlphaTauri)
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
The media will also be talking to prominent members of Formula 1’s teams on Saturday morning. The team members appearing in the press conference are: Mike Krack (Aston Martin), Guenther Steiner (Haas), Zak Brown (McLaren) and Toto Wolff (Mercedes).
WHO WILL BE THE RACE DIRECTOR AT THE 2023 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX?
Niels Wittich will be the race director at the 2023 United States Grand Prix.
WHO WILL BE THE DRIVER STEWARD AT THE 2023 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX?
Each weekend a former Formula 1 driver, or a driver from another prominent series of motorsport, joins the stewards to help judge any incidents from a drivers’ perspective. The Driver Steward this weekend is Derek Warwick.
WHICH TYRE COMPOUNDS WILL BE USED AT THE 2023 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX?
Pirelli will supply the C2, C3 and C4 tyre compounds at the 2023 United States Grand Prix. The C2, C3 and C4 compounds were also used in 2022.
WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX?
While polesitter Sainz was eliminated on Lap 1, Verstappen’s victory at Circuit of The Americas aided Red Bull to their first Constructors’ Championship win since 2013.
There was one eye on the future in Free Practice 1 for the United States Grand Prix, with a number of drivers making guest appearances, such as Logan Sargeant, Theo Pourchaire, Alex Palou and the returning Antonio Giovinazzi – the latter doing himself no favours in the quest for a Haas seat in 2023, crashing out early on in the session.
Ferrari set the fastest two qualifying times, with Carlos Sainz taking pole position on pace for the second time in his career. Charles Leclerc was second but moved down to 12th on the final grid, promoting Max Verstappen onto the front row. Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate also had a grid penalty, dropping him to ninth and seeing both Mercedes drivers line up on the second row.
Verstappen jumped ahead of Sainz at the start of the race, while the Ferrari was tagged by George Russell at Turn 1. Verstappen had a healthy lead from Hamilton at the end of the first lap, while polesitter Sainz was forced into retirement. Russell picked up a five-second time penalty for the incident.
Aston Martin had a strong start to the race, with both cars running inside the top six. They soon started losing positions, however, when faster cars behind – the likes of Perez and Leclerc – came by. Nicholas Latifi encountered a spin, as did Valtteri Bottas on Lap 18 bringing out the Safety Car. The Safety Car was well timed for both Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel, who each pitted under Safety Car conditions.
Racing resumed for only half a lap before the Safety Car was called out again, this time as a result of Fernando Alonso colliding with the rear of Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin. The Canadian was given a three-place grid drop at the next race for causing the crash. Stroll was out of the race, while Alonso was miraculously able to continue despite being airborne in the incident.
As the race passed its halfway point, Leclerc went wheel to wheel with Perez, passing him for third place. Verstappen and Leclerc both pitted a few laps later, with the Dutchman delayed by a slow stop, allowing Leclerc to pass him. Verstappen soon battled back on track but faced some difficulties passing the Ferrari. He finally made it past on Lap 39.
Having not yet made a second stop, Vettel led the race for a few laps – the last time he would do so in his career – until he was passed by Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton led without needing to make another stop, with a four second margin over Verstappen.
Verstappen caught Hamilton with six laps to go and the pair duelled for the lead. Verstappen was able to get ahead and stay ahead, securing victory. On fresher tyres, Vettel was on a charge towards the end of the race, coming back from outside the points to pass Kevin Magnussen for eighth place on the final lap. Hamilton and Leclerc joined Verstappen on the podium.
Perez’s fourth place ensured Red Bull won their first Constructors’ Championship since 2013. It was a particularly emotional day for the team, with Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz having passed away over the race weekend.
WHAT’S THE FASTEST EVER LAP AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX?
Attending the 2023 United States Grand Prix? Learn more about visiting COTA in the F1Destinations Travel Guide.
