Two weeks after the enthralling Abu Dhabi Grand Prix around the Yas Marina circuit, the Formula 1 fraternity is now gearing up for the most highly anticipated race of the season with the penultimate round of the year at the brand-new Circuit of the Americas in Texas, for the return of the United States Grand Prix.
First officially held in 1959 at Sebring, the United States Grand Prix has endured a long love/hate relationship with Formula 1. Although the event was successfully held between 1959 and 1980, mainly at the legendary Watkins Glen circuit, F1 in the U.S. soon entered a rocky period in the 1980s and 1990s which saw many venues try their best to host an F1 race. This included Dallas, Detroit, Las Vegas, Long Beach and Phoenix all host races, some more successful than others.
Then, after an absence of nine years, the United States Grand Prix was revived in 2000 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with a layout consisting of a track around the infield of the legendary oval, with the final corner consisting of part of the oval circuit. Initially the race was a huge success, however the oval section of the circuit became its achilles-heel in 2005 when new rules meant drivers could not change tyres during the race.
At the time, Bridgestone and Michelin were the two tyre suppliers for Formula 1, and at the last minute Michelin realized their tyres would no be able to complete the full race distance without failing due to the high load and speeds generated throughout the final oval section of the track. This led to one of the most bizarre and controversial races in the history of motor sport, as all seven Michelin-running teams pulled into the pits to boycott the event after the parade lap. This left only the Bridgestone teams (Ferrari, Jordan and Minardi) to race.
This farcical race weekend aside, Formula 1 can now look forward to a brand-new and extremely challenging purpose-built circuit with the Circuit of the Americas which promises to become F1’s new home ‘stateside’. The locals seem highly enthusiastic with regards to the event, and the F1 drivers are equally eager to see proceedings begin on Friday.
Like with many Formula 1 races on the calendar, German legend Michael Schumacher holds the record for the most amount of race victories at the United States Grand Prix. The seven-time World Champion has won the race five times throughout his long career (’00, ’03, ’04, ’05 and ’06), and it’s therefore unsurprising that Ferrari hold the record for the most amount of race victories for a Constructor at the race with nine wins in total (’75, ’78, ’79, ’00, ’03, ’04, ’05 and ’06).
The FIA driver representative steward for this weekend’s United States Grand Prix will be Brazilian legend Emerson Fittipaldi, who won the Formula 1 World Championship in 1972 (in doing so becoming the youngest F1 World Champion at the time) and 1974 whilst racing for Team Lotus and McLaren. Fittipaldi raced in F1 from 1970 to 1980, and afterwards enjoyed an illustrious career in America which included two Indianapolis 500 victories and a CART title in 1989.
The inaugural race around the Circuit of the Americas will feature only one DRS zone throughout the lap, unlike the previous two races at Abu Dhabi and India which featured two. The zone will be situated down the back straight between Turns 11 and 12, as expected by many before the event. The activation zone is likely to situated approximately 650m before Turn 12, although the exact length of the DRS zone has yet to be confirmed.
Formula 1 has never truly found a home in the United States since Watkins Glen back in the 1960s and 70s, however it is firmly believed throughout the F1 paddock that this new Circuit of the Americas has finally offered the sport a new home with which it can build upon in the years to come. The track features many intriguing aspects, which is why first practice on Friday morning is so highly anticipated.
Both Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso in particular will unquestionably be striving to learn the new circuit as quickly as possible, as they aim to strengthen their title hopes at the penultimate race of the season. This has been one of the most unpredictable and exciting seasons in many years, and the final two races have all the ingredients to offer us with a mouthwatering finale.
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