Formula 1’s growing popularity in America and the increase in race destinations make the US Grand Prix feel like something of a new event, but it’s actually steeped with F1 heritage. First taking place in 1959, the race was our founder, Bruce McLaren’s first grand prix victory, with Cooper.

The race has had six official venues, with the wonderfully weird Austin playing host since 2012. Texas’ capital city boasts a ton of incredible restaurants, over 100 live music venues, a rich history, and some peculiar activities to enjoy (more on those below). F1 has slotted in seamlessly, with the race becoming an instant fan favourite.

It’s also much loved by the teams, not least because of the incredible food on offer. The track takes inspiration from some of our favourite venues around the world, while the fans' increasing passion for F1 creates a partylike atmosphere.

To explain why it's so beloved, we’ve enlisted the help of Oscar, Lando and Team Principal Andrea Stella to tell us everything we need to know. We’ve also written a guide to the track and the city, a recap of our most recent race in Qatar, and a pack full of stats.

Critical info

Round	19
Where	Circuit of the Americas
When	20 - 22 October
Lights out	20:00 MTC / 14:00 local
Follow	The website and the McLaren App for LIVE commentary and team radio

"I’m really excited to head back to Austin and kickstart our final triple header of the season. The US GP is always a fun weekend, and it’s extra special this year as it marks my 100th race in F1, and of course with McLaren. It’s a great place to celebrate it, as the fans always bring a fantastic atmosphere.

“It was incredible to achieve another double podium in Qatar. We’ve been consistent, and our hard work is paying off. Last week I was back at the MTC to take a moment to celebrate with the team, review my weekend and what I could have done better and spent some time in the sim preparing for the next three races, seeing where else we can improve. It’ll be a challenge, but we’re determined to bring back some more points for the team.”

"What a weekend to remember in Qatar! Back-to-back podiums and a P1 in the Sprint. It’s been a great couple of races, and I’m looking forward to experiencing the US GP for the first time as an F1 driver.

“I’ve never raced at the Circuit of the Americas before, so I can’t wait to feel the incredible energy that the fans create there. It’s a cool circuit with sections of the track that are reminiscent of other circuits on the calendar and it’s also another Sprint weekend, so more opportunities for points!"

Keep Austin weird

Turn 1 has quickly become one of F1’s iconic corners – not only is it devilishly good-looking, it’s also a real test of a driver and a fantastic overtaking opportunity. It’s a wide corner that allows for late braking at the steepest point of the circuit, looking down on downtown Austin. And what goes up, must come down, with a steep decline making it something of a blind corner for drivers to try and navigate.

The next test comes at Turns 3 to 6, a high-speed section with rapid changes of direction that is akin to Silverstone’s Maggots-Becketts-Chapel sequence and Suzuka’s S Curves. Istanbul’s Turn 8, Hockenheim’s stadium section, Interlagos’s Senna ‘S’ and Österreichring's Sebring-Auspuff Kurve are also notable inspirations behind parts of COTA.

After Turns 3 to 6, a hairpin slows the action right down before a lengthy straight and then another heavy braking zone at Turn 12, providing further chances to overtake. That isn’t the final opportunity to make a move, either, with Turns 16, 17 and 18 allowing drivers to go wheel-to-wheel.  

If this wasn’t challenging enough already, drivers have to contend with diverse weather conditions. The temperature in Austin has been known to fluctuate from freezing cold to blistering hot in the past, with lengthy dry spells and heavy rainfall not uncommon.

The F1 Sprint explained

Given our success in Sprint races this year, we’d like to think you know the score by now, but just in case you missed Oscar’s P2 finish in the Sprint at the Belgian Grand Prix, or his victory in Qatar’s Sprint, we’ll run through this year’s all-new format, which you can read in full here.

The Sprint is now treated like a bite-sized grand prix weekend, with qualifying and the race squeezed into one day of action. It’s a standalone Saturday-based event that doesn’t affect the starting grid on Sunday. 

Points are handed out to the top eight finishers: the winner gets eight points, and the driver in eighth gains one point.

Last time out

No team on the grid has taken as many points as us in the last three races, with 104 points scored across the Singapore, Japanese and Qatar Grands Prix, bringing home seven trophies in the process.

Last time out in Qatar, we took our second double podium in a row, as Oscar finished second and Lando third. This followed on from a successful F1 Sprint in Qatar, where Oscar finished first and Lando third. The result means we’re now 11 points off Aston Martin in the fight for fourth in the Constructor’s Championship and 129 ahead of Alpine.

"After a successful Sprint event in Qatar, we returned to MTC with four trophies and the record for the fastest pit-stop in F1. We now look ahead to the final five races of the season and another Sprint weekend in Austin. This weekend we’re also celebrating another milestone with Lando’s 100th race in F1, which is a significant achievement for a driver still so early in his career.

“Austin always brings a fantastic atmosphere, with incredible fans and exciting racing. We head into this penultimate Sprint event determined to maximise our results wherever possible. We expect our competition to be strong, and the next few races may be more challenging for us. However, we go racing with the aim of scoring important points for the Constructors’ Championship."

Stat pack

• Bruce McLaren won his first Formula 1 race at the US Grand Prix in 1959 for Cooper
• McLaren have taken victory eight times, making us the joint-second most successful team at the US Grand Prix, tied with Lotus
• James Hunt clinched our first US Grand Prix win on his way to the F1 title in 1976 before repeating the feat a year later
• Alain Prost sparked a run of three US victories in a row for the team with victory in 1989, before two successive wins for Ayrton Senna
• Mika Häkkinen (2001) and Lewis Hamilton also won the US Grand Prix for McLaren (2007, 2012)
• The US Grand Prix has taken place in six different venues (10 if you include non-champion rounds), with Austin hosting the US Grand Prix since 2012
• F1 races at COTA have been famously tight, with the victory margin exceeding 10s only once
• Lando has scored points in all three of his previous races at the US Grand Prix
• This will be Oscar’s debut at the US Grand Prix

Set your alarms

Free Practice 1	13:30 ET / 18:30 BST / 04:30 AET
Qualifying	17:00 ET / 22:00 BST / 08:00 AET
Sprint Shootout	13:30 ET / 18:30 BST / 04:30 AET
Sprint	18:00 ET / 23:00 BST / 09:00 AET
Race	15:00 ET / 20:00 BST / 06:00 AET

Setting the scene

Where to start? The 2023 calendar includes three American circuits, but it's hard to beat the official US Grand Prix. The slogan "keep Austin weird" was adopted by the city more than 20 years ago, and it perfectly sums up why we love the area quite so much.

With action off the track that’s as entertaining as on it, you’ll never be bored in Austin. The Texans love of partying, barbequing, and live music ensures a lively atmosphere, with a whole host of other activities to keep you busy.

Looking for something suitably weird? Head to Congress Avenue Bridge, where you can witness the nightly flight of 1.5 million bats that call the bridge home. Sadly, though, we’ve just missed August’s annual Bat Fest.

Oh, and don’t forget to purchase yourself some typical Texan cowboy boots from Allens Boots, which has been running since 1977. We’d normally never want to take off our K-Swiss trainers, but we’ll make a one-time exception.

The Fit: Stars and Speedmarks

We’ve hooked you up with Allens Boots for your one-off US Grand Prix fit, but look no further than the McLaren Store for your headwear. You’ll be the star of the circuit with this one. Our limited edition McLaren x New Era Austin Cap is perfect for watching the US GP in style, so ditch your worn-out ‘sofa guzzler’ and elevate your cap game with this timeless piece.

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