Formula 1

• Track insights

  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.

• What's it like in Austin?

  Where to start? 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.

  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.

• 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