Next up: the United States

October 11, 2022 at 19:07

After not even one complete lap of racing, the race in Suzuka was red flagged for more than 2 hours. It first looked like there wouldn’t be any racing at all, but in the end we’ve could watch a wet sprint race for 38 minutes.

Verstappen’ second world championship

When Verstappen crossed the line everybody thought the championship was not decided and would continue during the next race in Austin, Texas on October 23rd.

As we probably all know now, full points were awarded for the Japanese Grand Prix despite the fact that the complete race distance was not driven. Even with full points, it was still not enough for Verstappen to become the champion at Suzuka. But a 5 second penalty for Leclerc ment, Pérez moved up to second place and therefore Max had enough points lead to win the championship.

Just like Fernando Alonso he secured his 2nd world championship at 25 years old. Also like Alonso, Verstappen now has 32 wins, but it probably won’t take that much time when he wins his 33rd race.

Lewis Hamilton all the records at COTA

Circuit of the Americas is the decor for the United States Grand Prix since 2012, only the 2020 edition was skipped due to COVID. If we take a look at the records set on this track, Lewis Hamilton holds most of them. He won the race at this track 5 times, while the other 4 races were won by 4 different drivers. Lewis is also on the top of the list of most pole positions with a total of 3.

Two other records Hamilton holds are most podiums and most laps driven. In total he drove 504 race laps at COTA and he was on the podium 8 times, meaning he didn’t finished on the podium only on 1 occurrence.

Formula 1 in the United States

Since this year the Miami Grand Prix will be held besides the United States Grand Prix, so a second race in the USA. Next season a third will be added with the race in Las Vegas. Since 2012 the United States Grand Prix is held on Circuit of the Americas in Austin, but before that a lot of other circuits hosted a Formula 1 race in the USA.

The first ever race that was part of the Formula 1 world championship was the 1950 Indianapolis 500* held on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In 1959 the first United States Grand Prix was held on Sebring International Raceway. This was the first but also the only time there would be a F1 race at Sebring. A year later the Grand Prix would move for one year season to Riverside International Raceway in California.

From the 1961 season the Formula 1 found in Watkins Glen a more permanent circuit for the United States GP to be held at. The circuit would host the Grand Prix for the next 20 years. In 1976 a second American Grand Prix was added with the United States Grand Prix West at the Long Beach street circuit. This race stayed on the calendar till 1983.

* the Indy 500 was part of the Formula 1 world championship till 1960

Carlos Reutemann driving his Ferrari 312T3 in the 1978 United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen. © photo: Wjwalrus - CC BY-SA 3.0

In 1981 with the absence of the United States Grand Prix the Caesars Palace Grand Prix on the street of Las Vegas was held. This race would only exist for 2 years in total. 1982 would be the season where 3 races in the USA were part of the championship; the United States Grand Prix West in Long Beach, the Caesars Palace Grand Prix in Las Vegas and the new Detroit Grand Prix on the streets of Detroit which would stay until 1988. Another race in the 1980’s on Fair Park in Dalles was the 1984 Dallas Grand Prix.

In 1989 the United States Grand Prix would return as the only race in the USA. For three years the Phoenix street circuit would be stage for the race. 1991 was the last United States Grand Prix and it would take 9 years for it to return.

2000 was the year of the return at the circuit where it all started, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but this time not on the oval. The circuit hosted the race for 8 years. After again a couple of years absence the GP would return to the circuit we know for the last year, Circuit of the Americas. Also the circuit where the next United States Grand Prix will be held on October 23.