HISTORY OF THE CIRCUIT

The Circuit of the Americas (COTA) was indeed first added to the Formula One calendar in 2012. At the time, the approximately 5.5-kilometer (3.4-mile) circuit was the sole Formula One venue in the United States.

The Circuit of the Americas (COTA) is a state-of-the-art motorsports and entertainment complex located in Austin, Texas, USA. It was designed to host the United States Formula One Grand Prix and other prestigious motor racing events. 

The idea of building a dedicated Formula One circuit in the United States had been circulating for many years before COTA became a reality. Efforts to bring Formula One back to the United States began in the mid-2000s after the conclusion of the Indianapolis Grand Prix. Plans for a circuit began to be made around 2010 and construction began that same year.

The first Formula One race was held at the Circuit of the Americas on November 18, 2012. The race marked the return of Formula One to the United States after a five-year absence. Lewis Hamilton won the opening race for the McLaren-Mercedes team.

One of the most notable features of the COTA circuit is the significant elevation changes. The track layout includes various hills and valleys, creating challenging turns and dynamic racing conditions. This elevation variation adds to the excitement and complexity of the driving experience and requires drivers to adapt their technique accordingly.

Part of the cicuit is very similar to the popular Maggots-Becketts-Chapel sequence at Silverstone, COTA also has elements similar to the tracks at Hockenheim or Istanbul.

The recent winners of the F1 Grand Prix races held in Austin

2016 Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
2017 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2018 Kimi Räikkonen (Red Bull)
2019 Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
2020 Not held (COVID-19 pandemic)
2021 Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2022 Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2023 Max Verstappen (Red Bull)