A Brief History of COTA and the F1® Texas Grand Prix

As the Formula 1® season heads across the pond to America, the spotlight falls squarely on the Circuit of The Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. 

Let's face it, we dont know who is going to win. This track isn't just a venue; it's a monumental statement of American ambition in motorsport, and here at Senate Grand Prix, we consider it a modern masterpiece.

The Purpose-Built Revolution (2012)

While the history of the United States Grand Prix stretches back over a century, held across ten different locations—from the dirt roads of Savannah to the famous Watkins Glen and the brief, controversial run at Indianapolis—the current F1® era truly began in 2012.

COTA was the first circuit in the United States to be explicitly purpose-built for Formula One®.

This phenomenal race track was designed by renowned architect Hermann Tilke in collaboration with American partners. Construction began in 2010. 

A Modern Classic with Iconic DNA

The track’s design is a thrilling blend of the world's most iconic corners:

• The Steep Climb: The first turn, often called "Big Red," is a dramatic, blind hairpin entered from an exhilarating uphill sprint, featuring a massive 130-foot elevation change that makes for spectacular starts and overtakes.

• The Esses: Turns 3 through 6 are quick, sweeping left-right transitions, famously comparable to the legendary Maggotts, Becketts, and Chapel complex at Silverstone. This section demands absolute rhythm and aerodynamic balance.
• The Technical Back: The final sector features a challenging mix of tight, low-speed corners, culminating in Turn 20.

A History of Champions!

The inaugural F1® race at COTA in November 2012 was won by Lewis Hamilton—his last victory for McLaren before his monumental switch to Mercedes. 

Hamilton remains the most successful driver at the US Grand Prix in the modern era, with five victories at COTA. More recently, Max Verstappen has asserted his dominance, taking victory in the last three events here.

The United States Grand Prix is now far more than just a race. With its vast capacity (setting an F1 record with over 440,000 attendees across the 2022 weekend), concert stages, and distinctive Texas culture, the event is one we look forward to every year. With the McLaren and the Redbull battle firmly on, I, for one, am Excited.

And as always, when the lights go out and the drama unfolds, here at Senate Grand Prix, there is only one winner, and that's you, the race fans!