United States Grand Prix facts for kids
| Circuit of the Americas (2012–2019, 2021–present) |
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| Race information | |
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| Number of times held | 52 |
| First held | 1908 |
| Most wins (drivers) |  Lewis Hamilton (6) |
| Most wins (constructors) |  Ferrari (10) |
| Circuit length | 5.513 km (3.426 mi) |
| Race length | 308.405 km (191.634 mi) |
| Laps | 56 |
| Last race (2023) | |
| Pole position | |
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| Podium | |
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| Fastest lap | |
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The United States Grand Prix is a famous car race that has been held many times since 1908. It was first called the American Grand Prize. Later, it became part of the exciting Formula One World Championship. As of As of 2023[update], this Grand Prix has happened 52 times in ten different places across the USA. Since 2012, the race has mostly taken place every year at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. The only time it was cancelled was in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Contents
- History of the US Grand Prix
- Other F1 Races in the United States
- Winners
- Images for kids
- See also
History of the US Grand Prix
Early Races and the Vanderbilt Cup
A man named William Kissam Vanderbilt II started a series of road races in the United States. He wanted to show the world how good American road racing was. These races were inspired by similar events in Europe. The Vanderbilt Cup races quickly became very popular in Long Island, New York. Both American and European drivers came to compete.
However, these early races had problems with too many people watching, which led to accidents. Because of this, the 1907 race was cancelled. When racing returned in 1908, a different group, the Automobile Club of America, started the American Grand Prize. This race followed the rules used in Europe. The Savannah Automobile Club in Georgia hosted the first event.
The Grand Prize Era (1908-1916)
For the first American Grand Prize, the Savannah Automobile Club made a long track of 25.13 mi (40.44 km). Workers helped build the circuit using oiled gravel. The Governor of Georgia even sent state troops to help local police control the crowds, hoping to avoid the problems seen at the Vanderbilt Cup.
The first race had 14 European cars and six American cars. Big car companies like Benz, Fiat, and Renault had their own teams. The race was held on Thanksgiving Day. Ralph DePalma led early, but then had issues with his car. The race ended with a close finish between Victor Hémery (Benz) and Louis Wagner (Fiat). Wagner won by just 56 seconds!
Even though the Savannah race was a success, the 1909 race was planned for Long Island. But only the Vanderbilt race happened, and the Grand Prize was moved to the next year. After more crowd problems and accidents at the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup, the Grand Prize was cancelled again. Luckily, the Savannah club quickly saved the race, but they only had one month to get ready. A shorter 17-mile (27 km) track was used. Most European teams couldn't make it, but the top drivers from 1908 did. American driver David Bruce-Brown joined the Benz team and won a very close race by only 1.42 seconds.
In 1911, the race returned to Savannah, and the Vanderbilt Cup joined it. Both races were held together until 1916. But people started to complain about closing roads for the races and the use of workers to build the tracks. Accidents during practice also caused concern. Still, American drivers did very well, and Bruce-Brown won again, this time driving a Fiat.
In 1912, the race moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, because of public pressure in Savannah. A narrow, 7.88-mile (12.68 km) track was set up. Sadly, another accident happened in practice, and David Bruce-Brown was killed. In the race, Ralph DePalma crashed with the winner, Caleb Bragg, which meant Milwaukee didn't host another race.
The Grand Prize wasn't held in 1913. For 1914, it moved to Santa Monica, California, near Los Angeles. The 8.4-mile (13.5 km) track had its start/finish line along the Pacific Ocean. American drivers were very strong, with Eddie Pullen winning by over 40 seconds.
In 1915, the race moved to San Francisco. Because of World War I in Europe, most drivers and cars were American. The 3.84-mile (6.18 km) track was built around the Panama–Pacific International Exposition. Heavy rain made the track muddy, but Dario Resta won easily. He also won the Vanderbilt Cup a week later.
The Grand Prize returned to Santa Monica in 1916. This race was part of a bigger championship. Dario Resta was leading the championship. Even though he and Johnny Aitken had problems in the race, Aitken took over his teammate's car and won. Resta still won the championship.
After World War I: The Indianapolis 500
After 1916, the Grand Prize stopped. World War I meant fewer European drivers, and Americans became more interested in oval track racing. The Indianapolis 500 race kept a link to European racing by using similar rules for many years. The Grand Prize trophy was even given to the winner of the Indianapolis 500 from 1930 to 1936. The Indianapolis 500 was part of the Formula One World Championship from 1950 to 1960.
Sebring (1959) and Riverside (1958, 1960)
In 1957, Riverside International Raceway opened in California. It hosted a sports car race called the "United States Grand Prix" in 1958. Chuck Daigh won this race.
A man named Alec Ulmann, who started the famous 12 Hours of Sebring endurance race, decided to host a Formula One race at Sebring International Raceway in 1959. This race was called the "II United States Grand Prix." It was the final race of the 1959 F1 season. New Zealand's Bruce McLaren won his first F1 race, becoming the youngest Grand Prix winner at the time. His teammate, Jack Brabham, ran out of fuel on the last lap but pushed his car to finish fourth, which helped him win the Drivers' Championship! Even though it was an exciting race, it didn't make much money, and the organizers had trouble paying the prize money.
So, Ulmann moved the race to Riverside for 1960. Stirling Moss won, but again, the race didn't attract many fans. The prize money had to be paid by others.
Watkins Glen (1961–1980)
The 1960s at Watkins Glen
In 1961, Cameron Argetsinger offered his track, the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Race Course in upstate New York, to host the Grand Prix. The track was accepted, and Watkins Glen became the home of the United States Grand Prix for the next 20 years. It was known as the "Mecca" of American road racing.
The first F1 race at Watkins Glen was on October 8, 1961. Innes Ireland won, which was his first F1 victory and the first for his team, Team Lotus. The race was very popular, with over 60,000 fans, and it made a profit. The prize money was paid in cash, which the teams loved after past payment problems.
In 1962, Jim Clark won for Lotus. Then, Graham Hill won the next three races for BRM. Clark won again in 1966 and 1967. In 1968, American driver Mario Andretti started from pole position in his first F1 race, but he had to stop early. Jackie Stewart won the race. In 1969, Jochen Rindt won his first F1 race. Sadly, Graham Hill had a bad crash, breaking both his legs.
Because the US Grand Prix was often near the end of the season, championships were sometimes already decided. To make the race more exciting, organizers offered huge prize money. In 1969, the winner got $50,000!
The 1970s at Watkins Glen
In 1970, new driver Emerson Fittipaldi won the race in only his fourth F1 start. It was an emotional win for the Lotus team because their lead driver, Jochen Rindt, had died earlier in the season. Rindt still won the Drivers' Championship that year, even after his death.
In 1971, the track was changed a lot, making it longer and more challenging. These improvements cost a lot of money but made the track even more popular. French driver François Cevert won his only Grand Prix that year, taking home the biggest cash prize in F1 history at the time. In 1972, Jackie Stewart won.
In 1973, Jackie Stewart planned to retire after the race. He had already won his third championship. But during qualifying, Stewart's teammate and friend, François Cevert, was killed in a terrible crash. A very sad Stewart and his team decided not to race. In the race, Ronnie Peterson won.
The 1974 race decided the world championship between Fittipaldi and Clay Regazzoni. Fittipaldi finished fifth and won his second championship. Sadly, another driver, Helmut Koinigg, died in a crash during this race.
In 1975, a new chicane (a series of turns) was added to slow the cars down. Niki Lauda won the race. In 1976, James Hunt won, setting up a close championship battle for the final race. Hunt won again in 1977 in the rain.
By the late 1970s, Watkins Glen was having problems. Drivers complained about the bumpy track, and there were concerns about security and rowdy fans. The track was resurfaced for the 1980 race, which Alan Jones won. However, this was the last United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen. The race was cancelled for 1981 because of money problems.
Phoenix (1989–1991)
After Watkins Glen, other F1 races were held in the US in places like Long Beach, California, Detroit, Dallas, and even a car park in Las Vegas. The Detroit Grand Prix lasted the longest, from 1982 to 1988.
In 1989, the United States Grand Prix name returned in Phoenix, Arizona. The Phoenix street circuit was in the middle of the city. Drivers didn't like it much because it had many slow, 90-degree corners. It wasn't very exciting to drive or watch.
The first Phoenix race in 1989 was held in June, one of the hottest months in Phoenix. Temperatures were nearly 100 °F (38 °C). Not many people came to watch. So, the race was moved to March for the next two years.
The McLaren team was very strong in Phoenix. Alain Prost won in 1989, and Ayrton Senna won in 1990 and 1991. In 1990, young French driver Jean Alesi battled Senna for many laps. The track was changed a bit for the 1991 race and was considered better. Senna won again.
However, in October 1991, it was decided that the contract with Phoenix would be cancelled. Bernie Ecclestone, who ran Formula 1, said that while attendance wasn't the main problem, it was hard to set up enough seats for fans to get a good view. After Phoenix, Formula 1 didn't return to the United States for nine years.
Indianapolis (2000–2007)
The United States Grand Prix finally returned in 2000 at the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indiana. This track used part of the oval track but also had a special road course inside. The crowd at the 2000 race was huge, with over 225,000 people, one of the biggest F1 crowds ever! Michael Schumacher won this race.
In 2001, the race happened less than three weeks after the September 11, 2001 attacks in the US. Many teams and drivers showed special tributes to the USA on their cars. Mika Häkkinen won his last Grand Prix here. The 2002 race saw Schumacher and his teammate Rubens Barrichello try to finish at the exact same time, but Schumacher won.
In 2005, there was a big problem with Michelin tires. Seven teams had to pull out of the race after the warm-up lap because their tires weren't safe. Only the three teams using Bridgestone tires raced. This made the event very strange, with only six cars competing. Michael Schumacher won again. Many people wondered if the US Grand Prix would ever return to Indianapolis.
But it did! The 2006 United States Grand Prix was held the next year, and Schumacher won for the fifth time overall. Lewis Hamilton won the last US Grand Prix at Indianapolis in 2007.
On July 12, 2007, Formula One and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced that the 2007 race would be the last one there for a while. They couldn't agree on the money needed to host the event. The United States Grand Prix was not on the F1 calendar for 2008-2011.
Austin (2012–2019, 2021–Present)
In 2009, Bernie Ecclestone said Formula One might not return to the US. But then, in 2010, he announced plans for a race in New York City for 2012. There were ideas for tracks in New Jersey, overlooking the Manhattan skyline.
However, on May 25, 2010, Austin, Texas, was chosen to host the race for ten years. The event is held at a brand-new, purpose-built track called Circuit of the Americas (COTA). A famous German track designer, Hermann Tilke, designed the circuit. In July 2010, the promoter promised it would be one of the "most challenging and spectacular" tracks in the world.
There were some temporary stops in construction, but the US Grand Prix was confirmed for Austin in 2012. Lewis Hamilton won the first race at COTA, continuing his strong record in the US.
In 2015, the Texas government cut some funding for the event. Attendance also dropped that year because of heavy rain from a hurricane. But the race continued in Austin. 2016 was the best-attended Grand Prix in Austin, with nearly 270,000 people coming to watch. This was helped by a close championship battle and concerts by pop stars like Taylor Swift. In 2017, Lewis Hamilton won again, and former US president Bill Clinton presented the trophy. Concerts by Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears also helped boost attendance in later years.
The 2020 race at COTA was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. But the race returned in 2021. COTA is set to host Formula One until 2026.
Other F1 Races in the United States
The United States Grand Prix is the longest-running Formula One race in the US. But there have been other F1 events here too!
From 1976 to 1983, the Long Beach circuit hosted the United States Grand Prix West. This meant the US was the first country since Italy in 1957 to have two F1 races in the same season! The United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen was sometimes called the United States Grand Prix (East) during these years.
The Caesars Palace Grand Prix was held in Las Vegas in 1981 and 1982. In 1982, the first Detroit Grand Prix took place in Detroit, Michigan, and it ran until 1988. This meant the 1982 Formula One season had three Grands Prix in the United States – a first in F1 history!
Finally, a one-time Dallas Grand Prix was held in Fair Park, Texas, in 1984. It had problems with the track surface and very hot weather. After these shorter-lived events, the main United States Grand Prix returned in 1989 at Phoenix. Until 2022, it was the only Grand Prix in the US, even though it moved locations a few times.
More recently, the first Miami Grand Prix was held in 2022 at the Miami International Autodrome, a track built just for F1 near Hard Rock Stadium. And the first Las Vegas Grand Prix took place on November 18, 2023.
Winners
From 1908 to 1916, the race was called the American Grand Prize. Six American drivers have won the United States Grand Prix, but only one of them won when it was part of the Formula One World Championship. Mario Andretti won the 1977 United States Grand Prix West in Long Beach, California.
Drivers with Multiple Wins
Drivers in bold are racing in Formula One this season. A pink background means the race was not part of the Formula One World Championship.
| Wins | Driver | Years Won |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Lewis Hamilton |
2007, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 5 |  Michael Schumacher |
2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 |
| 3 | Graham Hill |
1963, 1964, 1965 |
| Jim Clark |
1962, 1966, 1967 | |
 Max Verstappen |
2021, 2022, 2023 | |
| 2 |  David Bruce-Brown |
1910, 1911 |
| Jackie Stewart |
1968, 1972 | |
| James Hunt |
1976, 1977 | |
 Carlos Reutemann |
1974, 1978 | |
 Ayrton Senna |
1990, 1991 | |
| Sources: | ||
Teams with Multiple Wins
Teams in bold are racing in Formula One this season. A pink background means the race was not part of the Formula One World Championship.
| Wins | Constructor | Years Won |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Ferrari |
1975, 1978, 1979, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2018 |
| 8 | Lotus |
1960, 1961, 1962, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1973 |
| McLaren |
1976, 1977, 1989, 1990, 1991, 2001, 2007, 2012 | |
| 6 | Mercedes |
1910, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 |
| 4 |  Red Bull |
2013, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| 3 |  Fiat |
1908, 1911, 1912 |
| BRM |
1963, 1964, 1965 | |
| 2 |  Peugeot |
1915, 1916 |
| Tyrrell |
1971, 1972 | |
| Sources: | ||
Engine Manufacturers with Multiple Wins
Manufacturers in bold are racing in Formula One this season. A pink background means the race was not part of the Formula One World Championship.
| Wins | Manufacturer | Years Won |
|---|---|---|
| 11 |  Ford * |
1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1980 |
| 10 | Ferrari |
1975, 1978, 1979, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2018 |
| 9 | Mercedes ** |
1910, 2001, 2007, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 |
| 4 | Climax |
1959, 1960, 1961, 1962 |
| BRM |
1963, 1964, 1965, 1966 | |
 Honda |
1989, 1990, 1991, 2021 | |
| 3 | Fiat |
1908, 1911, 1912 |
| 2 | Peugeot |
1915, 1916 |
| Sources: | ||
* Built by Cosworth, funded by Ford
** Built by Ilmor in 2001, funded by Mercedes
Winners by Year
A pink background means the race was not part of the Formula One World Championship.
Images for kids
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Sebring (1959)
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Riverside (1960)
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Watkins Glen (1961–1970)
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Watkins Glen (1971–1974)
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Watkins Glen (with Esses chicane) (1975–1980)
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Phoenix (1989–1990)
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Phoenix (1991)
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Indianapolis Motor Speedway (2000–2007)
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See also
In Spanish: Gran Premio de los Estados Unidos para niños
