MoneyGram Haas F1 Workforce is returning to the Circuit of The Americas, in Austin, Texas, for Spherical 19 of the 2025 FIA System 1 World Championship, the USA Grand Prix.
The US Grand Prix has had a various and storied historical past, traversing the breadth of the nation since first being run in Sebring, Florida, in 1959. It had a prolonged spell at leafy Watkins Glen in upstate New York, a brief and unsuccessful stint across the streets of Phoenix, Arizona, and a stretch on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, using a part of its fabled oval.
A everlasting dwelling for System 1 was lastly present in 2012, when the championship rolled right into a purpose-built circuit on the outskirts of Austin, Texas, and instantly fell head over heels with the structure, the venue, and the close by choices. Austin, a metropolis famed for its bars, music haunts, and quirky assembly factors, grew to become a favourite among the many System 1 group, whereas the recognition of the grand prix continues to develop.
Austin’s standing as a beloved venue is heightened for drivers by the structure of COTA, with distinct sections and challenges. COTA’s showpiece is Flip 1, named Massive Purple, which rises steeply and invitations totally different racing traces, earlier than the circuit plunges right into a sequence of high-speed esses paying homage to famed sections from Silverstone and Suzuka. The prolonged again straight gives the most effective overtaking alternative, into Flip 12, whereas one other iconic advanced is the triple-apex right-hand Turns 16/17/18, which takes drivers previous the distinctive COTA Tower.
For the third successive season the USA Grand Prix will host F1 Dash, that means there is only one observe session on Friday forward of Dash Qualifying and the Dash Race, which is scheduled for Saturday afternoon.
Esteban Ocon has contested seven grands prix across the Circuit of the Americas, taking a finest end of sixth in 2017, whereas he additionally set the quickest lap of the race throughout its 2024 operating – the primary quickest lap of his profession. For Ollie Bearman, this 12 months’s occasion might be his first expertise of the USA Grand Prix.
Ayao Komatsu, Workforce Principal: “We’re very excited for the USA Grand Prix, COTA all the time seems like dwelling. It is a busy week with numerous actions, however with the added incontrovertible fact that it is a Dash, you are operating off adrenaline the complete weekend. It was nice to get again scoring factors in Singapore with Ollie, and right here in COTA we’re actually trying to get each drivers into level scoring positions. We’re bringing a small improve bundle right here, however since it is a Dash weekend, we are going to solely have FP1 to guage it, so it is much more essential that we hit the bottom operating. We’re very a lot trying ahead to the problem!”
Ollie Bearman: “It seems like we’re constructing momentum every weekend, we all know the automobile is quick, and with one other replace coming to the VF-25 in Austin I really feel like this must be a robust weekend. This might be my first US Grand Prix as a MoneyGram Haas F1 Workforce driver, so I do know it’ll be full on, however it’s so good to soak within the environment and fervour from all of the American followers. Sharing a mutual ardour and love for this group and sport, COTA might be a spotlight of this season for certain.”
Esteban Ocon: “I am excited to move again to Austin, particularly as a MoneyGram Haas F1 Workforce driver. It’s such a cool metropolis with a lot vitality, and I all the time look ahead to coming again. That is one in all our dwelling races so we all know the American followers will once more present a tremendous environment all through the weekend. COTA is a enjoyable however difficult circuit which all the time produces some entertaining racing. After Singapore, I have been working laborious at my coaching heart and on the simulator with the group – aiming to have a robust weekend and maximize each alternative that comes our approach. I am trying ahead to getting again on the market, exhibit our particular livery, and hopefully give our dwelling followers loads to cheer for.”
