COTA Track Preview
- therookiereporters
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Formula One touches down in America, ready to race at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas. Before they go racing, here’s what you should know about the track, last year’s race, and what we can expect this year.
Formula One first raced at the Circuit of the Americas in 2012, with a race distance of 308.728km and 56 laps. In 2019, Charles Leclerc set the fastest lap around the 5.513km track at 1:36.169s. With a number of high-speed corners, fans are sure to have the thrill of a lifetime. On top of that, the infamous hill climb to turn 1 has provided plenty of overtaking moments and racing incidents over the years, and we can’t wait to see how the rookies fare here.
Last year, Liam Lawson replaced Daniel Ricciardo for the remainder of the 2024 season. He finished ninth, bouncing back from a back-of-the-grid start due to penalties. Lando Norris managed a phenomenal qualifying lap to take pole with a 1:32.330s, followed by Max Verstappen in P2, and Carlos Sainz heading the second row. Charles Leclerc, who started fourth on the grid, exploited first-lap mayhem to charge for the lead, which he retained for the rest of the Grand Prix, proving that first-lap overtakes can change the course of a race. In addition, it was the Monegasque’s third victory and Ferrari’s first one-two finish in America since 2006.
At the time, the championship battle between Norris and Verstappen was still ongoing, and a late tussle between the pair saw the Briton receive a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits. Ultimately, this dropped him off the podium into fourth as Max took home bronze. Notably, George Russell, who crashed in qualifying, managed an impressive P6 after a pit lane start. We also cannot forget that our seven-time World Champion, Lewis Hamilton, suffered an early retirement on lap three after spinning off the track.
Singapore was just a fortnight ago yet was another race that divided McLaren fans, and tensions in the garage seem to be ever-rising. Lando made a bold overtake, nearly replicating Oscar’s overtake on himself in Monza 2024. He gained track position and managed a P3 finish with front wing damage. Oscar believed the overtake was not team-like and tried to demand they switch positions, even when the FIA regarded it as a racing incident and didn't award a penalty. Yet on a more positive note, McLaren clinched the constructors' title for the second year running. This means all eyes are watching the driver’s championship battle play out over the last 6 Grand Prix.
Who will dominate the Texas track this year? Lando seemingly has acquired a newfound confidence, while Oscar Piastri’s is speculated to be dwindling. Max Verstappen is still in with a chance to make it 5 consecutive World Championships, so the pressure to clinch as many points as possible increases. Could the 2025 World Drivers’ Championship go down to the wire in Abu Dhabi, or will one of these athletes take home the trophy sooner?
Article written by Alice Seager ©️Alice Seager 2025
