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Now that Miami and Las Vegas have joined the calendar, we take a look at the American circuits that have hosted Formula 1 Grand Prix races.
Formula 1 and the United States have a long, sometimes tumultuous relationship. While interest in this high-level motorsport continues to grow across the Atlantic, it took some time for F1 to win over American fans. The first Grand Prix on American soil took place at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the early days of the sport. Since then, nine other venues have hosted races, not counting the recent additions of Miami this year and Las Vegas in 2023. This is a record for a single country. Here is an overview of the ten circuits that have hosted F1 in the land of Uncle Sam. Indianapolis, Indiana (1950-1960 and 2000-2007) Along with Le Mans and Monaco, Indianapolis is one of the three most legendary circuits in motorsport. It is no coincidence that the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Monaco Grand Prix, and the Indy 500 form the Triple Crown, a feat that only Graham Hill has managed to accomplish. From 1950 to 1960, the world's largest oval was part of the F1 World Championship for eleven editions. The race was dominated by American drivers and attracted few Europeans, although two-time Italian champion Alberto Ascari did compete in 1952. The circuit returned to the calendar from 2000 to 2007, this time using a road course inside the speedway. Only the start/finish straight and parts of the first and last corners used the oval. Michael Schumacher won five of the eight races held there. In 2005, a tire controversy saw all six cars equipped with Michelin tires retire after the formation lap, as the manufacturer feared that the banking of Turn 10 would damage the rubber. After Lewis Hamilton's victory in 2007, F1 disappeared from the United States for many years.
Sebring, Florida (1959) Miami is not the first Florida venue to host F1. In 1959, the former Sebring airfield was transformed into a circuit consisting of long straights and tight corners, a layout still used today by American series. This one-off Grand Prix in the United States saw Bruce McLaren claim his first victory in the top class and also enabled Jack Brabham to clinch his first world championship title.
Riverside, California (1960)
Like Sebring, Riverside hosted the United States Grand Prix only once. It was there that Jack Brabham won his second consecutive title. As the circuit was located near the desert, drivers often had to contend with dusty conditions. Stirling Moss scored a double victory in his Lotus, securing his 15th pole position and 14th victory. This circuit, much loved by drivers, was later destroyed by the urban expansion of Los Angeles. It was also here that British driver Ken Miles was killed in a test accident in 1966. Watkins Glen, New York (1961-1980) Watkins Glen remains the American venue that has hosted the United States Grand Prix the most times. From 1961 to 1980, the circuit hosted fifteen United States Grand Prix and five United States Eastern Grand Prix. Famous for its panoramic “S” after the start and its series of blind and banked corners, it quickly earned a reputation as one of the most beautiful circuits in North America. Innes Ireland won the inaugural race in 1961, and double champions Graham Hill and Jim Clark dominated the next six editions. In 1970, Emerson Fittipaldi claimed his first F1 victory there, while Jochen Rindt was crowned champion posthumously, a unique event in the history of the sport. Frenchman François Cevert claimed his only victory on this circuit in 1971, before losing his life during qualifying two years later. Another tragedy struck in 1974 when Austrian rookie Helmut Koinigg died in a terrible accident on race day. Today, the circuit continues to host NASCAR events.
Long Beach, California (1976-1983) Long Beach became the second Californian city to host F1, organizing the United States Grand Prix West for eight years. It inaugurated a long series of American street circuits; half of the ten American venues that have hosted F1 cars are street circuits. Nicknamed the “American Monaco,” the circuit wound through the city and along the waterfront, with the historic ocean liner Queen Mary as a permanent backdrop on the slightly curved pit straight. Drivers loved this circuit, which produced eight different winners in as many races. It was here that future three-time world champion Nelson Piquet claimed his first victory in 1980. The venue is still in operation, now hosting IndyCar and having staged two Formula E races. Las Vegas Caesars Palace, Nevada (1981-1982)
In 1981 and 1982, F1 ventured to the gambling capital, where it raced on a temporary circuit set up in the Caesars Palace parking lot. The circuit quickly gained a reputation as one of the worst in motorsport, hated by drivers and fans alike. The sweltering heat added to the difficulty of its 14-turn layout, which proved physically demanding. Patrick Tambay, for example, was forced to miss the 1982 start due to severe neck pain. From the bumpy streets of Detroit to the specially designed turns of Austin, the relationship between America and Formula 1 has been marked by bold experiments, spectacular setbacks, and unforgettable triumphs.
The 1981 United States Grand Prix East in Detroit proved to be a bittersweet milestone. It gave 1980 world champion Alan Jones his last victory and podium finish, while giving Nelson Piquet the first win that would lead him to three consecutive titles. The following year, Detroit saw the late Italian Michele Alboreto claim his first Formula 1 victory. Detroit's debut in 1982 marked the city's entry into the F1 calendar for seven consecutive seasons, alternating between the United States Grand Prix and United States Grand Prix East titles. That year, the United States hosted three Grand Prix races (Long Beach, Las Vegas, and Detroit), a feat that was not repeated until the triple Italian Grand Prix of 2020 (Monza, Mugello, Imola), marked by the pandemic. Although drivers often complained about the circuit's endless straights and right-angle corners, fans loved the raw spectacle, and Ayrton Senna capped off the era with three consecutive wins in the last three races in Detroit. The city still hosts IndyCar races, but in a different part of the street circuit.
A unique experiment took place in July 1984, when Dallas attempted to join the calendar. Like the previous one-off races at Sebring and Riverside, the Dallas Grand Prix proved disastrous. The scorching heat cracked the asphalt and only eight cars crossed the finish line, with Keke Rosberg taking the win for Williams. The weekend produced some strange anecdotes: Nigel Mansell secured the first pole position of his career but had to push his car across the finish line after a gearbox failure, collapsing from the heat; rookie Ayrton Senna, after crashing into a wall that turned out to have moved, insisted that the barrier had moved, which was later confirmed by investigators. Arizona made its debut in 1989, with three street races in Phoenix before the turn of the millennium. These years coincided with the fierce rivalry between Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna, who each won one victory in the three editions. The 1990 race was notable for the intense duel between Senna and a hungry Jean Alesi in a Tyrrell, with the Frenchman's performance earning him his first podium finish. The 1991 Phoenix event marked the last U.S. Grand Prix until Indianapolis returned in 2000, and it remained the last American street circuit until Miami's debut in 2022 and Las Vegas's revival in 2023.
The modern era began in 2012 when Austin, Texas, welcomed the Circuit of the Americas (COTA). Unlike its makeshift predecessors, COTA was built specifically for Formula 1, with the aim of consolidating the sport's presence on American soil. The project was a resounding success: the inaugural race drew huge crowds, the atmosphere was electric, and drivers praised the mix of iconic corners inspired by world-renowned circuits. Since then, the circuit has been the scene of memorable moments, including Kimi Räikkönen's last Grand Prix victory in 2018 and Lewis Hamilton's sixth world title in 2019. COTA's popularity has even attracted IndyCar and MotoGP to its asphalt. A quick glance at the F1 circuits in the United States through the end of 2021 shows a diverse mosaic:
– Indianapolis (1950-1960, 2000-2007) – 19 editions, 500 Miles & United States Grand Prix – Sebring (1959) – 1 edition, United States Grand Prix – Riverside (1960) – 1 edition, United States Grand Prix
– Watkins Glen (1961-1980) – 20 editions, United States Grand Prix and United States Grand Prix East – Long Beach (1976-1983) – 8 editions, United States Grand Prix West
– Las Vegas (1981-1982) – 2 editions, Caesars Palace Grand Prix – Detroit (1982-1988) – 7 editions, United States Grand Prix and United States Grand Prix East – Dallas (1984) – 1 edition, United States Grand Prix
– Phoenix (1989-1991) – 3 editions, United States Grand Prix – Austin (since 2012) – 9 editions, United States Grand Prix Collectively, these circuits trace America's experimental forays, occasional missteps, and eventual establishment of a lasting Formula 1 presence.
