Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas, United States of America. Sunday, November 2, 2014. World The first season of Formula 1 in 1950 consisted of seven races. The third race took place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The renowned Indianapolis 500 was included in the early years of the Formula 1 World Championship.
Alfa Romeo did not win the 1950 Indy 500, as they chose not to participate in the left-turn-only event held across the ocean. Johnnie Parsons, a California driver, became the first American to win a Formula 1 World Championship race by winning the Indy 500.
Including the Indy 500 in the Formula 1 World Championship from 1950 to 1960, with a field of 33 drivers per race, contributed to the United States having the most number of drivers, 153, to start a Formula 1 race. The United Kingdom closely follows with 146 drivers.
The last time the Indy 500 was part of the Formula 1 World Championship was in 1960, and it was won by Jim Rathmann, another California driver. Two years earlier, Rathmann had also won the Race of Two Worlds at Monza.
The first Formula 1 Grand Prix in the United States took place on December 12, 1959, serving as the season finale. Similar to Silverstone, the race took place at an Air Force base in Sebring, Florida. This race is most remembered for Bruce McLaren’s first victory.
Bruce McLaren held the record for being the youngest driver to win a Grand Prix at 22 years old, until 2003, when Fernando Alonso surpassed him by winning his first victory at Hungaroring using Michelin tires that provided better performance than Michael Schumacher’s.
During the 1959 Sebring race, Jack Brabham secured the first of his three titles by pushing his Cooper-Climax across the finish line in fourth place.
The tradition of Formula 1 racing in the United States began with the second United States Grand Prix in 1960. The race took place from east coast to west coast, specifically in Riverside, California, east of Los Angeles. Stirling Moss emerged as the winner driving a Lotus-Climax.
In 1961, the race returned to the east coast, this time in upstate New York, at the picturesque Watkins Glen circuit, located in the Finger Lakes region.
Innes Ireland, a man hailing from Scotland, achieved a brief moment of glory in his Lotus car, granting the first victory to Colin Chapman’s team, only to be fired shortly after at the Earls Court Motor Show.
Chapman had his sights set on another Scottish driver, the young Jim Clark. Clark did not disappoint and secured Lotus team their second consecutive victory at Watkins Glen in 1962.
Graham Hill achieved a remarkable feat by winning three consecutive USGP races from 1963 to 1965.
In 1966, Jim Clark propelled the 16-cylinder BRM to his only victory in Formula 1. The following year, he emerged victorious once again, this time with the Ford-Cosworth engine.
1968 marked Mario Andretti’s stunning debut in Formula 1 at Watkins Glen, where he secured pole position in his Lotus. However, it was Jackie Stewart who ultimately emerged as the winner, driving Ken Tyrrell’s French Matra with a Ford-Cosworth engine.
The 1969 Grand Prix at Watkins Glen marked the beginning of a sequence of three consecutive rookie winners in Formula 1. The first of these winners was Austrian Jochen Rindt, acclaimed as the King of Formula 2. Tragically, Graham Hill suffered serious leg injuries when he was ejected from his Lotus during the race.
In 1970, Emerson Fittipaldi, who had moved from Brazil to England the previous year with no knowledge of the English language, achieved his first victory in just his fourth start in Formula 1 for Chapman’s team.
The charismatic Frenchman Francois Cevert secured his first and only victory in the 1971 race driving for Tyrrell. Jackie Stewart triumphed once again in 1972.
The following year, Swedish driver Ronnie Peterson, representing Lotus, clinched the victory and received the largest cash prize in Grand Prix history at the time, worth $50,000.
Unfortunately, the weekend was overshadowed by the tragic death of Stewart’s teammate, Cevert, on Saturday. The race was supposed to be Stewart’s 100th and final start, but the Tyrrell team withdrew from the event.
Argentinian driver Carlos Reutemann emerged as the winner in 1974, representing Bernie Ecclestone’s Brabham team.
Tragedy struck again in Glen when young Austrian driver Helmut Koinigg, driving for John Surtees, suffered a fatal accident.
Niki Lauda celebrated his first championship title by winning the final race of the season at Watkins Glen in 1975, driving for Ferrari. This marked the first success for Scuderia in Formula 1 in the United States.
James Hunt stepped onto the podium in 1976 and 1977, representing McLaren in Glen.
Reutemann secured his second victory in Glen in 1978, this time driving a Ferrari. Gilles Villeneuve emerged as the winner for Scuderia in 1979.
The 1980 United States Grand Prix marked the last Formula 1 race at Watkins Glen. Italian driver Bruno Giacomelli achieved a memorable pole position for the newly established Alfa Romeo team. Australian driver Alan Jones, who had just been crowned world champion, emerged as the winner driving for Williams.
Chris Pook, an English travel agent, successfully organized the return of Formula 1 to the state of California. The race took place on the streets of Long Beach as the third round of the 1976 Formula 1 World Championship, known as the United States Grand Prix “West”. Clay Regazzoni, a Swiss-Italian driver, showcased his exceptional skills from pole position and led a Ferrari one-two victory over Niki Lauda.
In 1977, Mario Andretti, driving for Lotus, became the first and only American to win a Formula 1 Grand Prix on American soil. In the following years, Ferrari drivers dominated the American races. In 1978, Carlos Reutemann won both the “East” and “West” Grand Prix, while Gilles Villeneuve achieved the same feat in 1979.
The 1980 United States Grand Prix “West” saw Nelson Piquet emerge as the winner for Brabham, marking his first of 23 Grand Prix victories. However, the inaugural race in 1976 had a tragic outcome. Regazzoni, the winner of that race, suffered serious injuries and was paralyzed from the waist down due to brake failure that caused him to collide with Ricardo Zunino’s parked Brabham. Alan Jones claimed victory in 1981 for Williams.
The 1982 race witnessed a surprising pole position for Andrea de Cesaris in his Alfa Romeo. Niki Lauda ended up winning the race after being convinced by Ron Dennis to come out of retirement. The last Formula 1 race on the streets of Long Beach took place in 1983, a significant event for the important port city located south of Los Angeles. McLaren drivers, John Watson and Lauda, made an incredible comeback after a disappointing qualifying session, finishing first and second, respectively.
In 1982, the United States hosted three Grand Prix races. The inaugural Detroit Grand Prix showed the impressive performance of John Watson. Following the advice of Michelin’s Competition Director, Pierre Dupasquier, Watson changed the compound of his tires during a red flag period and managed to secure the victory from 17th position on the grid. Local driver Eddie Cheever secured second place in a Ligier, while Didier Pironi finished third for Ferrari.
The 1983 Detroit Grand Prix marked a significant victory for Italian driver Michele Alboreto of Tyrrell, who gave the Ford-Cosworth DFV its final win. The engine had initially debuted at the 1967 Dutch Grand Prix, where Jim Clark claimed his first victory. Nelson Piquet, powered by a turbo BMW in his Brabham, emerged victorious in the 1984 race. His teammate Teo Fabi also made it to the podium in third place, while Elio de Angelis finished second for Lotus-Renault.
Keke Rosberg, driving for Williams-Honda, secured the victory in the 1985 race. Ayrton Senna then won three consecutive races. In 1986, he triumphed with a Renault-powered Lotus, and the following year, he secured the win with a Honda-powered Lotus. Senna’s third and final victory on the streets of Detroit came with the dominant McLaren MP4-4, once again with a Honda engine.
The Grand Prix in Phoenix, Arizona, known for its scorching “but it’s a dry heat” weather, is more famous for attracting fewer spectators than ostrich races in the same city. The Formula 1 festival in Phoenix, despite high expectations from Bernie and the local promoter, lasted only three editions and did not meet expectations. The McLaren-Honda team emerged victorious in all three races.
In 1989, Professor Prost triumphed in Phoenix, with Riccardo Patrese finishing second for Williams and Eddie Cheever, a Phoenix native raised in Rome, finishing third for Arrows. Senna achieved consecutive victories in 1990 and 1991.
The 1990 race, which served as the season opener, is especially notable for the intense battle between Senna and rookie Jean Alesi. Alesi briefly led the race in his Tyrrell before settling for second place. Over the years, Formula 1 races have been held at various venues, such as racetracks (Aintree), airfields (Silverstone, Sebring, and Zeltweg), and street circuits in public parks (Monsanto and Montjuich). However, the Grand Prix race held in a casino parking lot was a unique and unsuccessful gamble.
The 1981 Caesar Palace Grand Prix marked the end of the season, with Piquet emerging as the lucky winner. His title rival, Reutemann, started on pole position but faded, allowing Piquet to finish fifth and secure the championship by just one point. Alan Jones, Reutemann’s Australian teammate, emerged as the winner. The parking lot also hosted the final race of the season in 1982, where Alboreto claimed his first victory in his Tyrrell and Keke Rosberg became the first Finnish world champion, despite winning only one race throughout the season.
The race in Phoenix marked the end of Mario Andretti’s illustrious Formula 1 career. Formula 1 would not return to the city until 2023, when media giant Liberty Media took over and organized the Las Vegas Grand Prix. However, this unique event was marred by issues, including scorching heat, track deterioration, and cars on the track from as early as 7 a.m. Jacques Laffite even showed up in his pajamas before the race. The race ended dramatically with Nigel Mansell pushing and fainting near the finish line. Keke Rosberg emerged as the winner, with his Texan cowboy appearance adding to the spectacle.
Tony George, the man who single-handedly ruined American open-wheel racing in the 1990s, had a positive action. He revived Formula 1 not only in the United States but also at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
After several years of negotiations with Bernie, the 2000 United States Grand Prix took place in Indianapolis. A section of the track was built inside the circuit and the F1 cars also raced on the main straight and a part of the area between Turn 1 and Turn 2, similar to the Indy 500 configuration.
A German software company called SAP served as the main sponsor. The race on September 24 had a large turnout, with approximately 250,000 spectators on Sunday. The roar of the F1 machines echoing from the stands was truly extraordinary.
The race turned into a celebration of Ferrari. David Coulthard led the first six laps in his McLaren, then it was Schumi dominating until lap 73, followed by his teammate Rubens Barrichello. DC finished fifth and set the fastest lap of the race.
The 2001 race took place on September 30, just a few weeks after the terrorist attacks on September 11. Schumacher secured pole position, but had to settle for second place behind Mika Hakkinen. David Coulthard, in the second McLaren, finished third. Juan Pablo Montoya set the fastest lap of the race in his Williams with a BMW engine.
A Ferrari front row for the 2002 event. Schumacher completely controlled the race from pole position, while Barrichello set the fastest lap. On the final lap 73, Schumacher attempted a Ford-style finish at Le Mans 1966 and paid the price. The timing system recorded Barrichello winning the race by 0.01s. Coulthard finished third for McLaren.
At the 2003 United States Grand Prix, Kimi Raikkonen started on pole in his McLaren. Schumacher began in seventh on the grid and set the fastest lap on his way to victory. Kimi had to settle for second place, while Heinz-Harald Frentzen secured third place, marking the last podium appearance of his career.
Starting from the 2004 season, the United States Grand Prix was moved to June, following the famous American classic known as the Indianapolis 500 on Memorial Day weekend. Barrichello secured pole position and set the fastest lap, but the Red Baron still managed to overtake him on lap 50 to claim victory. Takuma Sato finished third on the podium for BAR Honda.
The 2005 United States Grand Prix. A race that will be remembered for a long time. The day when Bibendum faced a financial collapse. Formula 1 and politics go hand in hand, both on and off the tracks around the world. No need for any aerodynamic aids here.
After experiencing two tire failures on Toyota cars before the race, Michelin requested the addition of a chicane before the final fast corner. The French tire manufacturer even offered to organize a Boeing 747 to bring a different type of tire.
Max Mosley, a skilled lawyer, stood firm and refused to give in. This resulted in only six cars participating in the United States Grand Prix, as all cars equipped with Michelin tires entered the pits after the formation lap. This included Jarno Trulli, who had secured pole position for Toyota. Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello easily secured a one-two finish for Ferrari.
The star of the race was Tiago Monteiro from Portugal. Driving for Jordan – Toyota, he couldn’t believe his luck when he became the first and, so far, the only Portuguese driver to step onto the Formula 1 podium. He continues to smile to this day.
In 2006, chaos ensued on the first lap as cars maneuvered through turns one and two. Kimi Raikkonen was spun around by his McLaren teammate, Juan Pablo Montoya, who always seemed to be full of energy. Team boss Ron Dennis wasted no time in getting Monteiro out of the team.
Starting from pole position, setting the fastest lap and winning the race was Schumacher. His new Brazilian teammate, Felipe Massa, finished second. Giancarlo Fisichella secured third place for Renault. It was also a historic moment for Toro Rosso, as Vitantonio Liuzzi scored his first point in the Formula 1 championship by finishing eighth.
The last Formula 1 race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway took place in 2007. It was an exceptional performance by rookie Lewis Hamilton. The intense rivalry between Hamilton and his teammate, two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, was evident throughout the race.
Alonso, frustrated by the team’s refusal to favor him over the rookie, expressed his anger by driving close to the McLaren pit wall.
What was truly remarkable was that, despite the turmoil within the McLaren team and the fierce battles between Hamilton and Alonso, the two drivers never recreated the infamous incidents of Rosberg and Hamilton in Barcelona 2016 or Senna and Prost in Suzuka. Giancarlo Fisichella finished third for Renault.
Today, the United States is once again home to three Grand Prix races. The Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas has hosted the Grand Prix since 2012, replacing Watkins Glen, which had hosted 20 GPs, as the main race on the F1 calendar. This year marks the 12th edition of the race.
The Miami Grand Prix was added to the Formula 1 calendar in 2022. The thrilling action of the “circus” will take place around the Hard Rock Stadium of the Miami Dolphins for the third time this weekend. Last year, Las Vegas was also added to the F1 calendar, totaling three GP weekends in the United States.
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Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo scored an impressive hat-trick in his team’s 4-2 victory over their rivals. The Portuguese player once again showed his skill and leadership on the field, securing the win for his team. With this result, Ronaldo’s team remains at the top of the league and continues on the path to the title.
Ronaldo opened the scoring early in the game, showing his determination and ability to finish plays. The rivals could not contain the superstar’s drive, as he scored two more goals throughout the match. With his flawless performance, Ronaldo solidifies himself as one of the greatest players in the history of soccer.
In addition to goals, Ronaldo also contributed with important assists, showing his talent not only as a scorer, but also as a complete player. His presence on the field is always a differential for his team, which relies on his leadership and experience to achieve victory.
With this victory, Ronaldo’s team is getting closer and closer to the championship title. The team has been showing a consistent performance throughout the season, and the Portuguese star is a key piece in this path to success. The player’s fans are excited about his performance and confident that he will lead his team to the top.
The next match of Ronaldo’s team promises to be exciting, with fans eager to see another brilliant performance from the star. The player has stood out not only for his goals, but also for his commitment and professionalism on and off the field. Ronaldo is an example for young players and an inspiration for all football lovers.
With his hat-trick, Cristiano Ronaldo once again writes his name in football history. His talent and dedication are recognized by all, and he continues to surprise fans with his incredible performances. The player is a true legend of the sport and his presence on the field is always a spectacle in itself. The football world eagerly awaits the next chapters of this success story.
