Racing to the Top: Formula 1’s Texas Takeover and Its Impact on Everyday Cars

Charles Leclerc takes the top spot in the recently concluded U.S. Grand Prix in Austin. He started fourth on the grid and was able to overtake and take the lead at turn one on the first lap. His teammate, Carlos Sainz finished second making it a one-two finish for Scuderia Ferrari. It was a tight battle for third with Max Verstappen having an advantage after Lando Norris lost it because of a 5-second penalty for passing off-track.

The Circuit of the Americas (COTA) has been home to the United States Grand Prix since 2012. Formula 1 has been held here every since except for the year 2020 when it was canceled because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Since debuting on the F1 calendar, it had a huge role in making Formula 1 known in the U.S., especially in Texas. NASCAR’s Texas Grand Prix, the FIA’s World Endurance Championship, and the Motorcycle Grand Prix of the Americas are also held here.

With all of these motorsports happening in COTA plus the recent success of the Netflix show Drive to Survive which follows every Formula 1 team throughout the season, F1 is gaining popularity in Texas and the rest of the United States. F1 hasn’t always been this popular in the US, as it has long been dominated by European teams with many of the races airing late at night due to time zone differences.

Formula 1 is not just about high-speed races, of cars going round and round the race track. Teams, usually consisting of well-known car manufacturers like Ferrari, McLaren, and Mercedes push the limits of technology to the point that a minimal change in the car’s weight is a make or break that can put the driver and car up or down the grid.

Another is safety. In recent years, Formula 1 has developed the halo which according to racecar-engineering.com is a three-pronged tubular titanium structure that surrounds the cockpit of a Formula 1 car and acts as a shield during accidents. The halo has proven its life-saving capabilities as demonstrated in Romain Grosjean’s fiery crash in Bahrain 2020 and Zhou Guanyo flipping upside down in Silverstone in 2021. These technologies and innovations eventually end up in the cars that we drive in our daily lives.

The COTA in Austin is expected to host the United States Grand Prix until 2026. Texas will surely be at the forefront of this growing passion for racing in the U.S. With Leclerc as the latest champion, fans are already counting down to the next Grand Prix in Austin next year.