United States F1 Grand Prix Preview -- Mercedes-Benz -- "Circuit of the Americas"

 

Toto on Austin

The weekends in Malaysia and Singapore were difficult for us and we worked hard to identify our weak points. In Austin, we now have the opportunity to respond to this. We will use our latest update package on both cars while continuing to drive the development of the car. The field is incredibly close, so we need to keep improving if we want to keep up with the front runners in the closing stages of the season.

The United States Grand Prix heralds another challenging triple-header. The stakes are high, but we don't want to rush into anything. Our priority is on the upcoming weekend: we want to do our job in the best possible way, maximise our performance and take every race as it comes.

For us, Austin will also be an important weekend away from the track, as there will be numerous commercial activities taking place throughout the city. The focus is on the takeover by AMG and MANUFAKTUR, which will bring the performance, craftsmanship and individuality of the entire Mercedes family to life throughout the weekend. We look forward to showcasing this and ultimately convincing where it matters most: on the track.

Insights from the third driver

Austin always has a fantastic atmosphere and an incredible fan base. I'm really looking forward to seeing you at our fan hub event in the city centre and to great racing. The "Circuit of The Americas" represents a unique challenge for both the drivers and the team. The track surface is notoriously bumpy, which makes it difficult to find the right balance with the car and manage the performance of the tyres over a lap and stint. It is crucial to find the right setup. That's why we spend so much time preparing in the simulator before the race weekend.

The first sector is one of the most exciting sections of the track. Turn one is a steep climb before descending into a series of fast, flowing corners where the car is pushed to its limits. It's incredibly satisfying when you succeed, but it's also very easy to make a mistake and go off the track.

Overall, it's a fantastic circuit with a great mix of technical challenges and overtaking opportunities, which usually makes for exciting races.

Did you know?

• This year's United States Grand Prix will be held again in the usual race weekend format after three years of sprint weekends.
• The difference in altitude from the starting grid to the apex of the first corner is a good 40 metres (134 feet), making it one of the largest on the entire F1 calendar.
• Mercedes has scored four one-two finishes at the United States Grand Prix in Austin so far - more than any other team.
• Lewis Hamilton remains the most successful driver at COTA with five wins in Austin, including four consecutive wins between 2014 and 2017. At this track, he also secured his third (2015) and sixth (2019) F1 titles while driving for the team.
• COTA has been the venue for the United States Grand Prix since 2012.