Official F1 Journal Track Guide- Circuit of the Americas(COTA)

We are back in the USA and its to the brilliant COTA circuit. The credible, respectable big brother to the 2 new American Grand Prix. With F1 making 3 stops in the US this year we return to Cota for the 11th time but unlike the 2 newer races that seem to prioritize the show over the racing, COTA managers to provide equal amounts of both, putting on a true 'Stars & Stripes' show with genuinely brilliant racing only to be made better by addition of the Sprint Weekend this year, giving COTA the chance to really show off it potential as a power house track on the F1 calendar.
Also this weekend the F1 Academy join the grid for their first race to be shown live on Sky sports F1. If you haven't had the chance to watch the series live we at F1 Journal cant recommend it more. Its a brilliant way to watch the stars of the future both on and off the track and enjoy some really close, intense racing in the Spec car series. 

Race Stats

Laps-
       Sprint - 19 laps
       Grand Prix - 56 laps
Circuit Length- 5.513km 
Race Distance-
      Sprint Race-104.747km
      Grand Prix- 308.405km
Corner- 20  11 left      9 right
DRS Zones- 2 
     Activation 1- Middle of Turn 10 & 11
           Deployment 1- Exit Turn 11
     Activation 2- Entry Turn 19 
           Deployment 2- Exit Turn 20 
Down Force Level- Medium/High
Tyre Degradation- Medium/High 
Time @ Full Throttle- 59% of the lap
Time Lost In Pit Lane- 23.5- 24.2 fast
Gear Changes- 66 per lap/3696 per race 
Pole Side- Right 
Tyre Compounds-
       Hard      Medium      Soft 
         C2            C3          C4
Minimum Starting 
Tyre Pressures-
            Front          Rear
           23.0psi       20.0psi
      
Maximum Tyre Camber-
           Front           Rear 
           -3.00º         -1.75º

Weekend Schedule

Track Stats

Times Held- 10
First Year Held- 2012
Finishing Percentage- 82.5%
Pole Record- 1.32.029 BOT 2019
Lap Record- 1.36.169 LEC 2019
Winners- 5
Pole Sitters- 6
Podium Finishers- 12
Most Driver Poles- HAM 3
Most Team Poles- Mercedes 6
Most Driver Wins- HAM 5
Most Team Wins- Mercedes 6
Most Driver Podiums- HAM 9
Most Team Podiums- Mercedes 12
Most Consecutive Driver Wins- HAM 4  2014-2017 
Times Won From Pole- 5
Times Win From Front Row- 10
Lowest Staring Position to Win- 2nd 
Smallest Win Margin- 0.675 Hamilton 2012
Largest Win Margin- 10.143 Hamilton 2017
Most Cars to Finish- 22
Least Cars to Finish- 12 

Previous Results

2019

Qualifying -
                 1 BOT 1.32.029
                   2 VET 1.32.041
                     3 VER 1.32.096
Race Result- 
                  1 BOT (2 stop)
                    2 HAM (1 stop)
                      3 VER (2 stop)
​Fastest Lap- 1.36.169 LEC lap 44

2021

Qualifying -
                 1 VER 1.32.910
                   2 HAM 1.33.119
                     3 PER 1.33.134
Race Result- 
                  1 VER (2 stop)
                    2 HAM (2 stop)
                      3 PER (2 stop)
​Fastest Lap- 1.38.485 HAM lap 41

2022

Qualifying -
                 1 SAI 1.34.356
                   2 LEC 1.34.421
                     3 VER 1.34.448
Race Result- 
                  1 VER(2 stop)
                    2 HAM (1 stop)
                      3 LEC (2 stop)
​Fastest Lap- 1.38.788 RUS lap 56

Random Facts

• COTA has one of the largest elevation changes of  the whole season with there being a 40 meter difference between the highest and lowest points on the track. 
• When Tilke designed the track he took inspiration from some of the best sections of track in the World, including- Silverstone's Maggotts and Becketts & Chapel, The Senna Esses (Turn 1,2 & 3) from Interlargos, Istambuls mighty Turn 8 and the Hockenheim bends
• This race has never been won from lower than 2nd. 
• Hamilton has won half the races @ COTA
• Bottas took his 1st win here 
• Max Verstappen hold the record for lowest starting position to get on to the podium, starting 18th and finishing 3rd. 
• 560 racing laps have been completed of COTA
• There has never been a Red Flag here
• Mclaren took the first ever Victory here in 2012

Joanna Blackmore 
Writer @ F1 Journal