Sebring to Sin City: Formula 1's 11 American Homes and the $500m Gamble That Finally Stuck
Formula 1 heads to the United States this weekend for the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, a race that has become a firm favourite on the calendar since its inaugural running in 2012. Austin is now one of three F1 events staged in the US, with Miami hosting a grand prix in May and Las Vegas holding a night race in November.
The sport's surge in American popularity in recent years has been helped by Netflix's Drive to Survive series. But it is fair to say that F1 and the US have had a mixed relationship over the years. Some races were very successful and fondly remembered; others rather less so. From Indianapolis, Watkins Glen and Long Beach to the streets of Dallas and the Caesars Palace car park, here is the story of the 11 US cities and towns to have staged a Formula 1 race.
Sebring and Riverside: The first American world championship races
The first F1 United States Grand Prix took place in Sebring, Florida, in 1959. Australian Jack Brabham won the first of his three drivers' championships by pushing his Cooper over the line after it ran out of fuel on the last lap. His fourth place was enough to beat Britons Tony Brooks and Stirling Moss to the title.
In 1960 the US Grand Prix moved to Riverside race track in California, with Briton John Surtees driving his Lotus through the streets on his way to the circuit. The event did not go well for Surtees, who became the first driver to retire by spinning off on the third lap. Another fourth place ensured Brabham won his second title, ahead of Bruce McLaren.
Watkins Glen: Two decades of drama in upstate New York
Watkins Glen staged the US Grand Prix from 1961 until 1980. The Lotus of Innes Ireland had to be retrieved from the bushes after he went off the circuit in 1961, but despite the excursion the Briton recovered to win the race. Briton Jim Clark is pictured on the grid before the 1965 race, the year he won the second of his drivers' championships, and with fans outside desperately trying to get a glimpse of him, the Scotsman celebrated victory in 1967. Six months later he was killed in a Formula 2 race.
An early morning Sunday church service conducted in the Watkins Glen pits in 1973 had added poignancy following the death of Tyrrell driver Francois Cevert the day before during qualifying. The circuit's final US Grand Prix came in 1980, when Alfa Romeo's Bruno Giacomelli led as Williams' Alan Jones went off line and threw up dust behind him. The Australian recovered to win the race and with it the world title.
Long Beach: F1 takes to the Californian streets
The inaugural United States Grand Prix West took place on the streets of Long Beach, California, in 1976, with the field heading down Linden Avenue and Ferrari's Niki Lauda at the head of the pack, as some onlookers appeared to go about their daily business while an F1 race happened around them.
Two-time world champion Emerson Fittipaldi shocked F1 by moving from McLaren to his brother's Fittipaldi team in 1976. A crash in Long Beach practice damaged his car but he was able to claim the final point for sixth place in the race. In 1977 the McLaren of James Hunt was tipped into the air as it collided with the Brabham of John Watson at the start. Long Beach was a popular venue for F1, but the promoter decided to switch to IndyCars from 1984.
Caesars Palace and Dallas: Heat, dust and a short lifespan
F1's first venture into Las Vegas was not successful. The 1981 and 1982 Caesars Palace Grands Prix staged the climax of both world championships but did not find favour with the drivers. Races were held around a car park in the heat of the day, and the drivers were pushed to the limit by the conditions and the featureless anti-clockwise circuit, which put tremendous strain on their necks. Williams' Alan Jones led the field into the first corner in 1981.
The Dallas Grand Prix had an even shorter lifespan, happening just once, in July 1984. Extreme heat was an issue there too, leading to the track breaking up. Eighteen of the 26 drivers retired, 14 of them after hitting the wall. Heading the survivors were winner Keke Rosberg, Ferrari's Rene Arnoux in second and Lotus' Elio de Angelis in third, who were joined on the podium by actress Linda Gray - Sue Ellen in the Dallas TV series.
Detroit and Phoenix: The Motor City and the desert
It seems appropriate that F1 has been to the Motor City. The Detroit Grand Prix took place on a street circuit from 1982 to 1988, and Ayrton Senna is pictured on the grid speaking to members of his Lotus team before the 1986 race, which he won from pole position.
F1 swapped the streets of Detroit for Phoenix from 1989 to 1991. The most memorable of those three races was in 1990, when McLaren's Ayrton Senna had to twice pass the Tyrrell of Jean Alesi to get the win. The race dropped off the calendar because of poor attendances.
Indianapolis: A spectacular return and a 2005 farce
After an eight-year absence, F1 returned to the US in 2000 and did so in style at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. About 225,000 fans attended the first race, which took place on a 2.6-mile circuit that combined a new road course and the banked oval used for the Indy 500. Ferrari's Michael Schumacher won the first event to take control of that year's drivers' championship.
F1's relationship with the United States effectively broke down because of the farcical nature of the 2005 US Grand Prix. Only six cars started because of a row over safety focused on the teams running Michelin tyres. When those 14 drivers pulled into the pit lane before the start, boos broke out and bottles were thrown on to the track as thousands made for the exits.
The final Indianapolis US Grand Prix was in 2007, a year after one of the venue's more frightening moments. Nick Heidfeld covered his helmet with his arms and braced for impact as his BMW Sauber barrel-rolled in 2006 in Indianapolis, following a collision involving the McLaren of Juan Pablo Montoya and the Honda of Jenson Button. Heidfeld was unhurt.
Austin: F1 finally puts down proper roots
The US Grand Prix finally put down proper roots in Austin, Texas, with the first race staged at the Circuit of the Americas in 2012. It is a venue that has produced great racing and attracted excellent crowds. Apart from the Covid-affected 2020 season, it has taken place every year since and has a contract to stage the race until 2034.
That first race in Austin was won by Lewis Hamilton, his final victory for McLaren. Hamilton also secured the 2015 and 2019 world titles at the Circuit of the Americas. The 2025 Ferrari could be difficult to handle, but it possibly was not as hard to control as the mechanical bull ridden in the Austin paddock by Charles Leclerc last year.
Miami: Racing around the Hard Rock Stadium
An aerial view shows the Miami International Autodrome circuit, which goes around the Hard Rock Stadium and has been the home of the Miami Grand Prix since 2022. Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, the winner of this year's race in May, was given a lift by members of the Miami Dolphins NFL team: Ollie Gordon II, Josh Uche, Jordan Phillips and Ethan Robinson.
Las Vegas: A rocky start to a $500m bet
The Las Vegas Grand Prix joined the F1 calendar in 2023 and did not get off to an auspicious start. The first practice session was called off after just nine minutes of running when Carlos Sainz's Ferrari hit a loose manhole cover, badly damaging his car. The second session started two and a half hours late in front of almost empty stands after fan areas closed because it was the early hours of the morning.
Despite that difficult beginning, the Las Vegas Grand Prix has proved a popular addition and is one of the standout events on the F1 schedule. Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton passed the illuminated Sphere in 2025, with the Las Vegas street circuit incorporating the famous Strip into the layout for a race that takes place at night. F1 was so determined for it to become a success that it invested $500m in buying a plot of land on which it constructed a new pit building and paddock. Las Vegas also has a long contract to stage F1, until at least 2037, with this year's race taking place in November.