United States Grand Prix: Preview – Ferrari

It’s time for the 19th round of the Formula 1 World Championship, the United States Grand Prix, at what can now be considered one of the classic circuits on the calendar, COTA (the Circuit of the Americas), on the outskirts of Austin, Texas.

There are 58 points on offer this weekend as this is the fourth Sprint of the year at a venue that is hugely popular because of the great atmosphere of the city that claims to be the “music capital of the world.”

The track. The 5.413 kilometre-long COTA track is very complete, featuring a combination of high, medium and low speed corners, two DRS zones, with an elevation change of over 40 metres. The climb to turn 1, a left hander that is almost a hairpin, is a key point for overtaking, as are turns 12 and 13. The final sector features demanding changes of direction while track temperature can exceed 40 degrees, providing a stern test for the power unit and the tyres, that need careful management to deal with the track surface, this being an important consideration when planning strategy for both qualifying and the race.

The importance of preparation. Coming to a race having prepared thoroughly in the simulator and during meetings in the factory is always important, never more so than when it’s for a Sprint format weekend. That is because there is only one hour of free practice to prepare prior to Sprint Qualifying on Friday afternoon.

Fred Vasseur: After two street circuits, we return to a permanent track at COTA, which offers a very interesting mix of corners. It’s a layout that demands precision from everyone – the team in terms of set-up and the drivers in feeling at one with the car. The weekend will be even more challenging with the Sprint format, giving us just one free practice session before heading straight into competitive sessions.

We know we haven’t maximised the potential of our package in the last few races, but the team is united and fully determined to turn things around.

Ferrari at the United States GP

67 GP Contested1952 Indianapolis 500 Miles (A. Ascari ret.)14 (20.89%) Wins18 (26.86%) Pole positions16 (23.88%) Fastest laps47 (23.38%) Podiums

Three questions to Carlo Santi, Performance Engineer

What kind of support can a performance engineer provide from the Remote Garage?Carlo Santi: We can provide live support and even act as a back-up for the performance engineers at the track. This can be for routine matters or for critical ones that can arise during an event. As a general rule, in the Remote Garage we tend to focus on the medium to long-term activities that involve several departments, whereas at the track, the main focus is on strictly operational aspects.

How does your work change for a Sprint weekend?CS: Sprint weekends require more extensive preparation than for a normal race schedule. The main reason is that there is very little Free Practice time, so one has to make up for the lack of track time by using the offline and driving simulators. Furthermore, the fact the cars are under parc ferme conditions right after the practice session means the range of parameters we have to analyse prior to the event is far broader and we have to be ready to react to the fact that a Sprint weekend throws up many more variables.

Tell us a bit about yourself: how did you come to join Scuderia Ferrari HP?CS: Ever since I was a youngster, working for the Scuderia was my ultimate goal. However, the path that led me here was not straightforward. After graduating in Mechanical Engineering, specialising in land vehicles at the Milan Polytechnic, I accepted a scholarship for a project at the FIAT Research Centre in Turin and after that, I joined the vehicle dynamics department. I first worked in racing five years later, when I joined an Endurance racing team as a performance engineer. Next, I finally joined the Scuderia as a model engineer for the first driving simulator that was then under development. 15 years on, after working across driving simulation, vehicle dynamics, race engineering and vehicle performance, I’m still here, suffering when things don’t go well and rejoicing after every win.

United States Grand Prix: Facts & Figures

13. The number of moontowers still standing in Austin. 50 metres tall, they were installed between 1894 and 1895 and at the time were an innovative way of illuminating entire areas of the city. Originally, there were 31 of them across the city, some imported from Detroit. The most famous one is located in Zilker Park, which every year becomes the Zilker Holiday Tree during the holiday season. Austin is the only city in the world that still has these towers in operation, although they are now equipped with modern LED lights instead of the old arc lamps. Since 1976, they have been recognised as historical monuments and protected as a unique symbol of the city.

69.2. The value in billions of dollars of the motorsport industry in the United States, according to the latest study by the Performance Racing Industry office. Around 318,000 people are employed in the sector across all related fields (teams, manufacturers, distributors, services, tracks and organisers). The tax revenue generated exceeds 8.2 billion dollars, about 5 billion at federal level and 3.2 billion at state and local levels.

173. The number of live music venues in Austin, as of May 2025. The city is known as the Live Music Capital of the World, with venues ranging from intimate bars and clubs to large arenas and historic theatres, hosting many different musical genres, from rock to blues, jazz to country. Austin’s music scene is supported by events such as the free Hot Summer Nights festival, which this year featured over 150 artists performing across 18 venues in the Red River Cultural District.

300. The number of days of sunshine Austin enjoys each year, making it one of the sunniest cities in the United States. Summer temperatures can reach 38 to 40 °C, while in winter they rarely drop below freezing. The long, bright days also contribute to the profusion of parks, gardens, and green spaces such as Zilker Park. The combination of consistent sunshine and mild temperatures for most of the year makes Austin ideal for outdoor events.

1964 The year of the first edition of Eeyore’s Birthday Party, a unique Austin tradition celebrating the birthday of Eeyore, the melancholy donkey from the Winnie the Pooh books. Originally a student picnic at the University of Texas, the event has evolved into a free festival held every year on the last Sunday of April at Pease District Park. Organized by the Friends of the Forest Foundation, the event is run by volunteers and supports over 80 local non-profit organisations. During the celebration, the park comes alive with drum circles, live music, eccentric costumes, children’s games, face painting, and food stands.