Five things to know ahead of the United States Grand Prix

Take a deep breath, everybody — we're about to kick off five racing weekends across six weekends, including the only tripleheader of the 2023 season.

It all starts in one of the liveliest locations we visit as Austin, TX, gears up to host us at the Circuit of the Americas.

Get set for the start of these final five by clueing yourself up on these five things to know about the US Grand Prix.

Our Bolder than Bold livery had its last outing under the lights in Qatar, but the FW45 will continue looking a little different in Austin.

The Kraken Rear Wing Takeover competition concluded with four winners, plus two specially selected driver favourites, set to have their NFTs appear on the two Williams Racing cars.

These six colourful creations will mesmerise those behind us on track in Austin, as well as fans watching from the grandstands and on TV.

You probably know that this is one of three races in the USA over 2023, with Miami and Las Vegas also hosting Formula 1 this season.

However, America has had Formula 1 racing all over the country, with 11 venues seeing the pinnacle of motorsport over the years.

Five other circuits, Sebring, Riverside, Watkins Glen, Phoenix, and Indianapolis, used the moniker of the US Grand Prix before Austin took over in 2012.

Furthermore, the nation has also had the United States Grand Prix West, the United States Grand Prix East, the Caesars Palace Grand Prix, the Detroit Grand Prix, and a single Dallas Grand Prix.

The Miami and Las Vegas Grands Prix are the latest to join the ever-growing list of F1's American races.

COTA has become F1's US home since its 2012 debut, ending the sport's struggles to settle on a single, long-term American venue in the modern era.

Like all good circuits, though, other racing series have used the 5.5 km track to stage their events, including a single IndyCar appearance in 2019.

IMSA, too, used to race here, and NASCAR has recently begun enjoying the tricky 20 corners since the maiden 'Texas Grand Prix' in 2021.

Despite these heavyweight American motorsport series heading to Austin, F1 remains the everpresent championship and will continue racing at COTA until at least 2026.

COTA hosted the 2021 season finale for W Series, where Williams Racing Driver Academy star Jamie Chadwick secured her second of three championship titles.

This year, the spiritual successor to the all-female series, F1 Academy, will also end its season at the circuit and crown a champion.

Fifteen drivers have three races around the track to close out the inaugural championship, with three hopefuls in the fight to clinch the title by Sunday's finale.

Even with the addition of the Miami Grand Prix last year, American F1 fans flocked to Texas in record-breaking numbers.

The 2022 US Grand Prix had the highest attendance of any race last year, with 440,000 people passing through the turnstiles over the weekend to enjoy the action.

Extra grandstands and improved transit have the race's popularity increasing, not to mention a certain Netflix series.

Thousands of fans will also be pouring through the doors of our downtown Fan Zone – if you’re in Austin, why not pay us a visit at 800 Congress?

With Sarge there as an American driver to cheer on, might 2023 beat that already impressive number?