18th November 2012: The Races That Brought F1 to America

On this day’s episode of Chequered Past, we explore three moments that shaped Formula 1’s relationship with the United States — from its fragile past to its spectacular present.We begin in 2012 at the Circuit of the Americas, where F1 returned to the US after a five-year absence. The race marked a crucial reset for the sport following the controversies surrounding Indianapolis and the breakdown of the 2007 contract. Lewis Hamilton’s brilliant victory, Sebastian Vettel’s charge, Fernando Alonso’s title-challenge saving drive, and Red Bull sealing the Constructors’ Championship all unfolded against the backdrop of a roaring, revitalised American crowd. It was the race that put F1 back on the map in the USA.Next, we turn back the clock to the early days of motorsport to celebrate the birthday of Victor Hémery, one of racing’s original speed pioneers. From the Vanderbilt Cup to his 1909 land-speed record in the fearsome Benz “Blitzen,” Hémery embodied the raw bravery that helped motorsport grow long before F1 existed.Finally, we head to the neon glow of the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix, where F1 staged its boldest American gamble yet. A spectacular night race, a fierce Verstappen–Leclerc–Pérez duel, and a last-lap move that lit up the Strip underscored just how far the sport’s US presence has come.Together, these stories chart the long, winding journey of F1 in America — from early pioneers, to rediscovery, to a modern boom that now makes the United States one of the pillars of the sport’s global future.Cover Image: By Josh Hallett - United States Grand Prix - Race Day, CC BY-SA 2.0, LinkSend us Fan MailMusic by #Mubert Music Rendering