The 5 most iconic US Grand Prix

The Formula 1 United States Grand Prix is an event which has been running on and off from 1908 but originally it was not included in the Formula 1 calendar till 1959. It has become one of the most popular events there with some of the biggest crowds watching the races in the history of Formula 1. The US Grand Prix has been held 44 times in many cities in the United States. Currently, it is held in Austin, Texas at the Circuit of the Americas.

Here, we list out the 5 most iconic US Grand Prix of the past.

The 1970 US Grand Prix was held at the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Race Course in Watkins Glen, New York and was won by the 23-year-old Lotus rookie Emerson Fittipaldi on only his fourth start of his Formula 1 career. He won despite Jackie Stewart’s dominating performance because the latter had an engine failure and Fittipaldi inherited the lead with 8 laps to go after the Mexican Pedro Rodríguez had to stop for fuel. Rodríguez finished thirty six seconds behind Fittipaldi and the other Lotus driver Reine Wisell finished third on his Formula 1 debut.

The 1977 US Grand Prix was also held at the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Race Course in Watkins Glen, New York and racing in cold and wet conditions, James Hunt had to hold off a charging Mario Andretti to win the race for a second consecutive year. The race concluded with Niki Lauda securing the World Championship title by finishing fourth, his second title in three years.

The 1977 US Grand Prix was held at the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Race Course in Watkins Glen, New York. By this time, that is the final race of the season, Jody Scheckter and his Ferrari team had clinched both the Driver’s and Constructor’s world titles. His teammate Gilles Villeneuve won the race by a comfortable margin on a rainy day and took second place in the championship. Later, it was revealed that for the last 25 laps, Villeneuve had to nurse his car due to falling oil pressure but he still won by a 48 second margin.

The 1981 US Grand Prix West was held at Long Beach, California. After a winter of controversy and legal battles, it was Alan Jones who came out on top and finished nine seconds ahead of teammate Carlos Reutemann in his Williams-Ford. Nelson Piquet in his Brabham-Ford finished nearly thirty five seconds behind the duo in third after having lost a shot to challenge the leaders as he got stuck behind Pironi.

After 5 years without a race, Formula 1 returned to the United States in 2012 with the US Grand Prix which was held at the newly built Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. Sebastian Vettel started from pole and lead most of the race but towards the end, Hamilton came through to pass him and went on to win the race. Crucially, Alonso finished third which meant the title race between Vettel and Alonso went on and became one of the closest title fights in near history with Vettel clinching it at the last race and winning the title by 3 points.