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Drivers praise new Circuit of the Americas in Austin

Drivers praise new Circuit of the Americas in Austin

  • Published on 16 Nov 2012 17:33
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
Some of Formula One's leading drivers have praised the layout of the Circuit of the Americas, with Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso describing the track as "spectacular". I really started to enjoy it once I got used to it, which took perhaps a little bit longer than some of the other circuits.

The drivers will get their first taste of track action in Friday's free practice sessions, but even exploratory laps on foot or by bicycle today left the drivers predicting a tough weekend ahead. "The track seems spectacular – very, very nice," said Alonso. "It will be challenging for us drivers and for the engineers as well. I think it will be a good show for everybody and hopefully some good overtaking as well, good opportunities around the track. I think It can be a very good weekend."

HRT driver Pedro de la Rosa echoed Alonso’s statements about the challenges the teams are likely to face at the track. "I've just been doing a lap, just walking around. and it looks fantastic," he said. "It looks a very difficult track, with very big gradient changes and it looks very challenging because in most of the corners the apexes are blind. Let's see tomorrow, but it's one of those tracks that you can say it's going to be difficult and challenging."

Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, admitted he had taken longer than usual to learn the track layout in simulation work. "It's quite an interesting track", he said. "It's quite difficult to learn initially but it looks fantastic to drive. I really started to enjoy it once I got used to it, which took perhaps a little bit longer than some of the other circuits to learn but it’s going to be very interesting this weekend."

However, Lotus' Kimi Raikkonen typically kept his powder dry, admitting that he had only seen a video of the team’s test driver Jérôme D'Ambrosio doing a demo run at the circuit in a Renault R30 recently. "I've only seen the video from when they did the demo run here, but I haven't seen the circuit itself. I will see how it goes", he said.
F1 News Fernando Alonso Lewis Hamilton Lotus F1 Ferrari Renault HRT

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Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia
Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China
Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco
Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria
Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy
Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
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Driver profile

ES Fernando Alonso 14
  • Team Aston Martin
  • Points 564
  • Podiums 9
  • Grand Prix 163
  • Country ES
  • Date of b. Jul 29 1981 (43)
  • Place of b. Oviedo, ES
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.71 m
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Lotus F1
Lotus F1
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