The Williams Racing Formula One Team are excited to be returning to the Circuit of the Americas for the first time since 2019 as Formula One returns to the United States for the first time in two years due to the COVID-19 Global pandemic. Speaking ahead of the race this weekend, Dave Robson, Head Vehicle Performance commented saying:
Returning to the COTA track for the first time since 2019 is something we are all looking forward to. The circuit is very much a tale of two halves, with a very high-speed section at the start of the lap, with the brakes hardly being touched before turn 11. Following the long back straight, the nature of the circuit changes dramatically, finishing with a combination of low speed corners and the long, almost never-ending turn 16, turn 17, turn 18 combination. The elevation change around the lap is significant and the rapid height gain prior to turn one is the signature incline. The circuit tends to change each year, with bumps coming and going as the substrate moves. Although we saw the MotoGP bikes race here a few weeks ago, we won’t really know what the impact of those bumps will be until we run the cars in FP1. The weather in Austin at this time of year can be very varied and we can expect anything from dry hot conditions, to very cold and wet weather. Inevitably, the conditions we have on each day will have a significant effect on the tyre performance and we will need to remain flexible until the forecast becomes clear.
As the 2021 campaign enters its final phase of events, we will have no new upgrades and instead we are focussed on tuning the car and making the most of what we have as we look to defend our Championship position.
The USA now represents a second home race for us, and we look forward to welcoming our extended Williams family from Dorilton Capital to one of the best Grand Prix venues on the calendar.
George Russell is also excited about the race this weekend saying:
The Circuit of the Americas is an incredible track and the weekend as a whole in Texas is an incredibly cool experience. Austin is definitely one of my favourites cities we visit on the calendar, so I am really excited to head back to the United States. As a circuit, COTA has lots of character and is so fast and flowing but also bumpy, which adds another challenge. All in all, I’m really looking forward to it.
Nicholas Latifi commented on the upcoming United States Grand Prix saying:
I’m super excited to get on the track in Austin. It’s one of the races I was most looking forward to this year, as I’ve not raced there yet. It’s a very well-rounded track; the first sector is very fast and flowing and seems like a lot of fun, the rest is slower speed and more technical so I’m looking forward to tackling that challenge. It’s the first time I’ll be back on the other side of the Atlantic since last year, so geographically, this is the closest I have to a home race in 2021.