Where to sit? The best overtaking opportunities at the US GP

Ben McCarthy

Where to sit? The best overtaking opportunities at the US GP image

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With this weekend's United States Grand Prix also being a sprint event, plenty of racing should be enjoyed, particularly given that the Circuit Of The Americas has a great tendency for thrilling wheel-to-wheel battles.

With two DRS zones occupying the track, these are the most promising overtaking opportunities across the over five and a half kilometre long circuit. 

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Turn One

Multiple changes of position are common on the first lap. The inside line going into this very uphill turn allow late-braking and room for overtakes. 

But even throughout the race, turn one can be a prime overtaking place. Time after time, drivers have chanced audacious overtakes. Daniel Ricciardo tried to catch out Valtteri Bottas, in 2017; Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc duelled there, last year and on the first lap, no polesitter has kept their lead through the first turn this decade. 

If you want action, then turn one is perhaps the sight for it at the Circuit Of The Americas.

Turn 12

At the end of a mighty-long DRS straight, the heavy braking zone of turn 12 has also invited plenty of action over the years. Norris and Verstappen duelled there, for the final podium place, last year.

But even beforehand, Lewis Hamilton has turned second place into first on a couple of occasions, passing Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg there, en route to victory, in 2014. And in 2017, he out-braked Sebastian Vettel's Ferrari to give himself the advantage.

Max Verstappen also won the race there in 2022, doing the same thing to Hamilton, as he completed a gritted comeback drive, following a slow pit stop.

Turn 15

Although the slow-speed nature of the previous turns should mark turn 15 as just an extra challenge over an arduous lap, because many battles are not conclusively won after turn 12, they can carry on to turn 15, where the condition of the rear tyres are essential in the battle for grip, speed and the position. 

Hence, drivers have an option. Chance an overtake to the inside, despite the track momentarily narrowing up; or go the outside and perform the switchback, using the available grip to get past your rival, on the exit of the turn. 

For instance, Carlos Sainz saw off then-Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc through that turn in the 2024 sprint.  

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Ben McCarthy

Ben McCarthy is a freelance sports journalist, commentator and broadcaster. Having specialised his focus on football and Formula One, he has striven to share and celebrate the successes of both mainstream and local teams and athletes. Thanks to his work at the Colchester Gazette, Hospital Radio Chelmsford, BBC Essex and National League TV, he has established an appreciation for the modern-day rigours of sports journalism and broadcasting.