2017 F1 United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas Photo Essay

Austin hosted its sixth F1 United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas this past weekend. Morning precipitation threatened to make it a sloppy event on Friday and Sunday but skies cleared for beautiful weather for the majority of the weekend. Race promoters increased the additional entertainment options this year with a nearly mile-long go kart track, an "infield party zone" similar to what NASCAR fans may be used to, and evening concerts featuring Justin Timberlake and Stevie Wonder.

Photos by Matt Wetzler

October 23, 2017

The Circuit of the Americas tower lit up in the pre-dawn hours Friday morning.

Williams-Martini's Felipe Massa crests the hill at turn 10 during FP1.

Mercedes AMG Petronas' Lewis Hamilton coming through turn 10 during FP1.

Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen

Sahara Force India's Esteban Ocon during FP1 on Friday.

McLaren Honda's Stoffel Vandoorne during FP1 on Friday.

Mercedes AMG Petronas' Valtteri Bottas during FP1 on Friday.

Scuderia Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel during FP1 on Friday.

Haas F1 brought a special livery addition to the U.S. Grand Prix in the form of the stars-and-stripes on the sides of the spoiler. Haas F1 is the sole U.S. based team competing in Formula 1.

Scuderia Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel during FP1 on Friday.

Mercedes AMG Petronas' Lewis Hamilton during FP1 on Friday.

Haas F1's Romain Grosjean during FP1 on Friday.

Haas F1's Romain Grosjean—sporting his Nicky Hayden tribute helmet specially for the U.S. Grand Prix—speeding into turn 19 past "#HaasHill"

During FP2 Haas F1's Kevin Magnussen spun out at Turn 19, followed minutes later by a spin from Sebastian Vettel.

Red Bull Racing's Daniel Ricciardo through turn 18 during FP2.

Sauber F1's Marcus Ericsson during FP2.

Scuderia Toro Rosso's Brendon Hartley—who only last month won the "6 Hours of COTA" race in Austin as part of the WEC series—in his first ever F1 race.

Mercedes AMG Petronas' Lewis Hamilton during FP2 Friday afternoon.

Scuderia Ferrari's Kimi Raikonnen during FP2 on Friday afternoon.

The turn 12 through 15 section of Circuit of the Americas.

Scuderia Ferrari's Kimi Raikonnen during FP2 on Friday afternoon.

McLaren Honda's Fernando Alonso during FP2 on Friday afternoon.

Sauber F1's Marcus Ericsson and Pascal Wehrlein during FP2.

Red Bull Racing's Daniel Ricciardo through turn 12 during FP2.

A closer look at Romain Grosjean's Nicky Hayden tribute helmet for the U.S. Grand Prix.

Through a partnership with the Susan G. Komen Foundation many elements of the weekend "went pink" to suppose Breast Cancer fundraising and awareness initiatives. This included some nods to the organization with special liveries, including this cute cat on the side of both Renault Sport F1 cars.

The rear entry of Williams-Martini's garage.

Mercedes AMG Petronas' Lewis Hamilton during FP3 as seen from the COTA observation tower.

Sahara Force India's Sergio Perez as seen from the COTA observation tower during FP3 on Saturday morning.

The view from the COTA observation tower facing towards the infield party zone and the super stage area. The visibility on Saturday was approximately 20 miles.

A Haas F1 fan supporting them, the United States, and Denmark (the home country of Haas F1 driver Kevin Magnussen.)

The ferris wheel inside the infield party zone.

Sauber F1's Pascal Wehrlein during Q1 on Saturday afternoon.

Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, and Valtteri Bottas exist pit row to begin their qualifying session.

Red Bull Racing's Daniel Ricciardo during Saturday afternoon's qualifying session.

McLaren Honda's Stoffel Vandoorne during qualifying.

Scuderia Ferrari's Kimi Raikonnen during qualifying.

Scuderia Toro Rosso's Daniil Kvyat exiting turn 1 during qualifying.

McLaren Honda's Fernando Alonso with the turn 1 grandstand in the background.

Supporters of Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen, dressed in orange representing his home country the Netherlands.

As part of the partnership with the Susan G. Komen Foundation, pit row was painted pink instead of the normal red color.

A new mile long go kart track opened at Circuit of the Americas the weekend of the U.S. Grand Prix as a new year-round attraction to the complex.

Haas F1's Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean prior to the pre-race driver's parade.

McLaren Honda's Fernando Alonso prior to the pre-race driver's parade.

Williams Martini's Lance Stroll and Sahara Force India's Esteban Ocon prior to the pre-race driver's parade.

Mercedes AMG Patronas' Lewis Hamilton prior to the pre-race driver's parade.

Scuderia Ferarri's Kimi Raikonnen and Sebastian Vettel prior to the pre-race driver's parade.

Red Bull Racing's Daniel Ricciardo prior to the pre-race driver's parade.

The field enters turn 1 at the start of the 2017 U.S. Grand Prix.

Daniel Ricciardo and Kimi Raikonnen during the 2017 U.S. Grand Prix.

Sebastian Vettel during the 2017 U.S. Grand Prix.

Kevin Magnussen during the 2017 U.S. Grand Prix.

Stoffel Vandoorne and Lance Stroll during the 2017 U.S. Grand Prix.

Sergio Perez during the 2017 U.S. Grand Prix.

Felipe Massa during the 2017 U.S. Grand Prix.

Olympian Usain Bolt of Jamaica served as the honorary starter for the race, and conducted the post-race podium interviews while presenting winner Lewis Hamilton with a pair of golden shoes.

Mercedes AMG Patronas clinched the 2017 "constructors championship" with their performance in Austin.

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