In a SprintStory and Photographs by Matthew Wetzler
Oracle Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen exits Turn 15 during the Formula 1 Sprint race.
More than 400,000 people attended the 2023 Formula 1 Lenovo United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas in Austin last weekend. From Prince Harry to Drew Barrymore, it was a star-studded event that saw Oracle Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen clinch his 50th Grand Prix win.
This season also marked the first time the sport's new "sprint race" was brought to American soil. The new format involved teams only having a single practice session on Friday afternoon before going directly into qualifying for Sunday’s Grand Prix later in the day. Saturday served as a sort of standalone event, with a Sprint Shootout in the afternoon, and a Sprint Race in the evening that is just a little under half of a full race distance in length.
Formula 1 will return to Circuit of the Americas in Austin next year from Oct. 18—20.
Alfa Romeo's Valtteri Bottas arrives at the track in cowboy couture.
MoneyGram Haas F1 Team's Nico Hülkenberg stops to take a selfie with a fan during the team's unveiling of a special livery for the U.S. Grand Prix.
Prema Racing's Chloe Chong takes part in free practice on the F1 Academy series, an all-female series meant to serve as a pipeline to the elite levels of motorsport for women.
A new mural stands to the left of the main grandstand outside the circuit, depicting the three primary race series that COTA hosts as well as the Austin skyline.
Aston Martin Cognizant F1 Team's Lance Stroll navigates the tower complex during free practice.
A view from the back of the Turn 19 grandstand while fans take in the first Formula 1 free practice.
A performer does lasso tricks on the concourse outside the main grandstand during Friday's track action.
McLaren F1 Team's Lando Norris crests the hill at Turn 10 with the massive Texas state flag and COTA tower looming in the background.
Oracle Red Bull Racing's Sergio "Checo" Perez navigates the second qualifying round for Sunday's Grand Prix.
Scuderia Ferrari's Charles Leclerc navigate the second qualifying round for Sunday's Grand Prix.
A very Texas-size welcome greets visitors as they enter the Grand Plaza area at the circuit through the main entrance gates.
Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team's Fernando Alonso—a two-time F1 Drivers Champion—stops at the end of the pit lane at the start of the Sprint Shootout on Saturday afternoon.
Crowd scene from the run up to Turn 1 during the Formula 1 Sprint Shootout.
Verstappen speeds up the hill toward "Big Red"—the first corner of the racetrack named after one of the initial investors, Red McCombs—during the Formula 1 Sprint Shootout.
Verstappen leads the pack around Turn 12 on the first lap of Saturday evening's Formula 1 Sprint Race.
FROM LEFT: Lewis Hamitlon, Verstappen, and Charles Leclerc pose with award presenter Sha'Carri Richardson at the end of the Formula 1 Sprint Race on Saturday.
Members of the University of Texas Longhorn Band flash the horns before hefore heading out onto the track to perform prior to the race.
Norris overtakes Ferrari's Charles Leclerc at the first corner of the 2023 Formula 1 Lenovo United States Grand Prix.
Norris exits Turn 1 in the early stages of the Grand Prix.
Scuderia Alpha Tauri's Yuki Tsunoda climbs the "Big Red" hill toward Turn 1 during the Grand Prix.
Verstappen wins both the Sprint Race and the 2023 Formula 1 Lenovo United States Grand Prix.