The first ten races at COTA were all won by drivers starting on the front row – but fourth and sixth have won in the last two years. Here’s everything you need to know about each grid slot’s history at the United States Grand Prix!
UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX GRID STATS IN BRIEF
- Two wins from outside the front row
- Polesitter last won in 2021
- 18th has furthest back podium
UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX RESULTS: GRID OVERVIEW
| Grid | Last Win | Last Podium | Last Points | Last DNF | Best Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021 | 2021 | 2024 | 2022 | 1st |
| 2 | 2022 | 2024 | 2024 | 2019 | 1st |
| 3 | - | 2024 | 2024 | 2012 | 2nd |
| 4 | 2024 | 2024 | 2024 | 2018 | 1st |
| 5 | - | 2019 | 2024 | 2022 | 2nd |
| 6 | 2023 | 2023 | 2023 | 2015 | 1st |
| 7 | - | 2012 | 2023 | 2022 | 3rd |
| 8 | - | - | 2019 | 2023 | 4th |
| 9 | - | - | 2024 | 2018 | 4th |
| 10 | - | - | 2022 | 2023 | 6th |
| 11 | - | - | 2024 | 2021 | 4th |
| 12 | - | 2022 | 2022 | 2019 | 3rd |
| 13 | - | 2015 | 2022 | 2018 | 3rd |
| 14 | - | - | 2022 | 2017 | 7th |
| 15 | - | - | 2024 | - | 9th |
| 16 | - | - | 2018 | 2015 | 4th |
| 17 | - | - | 2016 | 2024 | 10th |
| 18 | - | 2018 | 2021 | 2017 | 2nd |
| 19 | - | - | 2024 | 2021 | 9th |
| 20 | - | - | 2018 | - | 7th |
- Five wins from pole
- No podiums since 2021
- Finished on the podium in every race before 2022
Five of the 12 races held so far at the Circuit of The Americas have been won from pole position.
In 2022, Carlos Sainz became the first polesitter at COTA to fail to finish on the podium, retiring on the first lap of the race. Charles Leclerc also failed to score having started from pole at the 2023 United States Grand Prix. He finished sixth on track but was later disqualified.
In 2024, Lando Norris did at least score points but with fourth place, he made it the third year in a row that the polesitter at the United States Grand Prix failed to finish on the podium.
2018 is the only other occasion that the COTA polesitter has not finished in the top two. Lewis Hamilton finished third that year.
Thanks to the track layout, the polesitter is at somewhat of a disadvantage on Lap 1 at COTA. In the last seven races here, the polesitter has led at the end of Lap 1 only once.
PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM POLE POSITION AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | DNF | DSQ |
- Five victories in total
- Vettel’s DNF in 2019 is only non-podium result
Second on the grid has given as many wins at Circuit of The Americas as pole position. The driver starting here has been victorious on five occasions.
The driver starting from second has led after the first turn in five of the last eight races at the track.
In 2019, Sebastian Vettel became the first driver to retire having started from the front row of the grid at COTA. It remains the only time that the driver starting here has failed to finish on the podium.
PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 2ND ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | DNF | 2 | 1 | 2 |
- Points in every race except 2012 and 2023
- No wins, two runner-up finishes
- Disqualified in 2023
From the 12 United States Grands Prix held at Circuit of the Americas, only six have resulted in podium finishes for the driver starting third.
The driver starting third has never won but has finished as runner up three times. Romain Grosjean finished second in 2013, while Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz finished second in 2022 and 2024 respectively.
The first race here, in 2012, is one of only two times that the driver starting third has failed to score. That year, Mark Webber retired having started third on the grid.
The other non-score came at the 2023 United States Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton originally finished on the podium but was disqualified after his car failed post race checks.
PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 3RD ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| DNF | 2 | 5 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | DSQ |
- 2023 was first podium finish
- Four consecutive retirements from 2015 to 2018
- Top six result every time the driver starting here has finished
In 2024, Charles Leclerc became the first driver to win the United States Grand Prix at COTA from fourth on the grid. In 2023, Carlos Sainz recorded the first podium finish for this grid slot. He didn’t get to stand on the podium, though, as he was promoted to third as a result of post-race penalties.
Every year between 2015 and 2018 saw a Red Bull start from here, and on all four occasions – Daniil Kvyat in 2015, Max Verstappen in 2016 and Daniel Ricciardo in 2017 and 2018 – the car failed to see the chequered flag.
In the eight races which the driver starting here has finished, 2023 and 2024 are the only times that they finished in a position better than where they started.
PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 4TH ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 6 | 6 | 4 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
- Top five finishes are regular
- Three podium finishes
- Two retirements since 2016
The driver starting fifth at COTA usually finishes in the top five at the United States Grand Prix.
Kimi Raikkonen’s retirement in 2016, Carlos Sainz’s seventh place in 2021 and Lace Stroll’s non-finish in 2022 are the only times since 2013 that the driver starting here has not done so.
This grid slot has celebrated three podium finishes – third places for Daniel Ricciardo and Raikkonen in 2014 and 2017 respectively and the runner-up spot for Lewis Hamilton in 2019.
PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 5TH ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 16 | 4 | 3 | 5 | DNF | 3 | 4 | 2 | 7 | DNF | 5 |
- Furthest back grid slot to win at COTA
- Points in 9 of the 12 races here
- Win is only podium finish to date
At the 2023 United States Grand Prix, Max Verstappen became the first driver to win at COTA having not started from the front row of the grid.
Of the 12 races held so far at the Circuit of the Americas, the driver starting sixth has scored nine times.
The times that they failed to score were in 2015, 2018 and 2024. Nico Hulkenberg retired from proceedings in 2015, while Esteban Ocon originally finished eighth in 2018 – but was disqualified as his Force India car exceeded fuel flow limits. In 2024, Pierre Gasly finished only 12th having started here.
Prior to Verstappen’s 2023 win, the best finishing position from sixth on the grid was fourth, for Sebastian Vettel in 2016.
PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 6TH ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 8 | 5 | 6 | DNF | 4 | 6 | DSQ | 5 | 5 | 6 | 1 |
- Podium in first race, no top five finishes since
- Three DNFs since 2015
The first race at Circuit of the Americas resulted in a podium finish for Fernando Alonso, who started seventh.
Seventh on the grid has not reached those heights again, with sixth places for Nico Hulkenberg in 2018 and Pierre Gasly in 2023 being the best results since.
There have been three retirements from seventh: for Felipe Massa in 2015, Nico Hulkenberg in 2016 and Valtteri Bottas in 2022.
PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 7TH ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 3 | 7 | 8 | DNF | DNF | 7 | 6 | 8 | 8 | DNF | 6 |
- Four DNFs in last seven races
- Three points finishes, last in 2019
- Best result of 4th, in 2015
The driver starting from eighth has retired from four of the last seven races at COTA. Fernando Alonso was sidelined with engine problems in 2017, Romain Grosjean was out following an early race collision in 2018, Pierre Gasly suffered suspension issues in 2021 and Esteban Ocon retired early on in the 2023 United States Grand Prix.
The position has only scored points three times, in 2012, 2015 and 2019, with a fourth place finish for Max Verstappen in 2015 being the best result so far.
PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 8TH ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 7 | 14 | 13 | 4 | 16 | DNF | DNF | 7 | DNF | 13 | DNF |
- Only two top five finishes
- Nine points finishes in 12 races to date
In the last eight races at COTA, the driver starting ninth has failed to finish in the points only once. This position’s best result is fourth, recorded twice – both times by Sergio Perez, in 2022 and 2023.
Before 2022, the grid slot had never previously finished in the top five at the track.
The driver starting ninth in Texas has scored more often than not, with nine points finishes in the 12 races here.
Two races have resulted in non-finishes for the driver starting ninth. Adrian Sutil was out on the first lap in 2014, while Charles Leclerc retired in 2018.
PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 9TH ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 9 | 8 | DNF | 11 | 7 | 8 | DNF | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 |
- Failed to score five times
- Recorded second retirement in 2023
- Best result is sixth, in 2016
There’ve been five occasions on which the driver starting tenth at the United States Grand Prix has failed to score since the first COTA race in 2012.
In 2023, Oscar Piastri recorded the first DNF for this grid slot since Romain Grosjean in 2015.
The best result from tenth on the grid is sixth, recorded by Carlos Sainz at the 2016 United States Grand Prix.
PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 10TH ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 10 | 11 | 9 | DNF | 6 | 9 | 8 | 16 | 9 | 8 | DNF |
- Points finishes in seven of the last nine races
- Best result of fourth, back in 2012
- Two DNFs – in 2014 and 2021
11th on the grid has secured points finishes in seven of the last nine races in Texas.
Felipe Massa has the best finish from the 11th grid position so far at COTA, having finished fourth in the inaugural race in 2012.
In 2021, Esteban Ocon became only the second driver to record a DNF from this grid slot. The grid slot’s only other DNF came in 2014, when Sergio Perez retired.
PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 11TH ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 4 | 15 | DNF | 6 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 9 | DNF | 14 | 8 |
- Podium finish in 2022 is only points finish since 2017
- Five points finishes in total
The driver starting 12th has scored five times at COTA, including with a podium finish in 2022. Charles Leclerc’s third place in 2022 made him the first driver to score from 12th on the grid at the circuit since Fernando Alonso in 2016.
The grid slot has had five points finishes in total, with Leclerc’s podium finish being the latest. Four of the five points-scoring appearances were in the first five races at the track.
PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 12TH ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 5 | 9 | 12 | 8 | 5 | 14 | DSQ | DNF | 11 | 3 | 13 |
- Two points finishes – including a podium
- Low points rate but only two retirements
Sebastian Vettel scored a podium finish from 13th on the grid at the 2015 United States Grand Prix – but that’s one of only two times that starting from this grid slot has resulted in a points finish.
In 2022, Kevin Magnussen became the second driver to start 13th at the circuit and score points, coming home in ninth place.
There have been two retirements from this grid slot, for Nico Hulkenberg in 2014 and Fernando Alonso in 2018.
PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 13TH ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 15 | 12 | DNF | 3 | 11 | 15 | DNF | 12 | 12 | 9 | 12 |
- Four DNFs in first six races – but none since
- Best result of seventh, in 2022
- 2014 is only other points-scoring year
14th on the grid is one of only three grid slots in Texas to have recorded as many as four DNFs – though there have been no DNFs from here since 2017.
Fernando Alonso recorded the best result to date for the driver starting 14th at COTA in 2022, completing a hard fought race in seventh place.
Jean-Eric Vergne’s tenth place finish in 2014 is the only other time a driver starting here has picked up a point.
PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 14TH ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| DNF | 16 | 10 | DNF | DNF | DNF | 13 | 13 | 15 | 7 | 15 |
- Best result of ninth, recorded twice
- Scored four times in total
- No retirements from 15th on the grid to date
15th is one of only two grid slots which has never recorded a retirement at the Circuit of The Americas – the other being 20th, which has been left vacant for almost half of the races at the track.
The retirement rate from 15th may be low, but so too is the points rate. The driver starting here has scored only four times – including in each of the last two seasons.
Jenson Button and Franco Colapinto finished 10th having started here in 2013 and 2024 respectively, while the best result to date for the driver starting 15th is ninth, recorded by Felipe Nasr in 2015 and Alex Albon in 2023.
PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 15TH ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 11 | 10 | 14 | 9 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 9 |
- Best result of fourth, in 2017
- Points finishes in 2018 and 2023
The best result from 16th on the grid at COTA is fourth place, which is where Max Verstappen finished in 2017.
Meanwhile, Marcus Ericsson and Logan Sargeant both finished tenth in 2018 and 2023 respectively. Those are the only three times that the driver starting from 16th has scored points in Texas.
There have been two retirements so far from this grid slot – in 2013 and 2015.
PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 16TH ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 14 | DNF | 11 | DNF | 14 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 10 |
- First DNF in 2024
- Scored a single point, in 2016
Until 2024, the driver starting 17th on the grid at COTA had never failed to reach the end of the race. That changed on Lap 2 of the 2024 United States Grand Prix, when Lewis Hamilton spun out into the gravel.
Despite the very low DNF rate, the driver starting here has scored only once, with Romain Grosjean finishing tenth for Haas in 2016.
PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 17TH ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 13 | 17 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 17 | 17 | – |
- Furthest back podium from here – 2nd in 2018
- 2021 is only other points-scoring appearance
18th is the furthest back grid slot from which a podium finish has been recorded at the Circuit of the Americas. Max Verstappen finished as runner-up in 2018 having started back in 18th.
Sebastian Vettel’s tenth place in 2021 is the only other time that this grid slot has scored. 18th on the grid has retired from the race twice.
PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 18TH ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 12 | 19 | – | DNF | 12 | DNF | 2 | 17 | 10 | 12 | – |
- Three points finishes – best result of ninth
- Two DNFs in last four starts
The driver starting 19th at COTA has scored points on three occasions. In 2024, Liam Lawson equalled the best result to date for the driver starting here with a ninth place finish. Jenson Button also finished ninth in 2022.
Yuki Tsunoda is the only other driver to pick up a point from 19th on the grid at Circuit of The Americas, having finished tenth in 2022.
Three retirements have been recorded from this grid slot, including two in the last five COTA races. Will Stevens was out in 2015, Robert Kubica retired in 2019 and Fernando Alonso failed to reach the end of the race in 2021.
PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 19TH ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 19 | 18 | – | DNF | 9 | 13 | 12 | DNF | DNF | 10 | – |
- 100% finish rate – but has started only seven times
- Scored twice, best result of seventh
During the United States Grand Prix’s tenure at COTA, the 20th grid slot has never retired. It has had two points-scoring finishes. Carlos Sainz finished seventh in 2015, while Brendon Hartley finished ninth in 2018.
The grid slot has been left vacant five times – in 2014, due to a shorter entry list than usual, and in all but one of the last five races at the track due to pit lane starters.
PREVIOUS RESULTS FROM 20TH ON THE GRID AT THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| 20 | 13 | – | 7 | 17 | 12 | 9 | – | 14 | – | – |
Eight pit lane starts have been made at the Circuit of the Americas, with half of them resulting in points-scoring races.
Sebastian Vettel finished seventh having started from the pit lane in 2014, while Sergio Perez finished tenth from the pits in 2019 and Lance Stroll finished seventh in 2023. In 2024, George Russell recorded a new best-ever result for a pit lane starter at COTA, coming home in sixth place.
In the 2023 United States Grand Prix, there were four pit lane starters – the most at a single race in over 20 years!
