The United States Grand Prix has one of the most fragmented and experimental histories in Formula 1:

• First held in 1959 at Sebring, then Riverside in 1960

• From 1961 to 1980, it settled at Watkins Glen in New York — a fan-favorite known for flowing, old-school racing

• The 1980s saw instability with races in:
  Phoenix (street circuit)
  Dallas
  Detroit
  Caesars Palace (Las Vegas parking lot)

These were often marred by poor track quality, low attendance, and lack of local F1 interest — leading to the U.S. being dropped from the calendar after 1991.

Formula 1 returned in 2000 at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway, combining part of the oval with a custom infield road course. The race was dropped again after 2007 due to declining interest and failed negotiations.

In 2012, the U.S. Grand Prix returned at a purpose-built circuit: the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas — now the race’s permanent home.