Formula 1 returned to the United States in 2012, at a brand new venue, the Circuit of the Americas, a spectacular facility with a 5.513 km track, whose corners recall various classics from around the world. The vertiginous climb to the first corner reminds one of the old Austrian circuit, then there’s a section of flowing turns that resembles Suzuka, and it reprises the script of many of the new breed of circuit with its hard braking points at the end of long straights. It’s a popular venue with the drivers, partly because it requires a compromise to get a car that is good in the corners but also competitive down the straights.

After the vertiginous climb up to turn 1, there’s a wonderful and definitely demanding section from turns three to six, which needs to be tackled with precision to get a good lap time.