Preview

Both RBR drivers are in the simulator learning Austin track

David Coulthard drives the Red Bull F1 car on the Circuit of the Americas in construction

Photo by: GEPA Pictures

Mark Webber: “Regarding the new track, it's unproven in terms of what we need to do with the car there. We will have a reasonable idea before we turn a wheel, but we've got to get into the nitty-gritty from our simulations.

We need to see track temperatures and how the asphalt is for the car in terms of grip - we've got a lot of unanswered questions which we only learn on Friday, but the layout looks awesome. It’s probably one of the best layouts of the year in terms of being challenging for the drivers and the cars. I've been to Austin a few times, I’ve got some buddies there.

It’s a really vibrant city, similar to Melbourne, and I know the locals are going to really embrace it. They obviously have the huge music festivals and they pull those off really well in terms of the organisation and getting everyone around.”

Sebastian Vettel: “I think it's great that we are travelling to the United States again. I have been in the simulator learning the Austin track; how it flows and getting a general feel for it.

What we know from designer Hermann Tilke is that the hallmark of the circuit will be the big differences in altitude within a lap as the highest point is expected to be 40ft higher than the lowest point.

The site has natural elevation changes, which promises a fast course with difficult corners for us to familiarise ourselves with.

It was also important to the designers that the fans in the stands could see a lot of the track and see the cars for a good amount of each lap. The track has 20 corners and we go anticlockwise.”