Formula E's wild history in the United States ahead of Austin debut

Formula E has raced in the United States in all but one of its 12 seasons, setting the stage for the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, to become the seventh American venue to host the championship in 2027. The undulating road circuit joins a rich, chaotic history of stateside venues that ranges from downtown temporary tracks to permanent racing cathedrals.

The championship's American journey began in the inaugural season with two stops, starting on a 1.3-mile temporary street circuit in downtown Miami around the home of the Miami Heat. Jean-Éric Vergne took pole by 0.05 of a second, but issues for the front-runners eventually allowed Nico Prost to keep his calm and secure his first all-electric victory ahead of debutant and home hero Scott Speed, after Daniel Abt hit power problems.

Weeks later, the series hit the West Coast at Long Beach. Nelson Piquet Jr. sprinted away from pole-sitters Prost and Abt to take his first Formula E win, matching a family milestone 35 years after his father took his maiden Formula One victory at the very same venue. Lucas di Grassi would also conquer Long Beach the following year, shaking off a previous disqualification in Mexico to snatch the Drivers' Championship lead by a single point over Sebastien Buemi.

New York City later became a staple with its Brooklyn Street Circuit, hosting double-headers between 2017 and 2022. The venue delivered immediate drama when debutant Alex Lynn stunned the field with pole before Sam Bird took the win, while the second race saw Pierre Gasly finish fourth despite crashing on the last corner. New York also played host to Jean-Éric Vergne sealing both of his Formula E titles. The 2022 event delivered a sudden deluge that sent cars into the barrier and forced an early Red Flag, yet Nick Cassidy managed to claim his first Formula E win while his car was wedged in the barriers. António Félix da Costa brought the New York chapter to a close with a dominant lights-to-flag win from pole, famously diving into the Hudson River afterward while runner-up Stoffel Vandoorne grabbed a crucial championship lead.

When the GEN3 era began, the series shifted to Portland International Raceway for two seasons of tactical, high-speed chess matches. Nick Cassidy triumphed from 10th on the grid in the debut, while António Félix da Costa swept a subsequent double-header with back-to-back victories over Robin Frijns to fuel his title ambitions.

Florida returned to the calendar with Homestead-Miami Speedway, where Norman Nato missed out on victory after failing to use his full ATTACK MODE allocation before a Red Flag, handing the win to Pascal Wehrlein. The Miami International Autodrome then hosted a rain-soaked debut where Mitch Evans charged from ninth on the grid to pass pole-sitter Nico Müller with a switchback overtake.

Now, the championship prepares for a new chapter as COTA welcomes the GEN4 era in 2027 as part of an American double-bill alongside Miami.