Manor driver Alexander Rossi says he there is no extra pressure racing at his home event at the Circuit of the Americas.
Rossi will race at his home event at the Circuit of the Americas next week after making his Formula One debut last month in Singapore.
Rossi is the first American to race at his home event since Toro Rosso driver Scott Speed raced at Indianapolis in 2007.
The American says the Circuit of the Americas is one of his favourite circuits and is looking forward to racing on it for the first time in his racing career.
“COTA is one of my favourite circuits as it has the perfect mix of many great European circuits. I’ve only tested at COTA, so I’m really looking forward to my first time racing on it.” said Rossi in an interview with the Circuit of the Americas website.
“There isn’t really any extra pressure than at any other round. You learn to deal with pressure and compartmentalise it as part of being a racing driver.
“It’s not a distraction – since go-karts, every race I take part in is a pressure cooker, but that’s what we do.
“We’re used to this and I’m very clear on what my role is and what is reasonably achievable at this stage of my career, so that mitigates the pressure.
“Simply put, I’m extremely proud to be an American racing in F1 and hopefully giving the US fans more to engage with, within F1 and the sport itself.
“My real focus is doing my job, improving and learning each day while racing at the pinnacle of motorsport, whether it’s Austin or Singapore.”
