Big Red and Live Music Capital
Set against Austin's electric atmosphere, the FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX blends world-class racing with a weekend that extends far beyond the track - with headline concerts on the circuit's own amphitheatre stage every evening, it stands as one of the most complete race weekends on the calendar. COTA's fast, flowing sections and heavy braking zones create constant overtaking opportunities, demanding both precision and confidence from every driver.
- 5.513 km circuit with 20 corners across rolling Texas terrain
- Turn 1: a 134-foot uphill climb and one of F1®’s most dramatic first corners
- Headline music acts perform on-site every evening of the weekend
- The COTA Tower: 251-foot observation point overlooking the full circuit
- Austin-Bergstrom Airport is just 16 km from the circuit
Experience details
Big Red and the corners that test every driver
Turn 1 at COTA (known as ‘Big Red’) is approached via a 134-foot uphill straight that delivers one of the most dramatic braking zones on the Formula 1® calendar. From the hilltop, the Turn 1 grandstand offers a panoramic view over much of the circuit, including the pit straight and most of the first sector. At the same time, Turn 8’s high-speed sweep draws comparison with Istanbul Park.
A concert campus as much as a circuit
COTA is one of the very few Formula 1® venues in the world with a permanent, world-class concert amphitheatre on site. It hosts headline acts every evening of race weekend, making the post-session programme as much a draw as the racing itself. Past performers at COTA’s Formula 1® weekends include Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Billy Joel, and The Killers, among others. The combination of F1® sessions by day and concerts by night is specific to Austin on the international calendar.
The Texan Spirit
True to its Texan spirit, COTA sprawls across more than 900 acres of pure entertainment: karting, a motorcycle museum, an F1® simulator fan zone, food halls, merchandise, and the towering Observation Tower. This isn't just a circuit. It's a full-scale American show, on and off the track.
Austin: the Live Music Capital of the World
Austin’s identity is built on live music, and race weekend amplifies that. Sixth Street, the Red River Cultural District and the Rainey Street corridor are all within 25 km of the circuit, hosting hundreds of music venues ranging from storied honky-tonks to major live music venues. Austin's food culture, including pit-smoked Texas BBQ, Tex-Mex, and a celebrated farm-to-table restaurant scene, is one of the most celebrated in the United States. For fans extending their stay beyond race weekend, Austin easily combines with the Texas Hill Country and San Antonio.
*Tickets for guests with reduced mobility can be purchased via the official event link
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