Circuit of the Americas Guide: Track Layout and 2026 Times
Last updated: October 27, 2026
This Circuit of the Americas guide covers the track, the corners that decide lap time, the session schedule in Eastern, Central and Pacific time, and what to know if you plan to go. COTA hosts the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, and the 2026 race weekend ran from October 23 to 25.
Circuit of the Americas at a glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Austin, Texas |
| Lap length | 5.513 km (3.426 miles) |
| Race distance | 56 laps, 308.405 km (about 192 miles) |
| Corners | 20 |
| Direction | Counterclockwise |
| Lap record | 1:36.169, Charles Leclerc, 2019 |
| First Grand Prix | 2012 |
| 2026 format | Standard weekend, no sprint |
COTA opened for Formula 1 in 2012 and has become one of the most popular stops on the calendar for U.S. fans. The track sits just outside Austin, and race weekends draw big crowds from across Texas and beyond.
How does a lap of COTA work?
Turn 1: the uphill launch
The lap starts with a steep climb from the grid to a tight, blind left hander at Turn 1. Drivers brake late at the top of the hill, which makes it the best overtaking spot of the lap and the place where first lap contact is most likely. A strong start matters here more than at most tracks.
Turns 3 to 6: the fast esses
After Turn 1 the cars flick left and right through a quick series of changes of direction. Fans often compare this part of the track to the Maggotts and Becketts complex at Silverstone. It rewards a stable car and punishes drivers who run wide, since the next corner arrives almost immediately.
The back straight and Turn 12
A long straight leads into Turn 12, a heavy braking zone and another good place to pass. Teams with strong straight line speed have an edge here, which is why engine power and drag levels matter at COTA.
The stadium section
The final part of the lap winds through tight corners near the grandstands. Overtaking is harder here, but it is the best place for fans to see the cars up close. Good traction out of the last corner sets up the run to Turn 1.
A short history of F1 at COTA
The first United States Grand Prix at the circuit took place in 2012, and Lewis Hamilton won it. It was the first United States Grand Prix since 2007 and gave U.S. fans a permanent home for the race. Since then, Austin has become a fixed part of the calendar and a favorite for drivers, partly because of the elevation changes and the crowd.
What makes COTA hard on the cars?
COTA mixes slow corners, fast esses and a long straight, so teams must pick a setup that works in all three. Too much downforce costs speed on the back straight. Too little makes the esses nervous. The surface is also known for bumps, which can upset a low car through Turns 3 to 6 and make tire wear harder to predict.
For fans, that means practice sessions are worth watching. Long runs on Friday and Saturday show which team is quick over a stint, not only over one lap. That is often a better clue to race pace than the timesheet at the top of qualifying.
What should you watch at COTA in each session?
- Practice 1 and 2 (Friday): Look for which teams run new parts. For 2026, our Ferrari Austin upgrade report covered the upgrade package Ferrari was reported to be bringing.
- Practice 3 and qualifying (Saturday): Qualifying matters at COTA because the run to Turn 1 is short and uphill, so starting near the front helps a lot. Our qualifying guide explains how the grid is set.
- Race (Sunday): Watch lap one at Turn 1, the first pit stop window, and the battle through the esses when cars are within a second of each other.
F1 Austin 2026 schedule in ET, CT and PT (completed)
| Session | Day | Eastern (EDT) | Central (CDT) | Pacific (PDT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practice 1 | Fri, Oct 23 | 1:30 p.m. | 12:30 p.m. | 10:30 a.m. |
| Practice 2 | Fri, Oct 23 | 5:00 p.m. | 4:00 p.m. | 2:00 p.m. |
| Practice 3 | Sat, Oct 24 | 1:30 p.m. | 12:30 p.m. | 10:30 a.m. |
| Qualifying | Sat, Oct 24 | 5:00 p.m. | 4:00 p.m. | 2:00 p.m. |
| Race | Sun, Oct 25 | 4:00 p.m. | 3:00 p.m. | 1:00 p.m. |
These were the 2026 session times, taken from the official Formula 1 event page. Our dedicated F1 Austin 2026 schedule has the same sessions with extra context. We will add the 2027 schedule when formula1.com publishes it.
What happened in Austin in 2026?
Kimi Antonelli won the 2026 United States Grand Prix from pole, finishing 13.078 seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc, with Max Verstappen third. Antonelli left Austin leading George Russell by 123 points with five races left. Read the full report in our US Grand Prix results 2026 and see the F1 standings 2026.
How can you watch the U.S. Grand Prix?
In the U.S., Formula 1 is on Apple TV in 2026. Prices, free sessions and what is included are in our guide to watching F1 in the US. The 2026 race started at 1:00 p.m. Pacific on Sunday, an early afternoon watch for West Coast fans.
Going to COTA: where to watch, getting there and what to bring
Where to watch
Near Turn 1 you see the start and the first braking zone, and the hill gives a clear view of lap-one action. Along the esses you see how cars change direction at speed. Near the stadium section you see cars close together in tight corners. Seating areas, ticket types and prices change by year, so check the official COTA website for current options before you buy.
Getting there and parking
Austin is a large event city on race weekend, and traffic around the circuit builds quickly on Saturday and Sunday. Parking rules, shuttle service and gate times are set by the track and can change each year, so use the official COTA website and plan extra time to arrive before the first session of the day.
What to bring
Texas sun can still be strong in late October. Bring sunscreen, a hat, water and comfortable shoes, because the track is large and the distance between corners is bigger than it looks on TV. Ear protection is worth packing for the loud cars. Check the track’s official bag policy before you go.
Frequently asked questions
One lap is 5.513 km (3.426 miles), and the race is 56 laps.
No. Singapore hosted the final sprint of the season, so Austin is a standard weekend.
The race started Sunday, October 25 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern, 3:00 p.m. Central and 1:00 p.m. Pacific.
Turn 1 at the top of the hill and Turn 12 at the end of the back straight are the two main places to pass.
Charles Leclerc set the lap record of 1:36.169 in 2019.
The first Grand Prix at the track was in 2012, and Lewis Hamilton won it.
Bookmark our F1 schedule 2026 page for every remaining start time. Source: track facts from the official Formula 1 circuit page and the 2026 event page. Distances in miles are converted from kilometers.
