F1 in Austin this October might just be the most fun you can have going 200mph without getting a ticket.
America took its sweet time warming up to Formula 1, but somewhere between 2019 and now, F1 did a full pit stop and suddenly… Everyone is obsessed.
Was it Netflix’s Drive to Survive? Probably, but as someone who has been to the USGP and experienced Austin, the track, and the vibrations of the cars ripping around that track, I can tell you, Austin is where you want to be.
Because it’s the only place where you can watch elite athletes race million-dollar cars at 200+ mph and get world-class barbecue within walking distance. That’s not a racetrack, that’s America.
Circuit of the Americas (COTA) is therefore what the track outside of Austin’s city limits has been named.
However, let’s not just focus on the racing and where I suggest you watch it from. But the weekend as a whole. My first tip is to arrive in the city on Thursday. This way, you’re settled in before the masses and ideally have time to watch the Mexican free-tailed bats fly out from under the Congress Avenue Bridge at Sunset. Followed by food from one of the many trucks or restaurants on South Congress after of course. Yes, this is a real thing, and yes, it is worth it.
Pro tip: Rent a car for the whole weekend and plan on driving to and from the track if you don’t hire a driver. There are several parking lot options near the track, and this will help reduce the amount you’re waiting throughout the day. Things you should note, though:
🏁 Prices range from $180 to $300 for a single car
🏁 Parking locations vary based on the chosen entrance and lot, with options like Turn 1, Turn 2, Turn 4, and the Grand Plaza.
🏁 Official parking lots offer proximity to the circuit, but traffic can be heavy
Don’t go overboard Thursday, because on Friday, as those temps start to climb, so do you - right on over to Ladybird Lake for an early morning kayak, stand-up paddle, or quick dip. This or the legendary Barton Springs Pool at Zilker Park, which stays a crisp 68-70°F year-round. Just because the track will be hot doesn’t mean you have to be, and look at that rental car already coming in handy!
You’ll then head to the track as Practice 1 starts at 10:30 am and Sprint Qualifying takes place at 2:30 pm. Between practice and sprint, you’ll still have action happening on the track, as well as loads of options in the Grand Plaza for food, merch, and driver intros. You’ll also want to stick around after the Sprint Qualifiers because Kygo takes the Super Stage at the track to kick things off.
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FRIFAY - KYGO Tickets If you’re just interested in tickets for Friday and to see Kygo, you can find those HERE |
Once back in the city, if you’d like to keep the tunes going, be sure to check the set list at Stubb’s BBQ or have yourself a stroll down Sixth Street, as you’ll hear everything from blues to indie to country.
Saturday’s racetrack action brings the Sprint right at 10:00 am and Qualifying at 2 pm. WHERE YOU SHOULD WATCH THIS (and all races this weekend) should be at:
🏎️ CLUB SI at Turn 12
🏎️ Paddock Club
🏎️ Main Grandstand
This space has it all. Multiple levels with multiple food and beverage offerings included. An entire space that is temperature-controlled. Rotating speakers and former drivers during breaks in the action.
Covered seats outside as cars approach and make the turn on 12 (which is notorious for the most overtaking spot on this track) and visibility into turns 13, 14, and 15. If you miss a moment, monitors throughout the space have your back. It’s one of the most stylish clubs on the track and worth the price of admission.
The Paddock Club at COTA is Formula 1’s ultimate VIP sanctuary. Think of it as the Ritz-Carlton of racetrack hospitality, mixed with a backstage pass to the greatest show on Earth. You’re perched directly above the team garages and pit lane on the main straight, with unbeatable views of the starting grid, pit stops, and championship celebrations.
Suites are climate‑controlled and spacious, with indoor and open-air seating for comfort (which is especially vital in Texas heat), and you’re treated to all-inclusive cuisine from rotating well-known and local chefs as well as premium open bars available to you all weekend long. Not only are you comfortable and eating well in this space, but the daily pit lane walks available to you let you get up close and personal to the crews, cars, and drivers.
In the Main Grandstand, you’re right on the start/finish straight, which means you’ll see the race start, the crucial pit stops, and the podium celebration. Your vantage point allows you to watch cars rocket off the grid and make that massive 133ft climb into Turn 1, which is one of the most dramatic elevation changes on any modern Formula 1 circuit.
Lastly, the sound from these seats is unreal. I swear you will feel the engines in your chest. So, another pro tip: bring ear protection unless you enjoy your eardrums vibrating like a snare drum.
Saturday evening, your ears will be treated to the musical stylings of none other than Mr. Garth Brooks, and when ‘The Thunder Rolls’, do you want to be on that Super Stage Lawn as memories come flooding back to the first time you heard it? Why yes, yes you do.
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SATURDAY - Garth Brooks Tickets Saturday only tickets can be found HERE |
If you’re wondering when the food recommendations come into play in this blog, it’s now. Austin is known for BBQ, and honestly, any spot you’ve read about elsewhere is worth the hype! However, if you’re itching for something a little different, but still ridiculously good, I recommend:
🍴 Odd Duck
🍴 Canje
🍴 OTOKO
Sunday brings us the main event and truly needs no introduction because by now, you’ve got your routine, your parking, and your spot at the track on lock. So all you have to do is be ready to watch racing so intense it’ll make your Apple Watch think you’re exercising.
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SUNDAY - Turnpike Troubadours Tickets Turnpike Troubadours bring it home at the track Sunday night, so if you’re thinking of a Sunday-only experience, you can find those tickets HERE |
So there you have it. Austin is everything a motorsport fan, or even a “just here for the vibes” type could want. Elevation changes into turn 1 that are bound to draw some contact, a turn sequence modeled after Silverstone, and crowds which precisely know how to provide a party atmosphere that’s one part music festival, one part cowboy rodeo, and one part “did I just see Shaquille O’Neal on the podium?” (Yes. Yes, you did.)
The official dates of the 2025 Grand Prix are October 17-19, with the Grand Prix taking place at 12:00 PM on Sunday, October 19th.
You can search for your Paddock Club, Grandstand, or Club SI tickets for the whole weekend HERE