Austin, Texas is without doubt one of our favourite American cities.
Known around the globe for its incredible live music scene and epic BBQ cuisine, Austin also hosts one of the most electrifying F1 races, the USA Grand Prix — and the race certainly has an intriguing history. So in this article, we’ll explore some of the key information about the race, the track and the wonderful city of Austin.
Let’s get into everything you need to know about the Austin F1 in our ultimate USA Grand Prix guide.
Image: Clark Van Der Beken / Unsplash
Where is the USA Grand Prix held?
The USA Grand Prix takes place at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, where it’s been held since 2012. Though of course, there are now three American Grands Prix — but more on that later.
Texas is America’s fastest-growing state and Austin is booming — the population is around 1 million and the city is gaining a global reputation as a place to be.
Image: MJ Tangonan / Unsplash
Circuit of The Americas track information & history
The Circuit of The Americas is a modern racetrack with some technical sections which take inspiration from Silverstone in the UK. The track has two long straights, one of which features the famous climb towards the wide corner number 1. Here’s some of the key information about the Circuit of The Americas:
- Length: 5.513 km (3.426 mi)
- Corners: 20
- Straights: 3
- DRS zones: 2
- Capacity: 150,000
- Lap record: 1:34.356 (Carlos Sainz, Ferrari F1-75, 2022)
Image: Bill Stephan / Unsplash
American racing legend Mario Andretti officially took the first lap of the Circuit of The Americas on October 21, 2012. His weapon of choice? None other than his Lotus 79 F1 car — the same car in which he won the 1978 F1 drivers’ championship. Decked out in the classic black and gold paint with John Player livery, the Lotus 79 was a racing icon, and matched to the legend Andretti made for the perfect way to kick off a new era of American F1.
Image: Andrew Ruiz / Unsplash
A brief history of F1 in the USA
The American Grand Prix’s history is one of the more turbulent stories in Formula 1. The race has run on and off for over 100 years, originally under the name ‘Grand Prize’. It’s been hosted at exotic locations like Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, as well as strongholds of American motorsport like Indianapolis.
F1 has called the following places home in the USA, for varying lengths of time:
- Watkins Glen
- Dallas
- Long Beach
- Indianapolis
- Austin
- Sebring
- Detroit
- Las Vegas
- Riverside
- Phoenix
So you can see this race has a nomadic past, unlike most of its European counterparts—travelling from city to city, and coast to coast in search of a place to call home, before settling in Texas in 2012.
Fierce loyalty to homegrown motorsport events like NASCAR and the Indianapolis 500 have undoubtedly made F1’s successful entrance into the huge US market more challenging than in other nations. But recent years have seen F1 enjoying rapid growth all over the globe thanks in part to Drive to Survive, and the sport’s increased popularity shows no signs of slowing down.
And with the Miami GP and Las Vegas Grand Prix now joining the Austin race on the F1 calendar, the sport is once again on the up and up in the land of stars and stripes.
Image: Wesley Tingey / Unsplash
Weather in Austin when the Grand Prix is on
Texas is known for its humid climate, and Austin is no exception. Temperatures in October typically average in the mid to high 20s (Centigrade, that is), with lows in the mid teens.
Averages aren’t always accurate though, as weather on race weekend can see the mercury soaring to temperatures as high as 31°C (87°F), so be sure to pack a hat and sunscreen if you’re joining us at the race!
Image: Megan Markham Bucknall / Unsplash
Austin F1 spectator tips
The Austin Grand Prix is famous for its vibrant atmosphere, thanks in part to the circuit’s massive capacity, as well as Austin’s famous hospitality and unique vibe.
Circuit of The Americas is well regarded as a track with great views from many of its grandstands, though perhaps the most coveted seats are those on the eastern side of the main grandstand, where spectators can enjoy good views of the first turn (a hot-spot for overtaking), and the start-finish line.
Image: Tim Carey / Unsplash
USA Grand Prix hospitality packages
Image: George Pagan / Unsplash
Ultimate Driving Tours offers superb luxury hospitality packages to the USA Grand Prix. You can count on exceptional views, a gourmet food and beverage package and exclusive experiences, just for our guests.
Enquire today to learn more about our Austin Grand Prix hospitality packages.
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