In Austin, every lap starts with a climb: From the start straight, the track rises steeply, leading directly into a tight left-hand turn at the crest. The Austin race track is officially called the Circuit of the Americas (COTA), located southeast of downtown in the Texas capital, and is 5.513 km long. Here you’ll find the length, turns, observation tower, and lap record at a glance, along with the key sections of a lap and the start times for the United States Grand Prix on October 25, 2026.
Austin race track: COTA data and history
The Circuit of the Americas is not a converted city street but a permanent race track built for Formula 1. The layout was designed by promoter Tavo Hellmund and former motorcycle world champion Kevin Schwantz, with support from track architect Hermann Tilke. The facility opened on October 21, 2012: Mario Andretti drove the first laps in the car with which he won the world championship in 1978.
The most important key facts:
- Length: 5.513 km per F1 track profile
- Turns: 20, more left than right turns
- Direction: counterclockwise
- Race distance: 56 laps, total 308.405 km
- Elevation change: approx. 41 meters (133 feet)
- Race lap record: 1:36.169 minutes from 2019
- First F1 race: November 18, 2012
Since then, Austin has been on the calendar, with only 2020 seeing the Grand Prix canceled due to the pandemic. Before that, there had been no Formula 1 race in the USA from 2008 to 2011.
Other series also use the track: MotoGP first came to Austin in 2013, NASCAR in 2021, and the World Endurance Championship has been a guest multiple times. The site also features a go-kart track and an amphitheater for up to 14,000 visitors.
The Observation Tower: 77 Meters Above the Ground
The most striking structure at the facility is the observation tower. It stands 77 meters tall, with the platform located about 70 meters above the ground. A staircase with 419 steps in a double-helix design leads up on foot. It was designed by Austin-based Miró Rivera Architects, which also designed the main grandstand.
The Steep Ascent to Turn 1
The track's trademark is visible right at the start on TV: immediately after the start straight, the track climbs with a gradient of over 11%. The entire field storms up the hill from a standstill, and Turn 1 is right at the top.
Turn 1 is a tight left-hand corner whose apex is at the crest, the highest point of the track. Drivers brake uphill, and right after, the road descends in a right-hand turn. At the same time, the approach is very wide, allowing different lines, which is why overtaking often happens here at the start and during the race.
Since December 2020, the turn has been named "Big Red," in honor of Red McCombs, one of the track's first investors.
Circuit of the Americas: Iconic Sections of a Lap
During construction, the planners deliberately drew inspiration from famous corners of other tracks. A lap at the Circuit of the Americas thus reads like a small best-of motorsport.
The Esses: Fast Direction Changes from Turn 3
After exiting Turn 1, a series of fast direction changes follows. Formula 1 compares Turns 3 to 6 to the Maggotts and Becketts combination at Silverstone or the S-curves at Suzuka. Here, rhythm is key: if a driver enters one turn incorrectly, the mistake carries over into the next.
Turn 11 and the Long Straight
Turn 11 is a tight hairpin at the other end of the site. From here, the cars accelerate onto a roughly one-kilometer straight back toward the pit lane. At the end, there's a hard braking zone before Turn 12.
Stadium Section and the Multi-Turn Inspired by Istanbul
Turns 12 to 15 form a twisty section, lined with grandstands like a stadium. After that, the track opens up: Turns 16, 17, and 18 are a long, drawn-out right-hand turn with multiple apexes. The inspiration is the famous Turn 8 at Istanbul Park. You can also find Istanbul Park in our 3D Frame Istanbul. Read more about this track in our article on the return of Istanbul Park.
Turns 19 and 20: Back to the Start Straight
Finally, two left-hand turns lead back to the start straight, and the ascent to Turn 1 begins anew.
By the way, the original from Istanbul is missing from our selection of the ten most legendary corners in motorsport. Instead, it features Copse from Silverstone and 130R from Suzuka—corners from the two tracks that Formula 1 compares the Esses of Austin to.
Formula 1 in Austin: The Race Weekend as a Travel Destination
In 2026, the United States Grand Prix is scheduled for October 23–25. It’s a classic weekend without a sprint. Times in local time according to the Formula 1 schedule, with German time in parentheses:
- Friday, October 23: Practice 1 at 12:30 PM (7:30 PM), Practice 2 at 4:00 PM (11:00 PM)
- Saturday, October 24: Practice 3 at 12:30 PM (7:30 PM), Qualifying at 4:00 PM (11:00 PM)
- Sunday, October 25: Race over 56 laps at 3:00 PM (9:00 PM)
Note when converting times: In the night leading into Sunday, clocks in Germany are set back to winter time, while in the USA, this happens a week later. On Friday and Saturday, Austin is therefore seven hours behind Germany, and on Sunday, only six.
If you want to combine the race and the city in one long weekend, you should know the location: The Austin race track is outside the city, southeast of downtown. The track operator provides information on tickets, parking, and travel on its website.
A few practical tips:
- Plan your time: During a major race weekend, the roads to the site are busy. Better to leave early than miss the start.
- Sun protection and water: On open spectator areas, you often stand for hours without shade.
- Check the program: In past years, the race weekend has also included concerts on the grounds. The organizer will announce what’s planned for 2026.
Austin calls itself the "Live Music Capital of the World." The city was founded in 1839 as the capital of the then Republic of Texas, named after Stephen F. Austin. For more details, see the Handbook of Texas on Austin’s history. For travelers, this means: motorsport during the day, live music in the city at night.
Turn 1 as a wall art: Austin as a 3D relief
The hill that defines every start in Austin is also featured in the 3D frame Austin. Our relief accurately reproduces the elevation changes of the track: From the start straight, the red line rises to Turn 1, the turn at the crest is the highest point of the lap, then it descends into the Esses.
Below is a dark background map with the word Texas and key data: opened in 2012, 20 turns, 5.516 m. With side lighting, the raised line casts a narrow shadow on the map, making the 3D depth visible.
As an A4 (21 × 30 cm), the frame costs €55; as an A3 (30 × 40 cm), €85.
For an additional €5, you can add a name, start number, or two custom lines, such as “Big Red, Turn 1” and “COTA, October 2026.” Each frame is made in Germany as soon as your order is placed.
More US tracks: Miami and Las Vegas
Austin isn’t the only F1 track in the USA. Since 2022, the series has raced in Miami on a track around a football stadium, and since 2023, also in Las Vegas on a circuit along the Strip. You can find both as frames with us:
- Miami: 19 turns and 5.412 m per frame data, opened in 2022. The red line visibly runs around the stadium on the map.
- Las Vegas: 17 turns and 6.201 m, opened in 2023, the red track lies over a light, detailed city map.
From before that era comes Indianapolis, host of the United States Grand Prix from 2000 to 2007: The 3D Frame Indianapolis shows a red track in a white-drawn oval. All other circuits are available in our GP Frames.
A Christmas Gift: A USA Wall with Austin, Miami, and Las Vegas
Three frames, one wall: Bring the three US Formula 1 tracks into your living room. Side by side, the circuits show how diverse the series races there, from the hill in Austin to the loop around the stadium in Miami to the longest lap of the three, Las Vegas at 6,201 m.
One by One: Austin, Miami, Las Vegas
Under the tree first is Austin, Miami follows for a birthday, and Las Vegas completes the set at the next Christmas.
All Three at Once
Three A4 frames cost a total of 165 €, with free shipping within Germany. If three siblings or friends chip in, each pays 55 €. Each measures about 23 × 32 cm externally, and with five centimeters of spacing between them, the row needs just under 80 cm of wall width. To avoid three holes, add a Klebenagel for 3.99 € to each frame, allowing you to hang it without drilling and without residue. For individual gifting, place each frame in a silver-foil Premium Gift Box for 9.90 €.
A Texas-Themed Evening for the Handover
Pair it with a Texas-style evening: chili or brisket, and the frame is unwrapped as dessert.
We ship within 1–2 business days—still, order by mid-December to be safe. Without personalization, a frame can be returned free of charge within 14 days. With a name or custom line, it becomes a one-of-a-kind item excluded from the right of withdrawal.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Austin Race Track
How long is the race track in Austin?
Formula 1 lists the Circuit of the Americas as 5.513 km, with one lap featuring 20 turns and the race covering 56 laps. Our frame shows a slightly different value of 5.516 m.
What is the tower at the Austin race track?
It’s the observation tower of the Circuit of the Americas. It stands 77 meters tall, with the platform about 70 meters above the ground. It was designed by Austin-based Miró Rivera Architects.
What is the lap record at COTA?
COTA stands for Circuit of the Americas. According to Formula 1, Charles Leclerc holds the race lap record with 1:36.169 minutes, set in 2019.
When does the 2026 Formula 1 race in Austin start, and is there a sprint?
The race starts on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at 3:00 PM local time (9:00 PM German time). There is no sprint in Austin 2026; qualifying takes place on Saturday at 11:00 PM German time.
How steep is Turn 1 in Austin?
On the way to Turn 1, the track climbs with a gradient of over 11%. The apex of the tight left-hand turn is at the crest, and the total elevation change of the track is about 41 meters.
Conclusion: Austin Starts Uphill
The Circuit of the Americas tells its lap in chapters, from the scramble at the crest to the Esses and the multi-turn inspired by Istanbul. If you visit in person, you’ll experience the race track, observation tower, and live music all in one weekend.
For your wall, the hill remains the highlight: In the Austin Frame, Turn 1 is the highest point of the red line. With Miami and Las Vegas beside it, it becomes your USA wall.
