Austin F1 Track Map & COTA Circuit Guide 2026
Updated · By GrandPrixPal Editorial
2026 session times verified against formula1.com
Circuit of the Americas (COTA), southeast of Austin, Texas, is a 5.513 km, 20-corner permanent circuit run anticlockwise. The 2026 United States Grand Prix is 56 laps (308.405 km) on Sunday afternoon. It was built for F1 and opened in 2012, and its signature is the steep climb from the grid to Turn 1 — the highest point of the lap.
Key facts
- Length
- 5.513 km
- Grand Prix laps
- 56 (308.405 km)
- Corners
- 20
- Direction
- Anticlockwise
- Elevation change
- About 41 m (133 ft) across the lap
- Race lap record
- 1:36.169 — Charles Leclerc, Ferrari (2019)
- First Grand Prix
- 2012
No DRS zones in 2026: the new cars use active aerodynamics instead, with a low-drag straight mode on the long straights. We'll add this circuit's zones once the FIA confirms them.
Circuit of the Americas track map: a lap, section by section
Pit straight · The climb to Turn 1
The grid sits on an uphill straight: from the start line the cars climb a gradient of over 11% to Turn 1, the highest point of the circuit.
T1 · Big Red
A wide, uphill left-hander with its apex on the crest of the hill. The width lets drivers take different lines, which is why the first lap here is so busy.
T2 · Downhill right
Straight back down the hill, a right-hander modelled on the Senna S at Interlagos.
T3–T9 · The esses
Fast sweepers back up the hillside modelled on Silverstone's Maggotts–Becketts, tightening through Turns 7 to 9.
T10–T11 · Blind Turn 10 and the hairpin
A blind corner at Turn 10 takes the cars to the far end of the circuit and the Turn 11 hairpin — a heavy braking zone.
Back straight · Towards the paddock
About a kilometre flat out from Turn 11 back towards the pit and paddock area. The main overtaking chance of the lap ends at Turn 12.
T12–T15 · The stadium section
Heavy braking into Turn 12, then a sequence of slower corners inspired by Hockenheim's arena, surrounded by stands.
T16–T18 · Multi-apex right
A downhill, multi-apex corner with little run-off, modelled on Turn 8 at Istanbul Park.
T19–T20 · Back to the start
Two left-handers return the cars to the pit straight and the climb to Turn 1.
Turn 1: why everyone talks about it
From the grid the cars climb an 11% gradient to a wide left-hander at the top of the hill. The corner is deliberately broad, so drivers can pick different lines, and on the opening lap the field fans out across it. It is also the most photographed spot at COTA: the hillside general admission area and the Turn 1 grandstand both look down the straight into it.
From the Turn 1 stand you can see all the way to downtown Austin. The hill opposite is general admission, and fills early on race day — arrive in the morning if you want a spot with a clear line to the apex.
Getting to the circuit
COTA is a purpose-built circuit outside the city, not a street track, so getting there is a matter of transport, not road closures. The official shuttles run from Waterloo Park downtown and the Travis County Expo Center to the northeast, on dedicated bus lanes. They are the reliable option both ways.
Ride-shares are the trap: post-race pickups from the ride-share lot run to 2–3 hours of waiting with $150–300 surge pricing, and the official car parks take 60–120 minutes to clear. Book the shuttle before you go — it is the one decision that decides how the weekend ends.
Daytime racing in late October
Unlike Singapore or Las Vegas, the Austin race runs in the afternoon. Expect 18–29°C (64–84°F) with strong Texas sun on the hillsides and very little shade in general admission, dropping to around 13°C (55°F) after sunset if you stay for the concerts.
Best places to watch
COTA's elevation means a lot of the lap is visible from the hillsides, which is why general admission works better here than at most circuits. The grandstands page compares prices, cover and views for each stand.
- Turn 1 (grandstand and hillside GA) — The start, the climb and the lap-one scramble into Big Red, with a view to downtown Austin from the stand.
- The esses (Turn 4 grandstand) — Fast direction changes through the Maggotts–Becketts-style sweepers.
- The stadium section — Heavy braking into Turn 12 and slower, close racing through the arena corners, surrounded by stands.
- Main grandstand — The start-finish straight and the pit lane, with in-seat food and drinks service.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the Austin F1 track?
5.513 km. The Grand Prix is 56 laps, or 308.405 km.
How many turns does COTA have?
20, run anticlockwise, so there are more left-handers than right-handers.
Where is the F1 race track in Austin?
Circuit of the Americas is in southeastern Travis County, outside central Austin, Texas. Official shuttles run from Waterloo Park downtown and from the Travis County Expo Center.
What is the lap record at COTA?
1:36.169 — Charles Leclerc, Ferrari (2019), set in the race.
Why is Turn 1 at COTA famous?
The cars climb an 11% gradient from the grid to a wide uphill left-hander at the highest point of the circuit. The width lets drivers take different lines, which makes the first lap unusually busy.
Does the Austin GP have DRS zones in 2026?
No. DRS was dropped with the 2026 car rules. The cars use active aerodynamics, switching to a low-drag mode on the straights instead.
Plan the rest of the weekend
Every session in local time, with a time-zone converter
Grandstands comparedPrice, cover and view for each stand on this lap
Where to stayHotels by which side of the circuit they sit on
Getting thereTransport in, and the late-night exit
Race-day route plannerYour hotel to your gate, with timings