Formula 1 US Grand Prix Austin, 23 to 25 October

MEXICO · AUSTIN FORMULA 1

Formula 1 races at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin from 23 to 25 October. Mexican fans will follow Checo Pérez and Cadillac.

Formula 1 races the US Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Texas from 23 to 25 October 2026. Practice starts on Friday, 23 October, and the race starts on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. Central, which is 4:00 p.m. Eastern.

The weekend matters for Mexican readers because Sergio Pérez, known as Checo, drives for Cadillac, a new American team. Austin is the closest US round for fans in Mexico, a week before the Mexico City Grand Prix.

What the US Grand Prix Is and Why It Matters

Formula 1 is the world championship for open-wheel racing cars, run by the FIA, motorsport’s governing body. The US Grand Prix is held on a purpose-built track near Austin, the Texas state capital.

Formula 1 lists the race at 56 laps on a 5.513 km circuit, or about 3.4 miles. A race is capped at two hours, so Sunday’s race should end by about 5:00 p.m. Central.

The next rounds are Mexico City on 30 October to 1 November and São Paulo on 6 to 8 November. Las Vegas follows on 19 to 21 November.

That makes Austin the first of three back-to-back races in the Americas. Cadillac, new to the grid in 2026, is still looking for its first point.

Checo Pérez, Cadillac and the Mexican Angle

Pérez is the only Mexican driver in Formula 1 and has six Grand Prix wins to his name. He finished second in the 2023 championship, and Red Bull dropped him at the end of 2024.

He returned in 2026 with the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, an American squad making its debut, alongside Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas. Graeme Lowdon is the team principal.

Cadillac has not yet scored a championship point, and Motorsport Week reports that it is the only team in that position. The team’s best finish is 13th, by Bottas in China, and Pérez’s best is 14th.

In Monaco, Pérez crossed the line 10th, the last points place. A penalty for starting out of position moved him to 15th.

Cadillac’s own race report calls Monaco the team’s strongest result to date. Cadillac says Pérez was its only finisher in that race.

Overheating has been a recurring problem, and by the summer break Pérez had retired from four races and Bottas from five. Motorsport Week quotes Pérez as calling 2026 “one of my best years” because of his growth as a driver and leader.

A points finish in Austin would be a milestone for Cadillac. Treat any forecast as hope, because the team has not yet scored in a Grand Prix.

Schedule in Central, Eastern and Mexico City Time

Formula 1 publishes the Austin timetable in local Central time, five hours behind UTC in October. The times below add Eastern time and Mexico City time, which is one hour behind Central.

Friday, 23 October: first practice at 12:30 p.m. Central (1:30 p.m. Eastern, 11:30 a.m. Mexico City). Second practice follows at 4:00 p.m. Central (5:00 p.m. Eastern, 3:00 p.m. Mexico City).

Saturday, 24 October: third practice at 12:30 p.m. Central (1:30 p.m. Eastern, 11:30 a.m. Mexico City). Qualifying is at 4:00 p.m. Central (5:00 p.m. Eastern, 3:00 p.m. Mexico City).

Sunday, 25 October: the drivers’ parade starts at 1:00 p.m. Central and the national anthem at 2:44 p.m. Central. The Grand Prix starts at 3:00 p.m. Central (4:00 p.m. Eastern, 2:00 p.m. Mexico City).

The Race, a British motorsport outlet, lists the same session times, and neither timetable shows a sprint race. Formula 1 says the timetable is subject to change, so check it again before you travel.

Tickets, Prices and Concerts

COTA sells tickets through Ticketmaster, and its ticket page says single-day tickets are available now. A COTA social media post says limited tickets are still available, but the track does not give a number.

The page lists Grand Prix Sunday, grandstand and reserved seating, and a Thursday ticket with an early F1 Academy opening. Its multi-grandstand Flex Pass is sold out.

Each race day includes a concert, according to COTA’s ticket page. Maroon 5 play on Friday, Post Malone on Saturday and Alesso on Sunday.

COTA does not list prices on the pages reviewed, so no US$ range can be given. Prices change with the seat and the day, so read the total at checkout and ignore resellers who quote much lower figures.

Buy only through the COTA ticket page or Ticketmaster, because tickets sold by strangers on social media may be fake. Keep the digital ticket on your phone and check your account before you leave the hotel.

Getting to the Circuit of the Americas

The track is a cashless venue and accepts Visa, Discover and Mastercard, so bring a card rather than cash. It runs rain or shine, and COTA says weather delays are posted on its website, social media and app.

Gates open at 9:00 a.m. on Friday and at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Parking lots open about 30 minutes earlier, and COTA says no vehicle may use COTA Boulevard without a valid parking pass.

Rideshare drivers use the North McAngus lot, from which free trams carry fans to the Grand Plaza gates. Shuttles also run from the Travis County Expo Center and from Waterloo Park to the front gates.

Bags must be smaller than 12 by 12 by 20 inches and pass security screening. COTA publishes an accessibility page for guests who need extra help, so read it before you buy a ticket.

Travel Tips for Mexican Fans

Mexican citizens generally need a B-1 or B-2 visitor visa or a Border Crossing Card, often called a laser visa. The State Department says both are combined in one document, and an interview is generally required.

The State Department lists the visa application fee at US$185, and applicants complete the online DS-160 form first. Appointment waits are not published there, so fans without a valid visa or card should not count on one in time.

In August 2025 Austin airport announced Viva Aerobus flights to Mexico City’s Felipe Ángeles airport and Monterrey, three and four a week. That release is more than a year old, so check the airline for current days.

COTA lists hotels on its website, and a booking made through an established site is safer than a private offer. Compare the total in US$ with fees before you pay.

Carry your passport, visa or card and a printed copy of your hotel booking, and keep your ticket on your phone. Fans heading on to Mexico City can read the Mexico City Grand Prix guide on this site for Metro access.

How to Watch From the United States

Apple TV is the exclusive US home of Formula 1 in 2026 and carries every practice, qualifying and race session. Apple lists the service at US$12.99 a month, with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers.

Apple says F1 TV Premium is included at no extra cost for subscribers. Every Grand Prix has English and Spanish commentary, and Tubi plans free alternate broadcasts for some races.

What It Means for You

For US fans, this is a home race with support races, three concerts and an American team, Cadillac, on the grid. Plan for crowds on the way in and out, and allow time for parking.

For Mexican fans, Austin is the closest US race to see Pérez, but entry rules and flights limit the choice. If a US trip is not possible, the Mexico City round starts one week later.

What Is Not Known

COTA does not list ticket prices on the pages reviewed, and it does not say how many tickets remain. It is also not confirmed whether Tubi will show the Austin race free of charge.

The Mexican broadcaster of the race and the current flight days to Austin are not confirmed. Cadillac has not said whether it expects its first points in Texas.

What Comes Next

The next steps are Friday’s practice sessions, Saturday’s qualifying and Sunday’s race, which starts at 3:00 p.m. Central. The Mexico City Grand Prix follows from 30 October to 1 November, with São Paulo a week later.

Watch the Saturday qualifying result to see whether Cadillac can leave the back of the grid. A first point would be news in both countries, but a finish outside the top ten would not change the season.

Connected Coverage

The Mexico City Grand Prix 2026 guide covers the next round. What to Do in Mexico City in October 2026 lists events around it.

The Mexico City city guide covers neighbourhoods and transport for visitors. Racing fans can also read about the Formula E race in Mexico City in January 2027.

For the wider picture, see the Mexico news and coverage hub. It collects politics, economy and travel stories for readers in the United States.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the US Grand Prix in Austin in 2026?

The race is on Sunday, 25 October 2026, at 3:00 p.m. Central (4:00 p.m. Eastern, 2:00 p.m. Mexico City). Practice starts on Friday, 23 October, and qualifying is on Saturday, 24 October.

How can I watch the US Grand Prix in the United States?

Apple TV is the exclusive US broadcaster and shows every session for US$12.99 a month, with a seven-day free trial. F1 TV Premium is included for Apple TV subscribers.

Do Mexican fans need a visa to attend the Austin race?

Mexican citizens generally need a B-1 or B-2 visitor visa or a Border Crossing Card, and an interview is generally required. The State Department lists the visa application fee at US$185.

Sources: Formula 1, United States Grand Prix 2026; Circuit of the Americas, Formula 1; COTA, tickets; COTA, know before you go; The Race, US Grand Prix schedule; Motorsport Week, Pérez 2026 season; Cadillac Formula 1 Team, Monaco report; Apple Newsroom, Formula 1 on Apple TV; US State Department, visitor visas; Austin-Bergstrom Airport, Viva Aerobus (all accessed 22 October 2026).