Formula One And The United States Grand Prix Return To Austin, Texas

Austin, Texas is about to host one of the biggest sporting events of the year—perhaps the biggest. Attendance for the 2021 US Grand Prix topped 400,000 spectators throughout the weekend. The sport of Formula One in the US has since continued its exponential growth, thanks in large part to the Drive to Survive documentary series. This weekend marks the 10th anniversary of hosting the US Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas (COTA), and it is certain to set a new benchmark for F1 in the United States.

My first F1 experience was at the 2018 US Grand Prix, which pre-dated the Netflix show. We stayed at the new Fairmont Austin Hotel, which had just opened. There was certainly a sense that F1 was in town, but it wasn’t the dominant force it’s become today. I landed in Austin on Tuesday ahead of the upcoming race weekend, and F1 is everywhere. From the airport to the hotels and the famed 6th Street bars, Austin is being transformed from the live music capital of the world to the home of Formula One (for this week, anyway).

The Fairmont is now an Official Formula 1 Paddock Partner and has become the hotel of choice for F1 drivers. I’ve been transparent about my affinity for the Fairmont brand, so I welcome the fact that it’s become the social center for the USGP in downtown Austin. Even if you’re not staying at the hotel, the property features a half-dozen restaurants and bars that you can visit while in town. This is likely your best chance of spotting a Drive to Survive star outside of the paddock itself.

It also appears that many of the biggest DJs in the world are playing in Austin during the Grand Prix weekend. The Fairmont is transforming one of its ballrooms for back-to-back shows featuring The Chainsmokers on Friday and Marshmello on Saturday night. These are being promoted by Capture Studios, where general admission tickets start at $175, and private tables for up to 20 guests run as much as $35,000. VIP Lounge Passes cost $1,000 each and include access to a backstage lounge, a premium open bar with servers, and concierge-style service and entrance to the events. These events are where the world of F1 will party this weekend.

As for the race itself, COTA is a driver favorite that ranks among legendary tracks like Spa and Suzuka. It is both fun to drive and challenging with several high-speed corners and plenty of overtaking opportunities. The track was purpose-built to host F1 races, so this isn’t a huge surprise. During the 2018 Grand Prix, I sat at turn 12, which is a heavy braking zone at the end of the back straight. You can then watch turns 13 through 17 in quick succession, where there is always wheel-to-wheel action. And then you can spot turn 20 as drivers enter the main straight. It’s arguably the best place to view the race. That said, one of the key features of COTA is that spectators can see a lot of the track from any given point, thanks to its thoughtful design and elevation changes.

This will be the first race at COTA with the new-for-2022 F1 regulations, which enable cars to follow closer for longer without overheating. As the track already encouraged close racing, we could be in for some exceptional battles come Sunday. We’re looking for redemption from Ferrari. We’re looking for Mercedes to return to the podium. We’re looking for Leclerc and Perez to fight for second place in the driver’s championship, and we might see Red Bull lock up the constructor’s championship with a strong showing. Fortunately, the weather forecast looks ideal and perhaps even a bit warm with temperatures in the high 80s and a very low chance of rain.

You can follow my Instagram for the play-by-play during the weekend, and I’ll follow up with a full race recap following the race.