The Austin F1 schedule for the 2026 United States Grand Prix runs from October 23–25, with Sunday’s race starting at 3:00 p.m. in Austin (4:00 p.m. ET). The published timetable includes three practice sessions and qualifying, with no Sprint listed. Meanwhile, COTA’s wider event program begins on Thursday, October 22.
When is the 2026 United States Grand Prix in Austin?
The Formula 1 MSC Cruises United States Grand Prix takes place at Circuit of The Americas on October 23–25, 2026. Friday brings two practice sessions. Saturday adds final practice and qualifying, before Sunday’s 56-lap race.
However, the circuit’s event dates cover October 22–25. That extra Thursday is the Grand PrixView day, with F1 Academy practice and qualifying listed in the supporting program.
For planning purposes, separate the F1 weekend from the wider event. If you only want the main championship sessions, use Friday through Sunday. If you want Thursday’s activities too, check your ticket’s access conditions before arranging travel.
What is the Austin F1 schedule for 2026?
The table compares Austin local time with Eastern Time. On these dates, Austin uses Central Daylight Time, UTC−5; Eastern Daylight Time is one hour ahead.
The official Formula 1 weekend timetable supplies the F1 session times below. However, the published schedule remains subject to change.
| Date | F1 session | Austin local time, CDT | Eastern Time, EDT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, October 23 | Practice 1 | 12:30–1:30 p.m. | 1:30–2:30 p.m. |
| Friday, October 23 | Practice 2 | 4:00–5:00 p.m. | 5:00–6:00 p.m. |
| Saturday, October 24 | Practice 3 | 12:30–1:30 p.m. | 1:30–2:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, October 24 | Qualifying | 4:00–5:00 p.m. | 5:00–6:00 p.m. |
| Sunday, October 25 | Grand Prix | Starts at 3:00 p.m. | Starts at 4:00 p.m. |
These US Grand Prix 2026 session times cover Formula 1 only. They do not represent gate-opening times, the full support-race program or entertainment schedules.
Also, check whether an official schedule displays track time or your device’s local time. Otherwise, you could apply the one-hour Eastern conversion twice.
What time does the 2026 F1 US Grand Prix start?
The Grand Prix starts at 3:00 p.m. Austin time on Sunday, October 25. That means 4:00 p.m. ET for viewers on the US East Coast.
However, treat that as the scheduled race start, not your arrival target. Spectators still need time for the approach to the venue, entry checks and the walk to their viewing area.
Similarly, a broadcast may begin before the race. Check your broadcaster’s listing separately if you want the build-up rather than only the start.
What time are F1 practice and qualifying at COTA?
Practice 1 starts at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, followed by Practice 2 at 4:00 p.m. Both sessions last one hour in the published timetable.
On Saturday, Practice 3 runs from 12:30–1:30 p.m. Qualifying then runs from 4:00–5:00 p.m., all in Austin local time.
For spectators, those gaps provide a useful planning window. However, they are not empty-track guarantees: support categories may run between F1 sessions.
Meanwhile, practice offers context beyond a single fast lap. Watch how drivers approach braking zones and link corners across successive runs. Our guide to what G-force means mid-corner explains the loads behind those changes of direction.
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Is the 2026 United States Grand Prix a sprint weekend?
No Sprint session appears in the published 2026 United States Grand Prix schedule. Instead, the timetable follows the conventional format: two Friday practices, Saturday practice and qualifying, then Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Therefore, do not reuse an older Austin weekend timetable. A previous year’s session order is not a reliable guide to this event.
What’s happening at COTA on Thursday, October 22?
Thursday is the additional Grand PrixView day. The published program includes F1 Academy practice and qualifying, while the first F1 practice remains on Friday.
For the wider program, consult the COTA F1 schedule 2026 event timetable. COTA states that its schedule is subject to change, so recheck it before travelling.
One support-race time needs particular care: the supplied official schedules disagree on Sunday’s F1 Academy Feature Race. Formula 1 lists 12:00 p.m., while COTA lists 10:40 a.m.
Until the organisers align those entries, neither time should anchor a tight arrival plan. Instead, confirm the latest circuit timetable and event communications nearer the weekend.
Where is the United States Grand Prix held?
The race takes place at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas. The official Formula 1 United States race page lists a 5.513 km (3.426 mi) circuit and a 56-lap Grand Prix.
The listed race distance is 308.405 km (191.634 mi). For spectators, those figures describe the competition, not the time needed to reach a grandstand or move around the venue.
Safety note: keep performance testing on closed circuits or authorised private venues, never public roads.
Where TripRank helps with the drive
TripRank can record your drive to Austin, rather than provide the race timetable. The iOS driving and performance telemetry app tracks drives with GPS and records trips.
Its GPS-only trip recording works fully offline and continues in the background. The free tier includes unlimited drive tracking and a per-trip Smoothness Score, while trip history shows the 10 most recent trips.
For a fuller feature breakdown, read how TripRank’s GPS tracking and trip features work. Keep official F1 and COTA sources as your references for event timing.
For the support-race championship story, our COTA Pro finale title fight report explains Maxson’s lead over Jeansonne and the conflicting Sunday race times.
For a later-season destination, check Qatar’s November F1 and MotoGP plans for scheduled dates, announced fan activities and booking caveats.
For another race-weekend viewing check, the Australian MotoGP 2026 schedule explains why Phillip Island’s Sunday Grand Prix falls on Saturday night in the US.
For the following race weekend, check the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend schedule alongside ticket prices and admission checks.
Frequently asked questions
What time is the Austin F1 race in Eastern Time?
The 2026 United States Grand Prix starts at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, October 25. That is 3:00 p.m. local time in Austin.
How many laps is the 2026 Austin F1 race?
The race is scheduled for 56 laps of Circuit of The Americas. Formula 1 lists the race distance as 308.405 km (191.634 mi).
Does Formula 1 practice start on Thursday?
No. The first F1 practice starts on Friday, October 23, at 12:30 p.m. Austin time. Thursday’s published program includes F1 Academy practice and qualifying.
Are the published session times final?
The published times remain subject to change. Check Formula 1 and COTA before travelling, particularly because their supplied Sunday F1 Academy Feature Race times differ.
Bottom line
Plan around Friday–Sunday for Formula 1, with Sunday’s start at 3:00 p.m. Austin time or 4:00 p.m. ET. Add Thursday only if its wider program fits your plans, and recheck official schedules before departure. For GPS recording of your own drives, download TripRank for iOS.
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