The Austin Grand Prix 2026 could crown a new world champion. Kimi Antonelli arrives at Circuit of the Americas 102 points clear. So this guide covers every start time, the full schedule, and which countries get the easiest viewing slot.
WHAT TIME IS THE AUSTIN GRAND PRIX
The Austin Grand Prix starts at 3:00 PM local time on Sunday October 25. That’s 8:00 PM in the UK and 4:00 PM in New York. Pakistan gets a 1:00 AM Monday start. UK clocks go back at 2:00 AM that morning, so Sunday’s race lands on GMT, not BST.
The race runs 56 laps and usually finishes in about 90 minutes to two hours. Because of the late start in Asia, many fans will watch the replay instead.
WHEN IS THE AUSTIN GRAND PRIX 2026
The Austin Grand Prix 2026 runs from Friday October 23 to Sunday October 25, with the race on Sunday. It’s Round 18 of 23 and the opener of the Americas triple-header. Mexico City follows on November 1. Then São Paulo hosts the next round on November 8. This is a traditional weekend, so there is no sprint race.
WHERE IS THE AUSTIN GRAND PRIX
The race takes place at Circuit of the Americas in Del Valle, on the southeastern edge of Austin, Texas. Downtown sits about 15 miles away. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport lies close to the circuit. COTA hosted its first race in 2012 and has run it every year since, apart from the 2020 cancellation.
AUSTIN GRAND PRIX 2026 RACE WEEKEND SCHEDULE
The weekend follows the standard three-day format. All times below are local Austin time (CDT) and UK time. Friday and Saturday use BST, but Sunday switches to GMT after the clocks change.
The Drivers’ Parade runs around 1:00 PM CDT on Sunday. The National Anthem follows at roughly 2:44 PM. Build-up coverage usually starts 60 to 90 minutes before each session.
BEST COUNTRIES TO WATCH THE AUSTIN GRAND PRIX LIVE
Texas sits far from most of the F1 audience, so start times swing wildly. Here is how the race lands in each region, from easiest to hardest.
Easiest Time Zones (1 PM To 5 PM)
The United States, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil get the best slot. The race starts at 1:00 PM in Los Angeles and Vancouver, and 2:00 PM in Mexico City. Austin and Dallas see lights out at 3:00 PM. New York and Toronto start at 4:00 PM, and São Paulo at 5:00 PM.
Good Evening Viewing (8 PM To 10 PM)
Europe and Africa land in prime time. The UK, Ireland, and Portugal watch at 8:00 PM. Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Italy, and Nigeria start at 9:00 PM. South Africa follows at 10:00 PM. European clocks also go back that night, so check devices set to manual time.
Late Night (Midnight To 2 AM)
Dubai starts at midnight. Pakistan follows at 1:00 AM and India at 1:30 AM, all early Monday morning local time. These fans face a real late night. Many watch live anyway. Others catch the F1 TV replay or the official highlights after waking up.
Overnight And Early Morning (4 AM To 9 AM)
Singapore, Malaysia, and Perth start at 4:00 AM Monday, with Japan at 5:00 AM. Eastern Australia gets a friendlier slot, with 6:00 AM in Brisbane and 7:00 AM in Sydney and Melbourne. New Zealand watches at 9:00 AM. So Australian fans can watch live before work.
Qualifying stretches this further. It starts at 4:00 PM Saturday in Texas. That’s 10:00 PM in the UK, 2:00 AM Sunday in Pakistan, and 5:00 AM Sunday in Singapore.
WHAT CHANNEL IS THE AUSTIN GRAND PRIX ON
Live coverage varies by region, and build-up typically starts 60 to 90 minutes before each session.
UK Viewers
Sky Sports F1 carries every session live. Channel 4 airs free highlights after the race.
US Viewers
Apple TV carries every session live. F1 TV Premium comes included with the subscription.
Canada
TSN broadcasts in English and RDS in French.
Australia
Fox Sports and Kayo Sports carry live coverage. Sydney fans watch at 7:00 AM Monday.
Everywhere Else
F1 TV Pro covers most other regions, including Pakistan, India, Dubai, and Singapore, alongside local broadcasters. The official F1 race hub lists the confirmed timetable for every session.
HOW MANY LAPS IS THE AUSTIN GRAND PRIX
The Austin Grand Prix runs 56 laps of the 5.513 km Circuit of the Americas, covering 308.405 km. The circuit has 20 turns and runs anticlockwise. Charles Leclerc holds the lap record, a 1:36.169 that he set in 2019.
AUSTIN GRAND PRIX TICKETS
Tickets for the Austin Grand Prix 2026 vary by day and grandstand. The cheapest way into the circuit is COTA’s new Thursday preview day on October 22. It starts at $20 before fees and includes the pit lane walk. Our Austin Grand Prix tickets guide explains how to claim it.
As of October 3, the 3-day general admission grounds passes and the Flex Pass showed as sold out. So check COTA’s official page for current availability before you plan your trip.
WHAT IS CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS LIKE
COTA is a purpose-built circuit with a steep uphill run into Turn 1, a climb of roughly 40 metres. Turns 3 to 6 form a fast esses section that echoes Silverstone’s Maggotts and Becketts. A long back straight follows. Then the lap finishes with a tight stadium section at Turns 12 to 15.
The 2026 cars use active aero instead of a DRS flap. So the back straight leans on Straight Line Mode and Overtake Mode for passing.
KEY STORYLINES FOR THE 2026 AUSTIN GRAND PRIX
Kimi Antonelli arrives in Texas with 340 points, a 102 point lead over teammate George Russell on 238. Six races remain, including this one. So Antonelli can clinch the title here. A win with Russell ninth or lower would do it. That would make the 20 year old the youngest champion in F1 history.
Russell needs a big result to keep the fight alive. Mercedes fitted extra power unit parts to his car in Singapore, so he started from the back and finished ninth. Our F1 penalties explained guide covers how those grid drops work.
Max Verstappen arrives with back-to-back wins from Sepang and Marina Bay. He sits fourth, eight points behind Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton fell from third to sixth in Singapore, so the fight for third is wide open. Read the full weekend in our Singapore Grand Prix 2026 race guide. Hamilton also holds the COTA record with five wins.
Mercedes leads the constructors’ standings on 578 points. Ferrari sits second, 134 behind. On top of that, Mercedes has won 11 of the first 17 rounds.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What time does the Austin Grand Prix start?
The Austin Grand Prix starts at 3:00 PM local time on Sunday October 25. That’s 8:00 PM GMT in the UK and 4:00 PM EDT in New York.
What time is Austin Grand Prix qualifying?
Qualifying runs Saturday October 24 at 4:00 PM CDT. That’s 10:00 PM in the UK and 2:00 AM Sunday in Pakistan.
When is the Austin Grand Prix 2026?
The Austin Grand Prix 2026 runs from Friday October 23 to Sunday October 25, with the race on Sunday October 25.
Where is the Austin Grand Prix?
The race takes place at Circuit of the Americas in Del Valle, on the southeastern edge of Austin, Texas.
How many laps is the Austin Grand Prix?
The Austin Grand Prix runs 56 laps of the 5.513 km circuit, covering a total race distance of 308.405 km.
What channel is the Austin Grand Prix on?
Sky Sports F1 carries it live in the UK. Apple TV covers the United States, and TSN and RDS cover Canada. F1 TV Pro covers most other regions.
Is there a sprint race at the Austin Grand Prix?
No. The Austin Grand Prix runs the traditional format with three practice sessions, qualifying on Saturday, and the race on Sunday.
Which countries can watch the Austin Grand Prix at a good time?
The United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, the UK, and most of Europe get afternoon or evening start times. Asia faces an overnight start.
Who won the Austin Grand Prix 2025?
Max Verstappen won the 2025 race for Red Bull.
How much are tickets to the Austin Grand Prix?
COTA’s Thursday preview day starts at $20 before fees and includes the pit lane walk. Weekend ticket prices vary by grandstand and day.
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