A First Timer’s Guide to the Austin Grand Prix
During the pandemic my husband and I, like thousands of others, started watching the Netflix show, Drive to Survive. It quickly became our favorite show and along with it, Formula One became our newest obsession. Learning about the sport, the culture, the teams, the drivers and their lives is absolutely fascinating. (I would highly recommend watching it if you haven’t yet.)
We decided that we wanted to see a Grand Prix for ourselves, so we decided to buy tickets for the United States Grand Prix when they went on sale this past April!
Attending a Formula One Grand Prix is absolutely incredible. It is exhausting and energizing at the same time. Watching your favorite drivers fly by you at 200 mph is an energy that I’ve never felt before, and something that I’m craving to experience again.
Before going to the race, I had several questions that I couldn’t seem to get an answer for. The logistics are a bit intense, between traveling with all of the necessities for a race, getting shuttles, arriving at the right times on each day, etc. Below, I laid out our entire U.S. Grand Prix experience, in hopes that it will help others planning to attend in the future!
Everything you need to know:
Flights/Accommodations: Book flights and accommodations very early on. We booked our flights and our AirBnb in April - about 6 months ahead of time, and found the prices to be quite reasonable at that point.
Purchasing tickets: Grand Prix tickets sell out quickly so be ready to purchase them as soon as they go on sale. We bought GA passes for $250 per person, and they included access to the circuit for Friday/Saturday/Sunday. The GA tickets also included access to all of the concerts associated with the GP. This year’s concerts included Twenty One Pilots, Billy Joel, Earth, Wind and Fire, and DJ Diesel (Shaq)!
GA vs Grandstands: Since this was my first time at COTA (Circuit of the Americas), I can only speak to our experience with GA tickets. I’ve heard that at COTA specifically, the GA tickets give you much better value for your money than at other circuits. However, the less expensive price tag does come with some drawbacks, like having to find your own seats, having to bring in your own chairs, etc. Although we had a great experience with our GA tickets, I would probably opt for the pricier Grandstand tickets if I went again. I feel as though having a seat in an elevated area to clearly see the race would be worth the extra money to me. Or, if you are feeling a bit more spendy, you can always look at the Paddock Passes or one of the hospitality suites.
Where to watch the race: We walked around the entire track, and in our opinion, “the hill” is the BEST area to watch practice/qualifying/race from. The first turn is at the very top of the hill, so your view here captures the very best parts. It fills up FAST though. On both practice day and qualifying day, we were able to squeeze our way in and stand with the crowd, however that was not the case on race day. People line up way before the circuit gates even open, and many make their way straight to the best spots on the hill. Again, this is only necessary if you have a GA ticket. I would assume the elevated views from any of the grandstands would provide a view similar to that of the hill.
Getting there: We purchased Front Gate Shuttle passes from the COTA website, and we were very pleased with them! They were $40 per person per day, so $120 per person for the entire weekend. They pick you up at one of two locations in Austin, and you ride on an air conditioned coach to the track and back at the end of the day. The COTA website also offered less expensive tickets (I want to say they were about $30 per person), however, they pick you up in a school bus, and they drop you off very far from the circuit (about what looked to be an hour walk to the front gate). If you choose to drive, I believe there are several options to choose from, however I would highly recommend taking the shuttle!
When to arrive: We arrived at the track around mid day on both Friday and Saturday. Since both Practice and Qualifying didn’t start until the afternoon, this seemed to work out pretty well. On race day, we arrived by about 10am. If you are planning on finding GA seats, especially on the hill, I would recommend arriving as early as possible, before or when the COTA gates open.
What to wear: Since this was my first time going to the U.S. GP, I can’t comment on what the weather would have been like in previous years, although I’ve heard it can be rainy, cold and muddy. Be sure to check the Austin weather in the days leading up to your trip so that you can pack appropriately. This year was HOT. We both packed for warm weather and were happy with what we chose. I wore mostly shorts, white t-shirts, sun dresses, and sneakers. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes, and break them in before going, because you will be doing a LOT of walking!
What to bring: Make a checklist before you go, but I would recommend bringing sunscreen, hand sanitizer, sunglasses, a hat, and a camera (or your phone for taking photos). If you are planning on arriving early and would like a comfortable place to sit, definitely plan to bring folding chairs and umbrellas. We brought some with us on our flight, but we quickly realized that we didn’t want to use these at the track. Because we walking around and exploring during all three of the days, we figured it would be a little cumbersome to lug these around with us all day.
Food/drinks: Food is expensive, but there are lots of great options to choose from! We ate the bbq every day and it was absolutely delicious. Also, there are virtually no areas for water bottle refills. Plan to purchase several water bottles per day in order to stay hydrated in the scorching Texas heat!
Buying merchandise: Merchandise sells out quickly: get there early on practice day to get what you want! By mid day on Friday it looked like they had nearly sold out. They restocked a bit on qualifying day, but by the end of that day and into race day, everything had been completely picked through. Also, if you see something you want go buy, look it up online and compare prices. The Mercedes U.S. GP hat was $120 at the circuit, but listed for $55 on the Mercedes website.
What to do in Austin: Austin is a wonderful city. If you are looking for things to see/do, be sure to check out my previous Austin blog post! We booked two dinner reservations several weeks ahead of time (check with the restaurant or on Resy/OpenTable to see how far out they take reservations). Some of my favorite Austin restaurants include Emmer & Rye, Iron Works BBQ, Moonshine, Comedor, Franklin BBQ and Baby Acapulco. Be sure to also check out Rainey Street, Congress Avenue, and the bat bridge during your stay!
Welcome to Austin! This Red Bull car was parked at the Fairmont Hotel for visitors to check out.
Tiki drinks on Rainey Street!
The loooooooong line of shuttles.
We’ve arrived!!!
The most delicious (and unhealthy) food at the circuit: Frito nachos!
Hey Ricky Bobby!
Drinks at Comedor
Out on the town at Neon Grotto!
One of the best COTA photo ops: the tower!
Our best purchases at the GP - our Mercedes and McLaren hats!
Cheers!
That’s a wrap!
