United States Grand Prix 2026: Full Session Timetable as F1's Texas Weekend Takes Shape

Three Days, Five Sessions, One Texas Showpiece

Formula 1's official race hub for the 2026 United States Grand Prix sets out a familiar format for the Circuit of The Americas weekend: Practice 1 and Practice 2 on Friday 23 October, followed by Practice 3 and qualifying on Saturday 24 October, with the Grand Prix on Sunday 25 October.

The 56-lap race covers 308.405 kilometres around the 5.513-kilometre Austin circuit.

Austin Anchors F1's Season Run-In

The United States Grand Prix arrives during a dense closing phase of the 2026 campaign. Per the published 2026 calendar, the final nine Grands Prix of the season begin with the Spanish Grand Prix on Madrid's street circuit, with Azerbaijan, Singapore, the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Las Vegas and Qatar also featuring before the year ends in Abu Dhabi.

The full 2026 schedule lists the Austin round on 23-25 October, sandwiching it between Singapore on 9-11 October and Mexico on 30 October-1 November — a punishing three-week stretch for teams and drivers.

What History Says About Austin

COTA has been a fixture on the calendar since 2012, when it staged the first United States Grand Prix since the 2007 race at Indianapolis. That debut drew more than 100,000 spectators and was won by Lewis Hamilton in what turned out to be his last victory for McLaren before he joined Mercedes for 2013.

The fastest race lap ever recorded at the venue remains Charles Leclerc's 1:36.169, set in 2019.

On-Track Talking Points

The circuit's mix of references to other great tracks — Turns 3 to 6 mirroring Silverstone's Maggotts and Becketts, Turns 12 to 15 echoing Hockenheim's stadium section — plus the enormous uphill Turn 1, has consistently produced dramatic racing. Austin's 2025 race contributed its own standout moment when Alex Albon pulled off a millimetre-perfect pass on Franco Colapinto.