It’s official — Formula One has returned to the Lone Star State.
Austin, Texas, is home to the United States Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas (COTA), the nation’s only dedicated F1 track. Construction of the circuit began on December 21, 2010, and COTA joined the F1 calendar two years later, with paving completed just three months before the inaugural race. In 2013, MotoGP joined the action, and NASCAR followed suit in 2021.
COTA’s design draws inspiration from legendary tracks like Silverstone’s Maggots and Becketts sections, yet it maintains its own distinct character. A large American flag waves over Turn 1, and stars and stripes can be found integrated into the track’s design. Sprawled across 1,500 acres about 15 miles outside downtown Austin, the track features a 130-foot elevation change, fitting for Texas’s Hill Country.
“It’s a great race track, not just for qualifying but for the racing as well. It’s one of those new circuits that has an old-school feel,” Carlos Sainz told The Athletic in September. “It reminds me of classic tracks like Monza, Suzuka, and Silverstone. Even though it’s new, it feels like an old-school track.”
“It definitely feels very American,” Daniel Ricciardo remarked in 2023. “And we’ve all embraced that.”
As F1 gears up for this weekend’s United States Grand Prix, which includes a sprint race, here’s everything you need to know about COTA, a track once known for its rough surface and slow corners.
Key Specs.
An ode to the greats
A Nod to the Classics
COTA was designed by Hermann Tilke in collaboration with HKS, an American architectural firm. Tilke, a former racer and engineer, founded Tilke Engineering in 1984 and has become one of the most famous circuit designers in the world, recognized by the FIA. His first major F1 project was converting Austria’s Österreichring into the A1-Ring. He has also worked on tracks like Spain’s Circuit de Catalunya, Germany’s Nürburgring, and Japan’s Fuji Speedway.
COTA’s layout pays tribute to several iconic circuits. Turns 3-6 mirror Silverstone’s Maggots-Becketts-Chapel sequence and Suzuka’s S Curves. Turns 12-15 are inspired by Hockenheim’s stadium section.
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Building COTA wasn’t without challenges. The track encountered funding issues, which delayed payments to Formula One Management, leading to a warning from Bernie Ecclestone in November 2011: Fix it by December or be dropped from the 2012 schedule. Ultimately, the track was completed in time for its debut in November 2012, with Mario Andretti driving the first laps.
It marked the end of a seven-year absence for F1 in the United States.
COTA’s Infamous Bumpiness
Built on the clay-rich soils of Central Texas’s Blackland Prairie, COTA’s surface has faced challenges due to soil expansion and contraction with weather changes. This led to an increasingly uneven track, worsened by heavy rains in 2015 that caused soil erosion and damaged drainage pipes, sinking parts of the track.
Despite concerns raised by drivers and motorcyclists, the surface wasn’t addressed until late 2019. The track closed for part of December 2019 and January 2020 for drainage improvements and resurfacing in key areas. When racing resumed, reactions were mixed, particularly about grip levels.
The COVID-19 pandemic delayed further repairs, and MotoGP riders found the surface even rougher in 2021. Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo said, “It’s even worse,” calling it unsuitable for MotoGP.
In the winter of 2021, COTA resurfaced the entire track. Despite these efforts, F1 cars were still visibly bouncing during practice in 2022, and the track’s roughness remained a topic of concern, though less publicized.
This year, COTA completed a major resurfacing project in two phases, wrapping up in September. Over 18,000 tons of asphalt were used to resurface the 20-turn, 3.41-mile track. The smoother surface is expected to result in faster lap times across all racing series.
“The drivers and riders will feel like it’s a totally different track,” said Bobby Epstein, COTA Chairman. While the new surface may lose some “character,” Epstein believes it will lead to faster speeds and a more comfortable experience for competitors.
Along with the resurfacing, new curbs were added, drainage improved, and cameras installed to monitor frequent track limit violations. Some changes to curbing, such as at Turn 11, are being tested for future use.
Additionally, verges were shortened in several areas, with tarmac replaced by turf to encourage drivers to stay within track limits by penalizing them with reduced traction if they stray onto the turf.
A Journey Through Motorsports History
Turn 1
Each lap begins with a steep 133-foot climb to the top of Turn 1, providing a dramatic start.
Turns 11 and 12
The long straight between Turns 11 and 12 has seen its share of drama in both F1 and NASCAR. In 2021, heavy rain reduced visibility, causing a collision between Martin Truex Jr. and Michael McDowell, followed by a fiery crash involving Cole Custer.
In F1, Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso collided in 2022, sending Alonso into the air and nearly flipping his car.
The final corner at COTA is named after Mario Andretti, the track’s original ambassador. Andretti, who drove the first laps at the circuit, won the 1978 F1 World Championship and achieved victories in IndyCar and NASCAR, including the 1969 Indianapolis 500 and the 1967 Daytona 500.
Top photo design & graphics: Drew Jordan/The Athletic
