Built for the American return

COTA opened in 2012 as the first purpose-built Formula 1 venue in the United States. The 5.5 km lap stitches together a steep opening hairpin, high-speed direction changes, a long back straight and a technical closing sector.

Where the lap is decided

1. 01Turn 1. The blind, uphill left invites several lines and rewards drivers who can brake late without compromising the exit.
2. 02Turns 3–6. The fast esses expose aerodynamic balance and confidence through repeated direction changes.
3. 03Turns 11–12. Traction out of the hairpin controls speed down the back straight and sets up the clearest passing chance.

Between sessions

• Downtown: Congress Avenue fan hubs put team activations within walking distance of central hotels.
• At the circuit: The Thursday Grand PrixView program adds F1 Academy running, pit-lane access and an early Fan Zone opening.
• After dark: Sixth Street and Rainey Street keep Austin’s live-music identity close to the race-week crowd.

Altitude changes everything

Opened in 1959 and named for racing brothers Ricardo and Pedro Rodríguez, the circuit hosted its first championship Grand Prix in 1963. Formula 1 returned in 2015 with the final sector rerouted through the Foro Sol stadium.

Where the lap is decided

1. 01The altitude. Thin air reduces cooling and downforce, putting the power unit, brakes and thermal management under unusual stress.
2. 02Turn 12. Heavy braking into the Foro Sol stadium demands precision as the circuit narrows into its slowest sequence.
3. 03Turn 16. Traction out of the stadium section carries all the way down the 1.3 km main straight.

Race week, city-wide

• Paseo de la Reforma: Sergio Pérez is scheduled for a Cadillac show run on Wednesday, Oct 28.
• Foro Sol: The stadium section and ticketed Fan Zone are the weekend’s loudest center of gravity.
• Base yourself: Roma–Condesa for food and nightlife; Polanco for museums and hotels. Metro Line 9 serves the circuit.

Short lap, outsized drama

Interlagos opened in 1940 and hosted its first championship Brazilian Grand Prix in 1973. Formula 1 returned to a shorter layout in 1990; elevation, a counterclockwise flow and rapidly changing weather have made it a frequent stage for title drama.

Where the lap is decided

1. 01Senna S. Hard braking into the cambered left-right complex creates the primary overtaking contest.
2. 02Junção. The exit from the final technical corner sets the speed for the long uphill run.
3. 03Subida dos Boxes. Power delivery, traction and rear-tyre condition decide who arrives fastest at the line.

São Paulo at speed

• At the circuit: Heineken Village and the official Fan Zones anchor the trackside festival.
• Motorsport trail: Pair Interlagos with the Ayrton Senna mural and the bronze monument at Ibirapuera Park.
• Base yourself: Avenida Paulista for metro access; Pinheiros or Vila Madalena for bars, galleries and music.

A city turned racetrack

Formula 1 raced in Las Vegas in 1981–82 on a Caesars Palace parking-lot circuit. The sport returned in 2023 on a different night layout built around a 1.9 km blast down the Strip, passing the Bellagio and Sphere.

Where the lap is decided

1. 01The Strip. The 1.9 km flat-out run forces a low-drag setup and magnifies energy deployment.
2. 02Turns 6–7. A long left feeds one of the toughest braking zones, where front locking is a constant risk.
3. 03Turn 12. Braking accuracy and exit quality matter because the corner sits between long acceleration zones.

Beyond the grandstands

• At the Sphere: The T-Mobile Zone combines track views, concerts and driver appearances.
• Race a sim: F1 Arcade at the Forum Shops has 87 motion simulators.
• Different Vegas: The Neon Museum, Fremont Street and Arts District offer a counterpoint to the Strip.

Motorcycle roots, F1 loads

Lusail opened in 2004 as a motorcycle circuit. Its broad, flowing geometry still reflects that origin. Formula 1 debuted here in 2021, then returned under a long-term agreement in 2023.

Where the lap is decided

1. 01Turns 12–14. The triple-apex right-hander creates sustained lateral load and rewards a stable high-speed platform.
2. 02Turns 5–6 and 10–11. Flow and precision matter more than heroic braking through these linked corners.
3. 03Main straight. With one clear passing zone, teams must balance high cornering downforce against enough low drag to attack.

Doha and Lusail

• At the circuit: Family Friday programming includes the Fan Forum, simulators, cultural activities and kids’ events.
• Explore: Souq Waqif, the Corniche, Katara and Msheireb are dependable stops between sessions.
• Base yourself: West Bay and The Pearl keep the city’s main attractions within practical reach.

Twilight season finale

Yas Marina opened in 2009 around a working marina and beneath its illuminated trackside hotel. The circuit became Formula 1’s twilight finale and was shortened from 21 corners to 16 for 2021 to improve race flow.

Where the lap is decided

1. 01Turn 5. Clean traction from the slow hairpin determines speed for the 1.2 km straight.
2. 02Turns 2–4. Fast direction changes expose front grip, aero balance and confidence over the kerbs.
3. 03Final sector. Banked Turn 9 feeds a sequence of traction corners where differential control and patience matter.

Finale weekend

• At the circuit: The F1 Fanzone and Oasis host music, games and driver appearances.
• Motorsport day: Pair Yas Kartzone with Ferrari World and its Formula Rossa launch coaster.
• See the city: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is the essential landmark; Yas Island is the easiest race-week base.