F1 Heads to Austin: What UK Fans Need to Know Before the US Grand Prix

Formula 1 is trading the Asian leg of its season for Texas, with the United States Grand Prix returning to the Circuit of The Americas in Austin. After an extended stretch of races across the continent, the paddock gets a new time zone, a new set of challenges and a change of scenery that teams and drivers will need to adjust to quickly.

For UK fans, the practical question is when to watch. Austin sits many hours behind Britain, so the weekend's sessions fall in the evening or overnight UK time, and the race is traditionally the final event of the weekend. Start times and coverage slots can shift from year to year, so anyone planning to watch live should check the official Formula 1 timetable and their broadcaster's listings rather than relying on past schedules.

The circuit itself is one of the calendar's most distinctive venues. Designed by Hermann Tilke and first used for the grand prix in 2012, COTA opens with a steep uphill first corner, follows it with a long, fast back straight and then asks for precise braking through a technical complex. That mix of climbs, high-speed sections and tight corners has produced memorable racing over the years, and it remains a favorite among drivers who enjoy the variety of its layout.