Scenes From the 2026 Formula 1 Grand Prix at COTA

CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS HOSTED THE THRILLING RACE FOR THE 14TH YEAR

Story and Photographs by MATTHEW WETZLER

The 2026 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix came to Austin in late October with potential for a record setting championship win.

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli had his first opportunity this season to clinch the drivers’ title by mathematically eliminating his closest competitors. While that didn’t materialize, he still pulled out a win in a thrilling race with numerous position changes in the top 10.

While marking the first time Cadillac’s new Formula 1 team raced in Texas, this weekend also marked the first time the F1 Academy racing series joined F1 in Texas, and it resulted in Campos Racing driver Alisha Palmowski winning the drivers’ title in that series.

People dressed in red and white and one holding up a picture of a golden retriever wearing a red hat — Fans taking part in the pit-lane walk cheer as Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc is seen in the garage area.

A blue race car driving on a race track with red, white, and blue lines on it — F1 Academy driver Alexia Danielsson of Hitech rips through turn 17 during the qualifying session for Friday’s race on Thursday evening.

A large decorative cowboy hat at a race track with a race car passing in front of it — Lewis Hamilton passes in front of “The Largest Cowboy Hat in the World.”

A blue and pink and a blue and white race car next to each other on a track with hundreds of fans behind them in the bleachers — Alpine’s Franco Colapinto and Williams’ Alex Albon tussle at turn one during the early stages of Sunday’s race.

Fans hold up phones and signs depicting Lewis Hamilton near a barricade — Fans cheer exuberantly with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton on stage during driver interviews.

A race car on a track in front of a ferris wheel in the background — TGR Haas’s Esteban Ocon rounds turn 19 with the several of the new COTALAND rides in the background.

A man in a red shirt and black slacks holds a bejeweled Ferrari cowboy hat and a microphone on a stage — Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton interacts with a fan who spent countless hours bedazzling this cowboy hat in his honor.

Many Formula 1 race cars descending down a track with smoke on the right side — F1 Academy—an all women racing series—kicks off the racing for the weekend on Friday evening with the first of three races for the series this weekend.

Used race car tires piled next to each other with colorful rainbow rims — A batch of used tires outside McLaren’s garage after the second practice session.

Scenes From the 2026 Formula 1 Grand Prix at COTA

CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS HOSTED THE THRILLING RACE FOR THE 14TH YEAR

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