The 2025 Formula 1 season is heating up, and there’s no better place to witness the action than the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas. From October 17 to 19, the Circuit of The Americas (COTA) will transform into a battleground of speed, strategy, and adrenaline, where the world’s top drivers push their limits in pursuit of glory. Whether you’re a die-hard F1 fan or a newcomer to the sport, Austin promises a weekend packed with thrilling overtakes, high-speed drama, and unforgettable moments both on and off the track.
Circuit of The Americas
The Circuit of The Americas (COTA) is located just southeast of downtown Austin, Texas, and has been a staple of the Formula 1 calendar since its debut in 2012. This 5.513 km track is known for its technical complexity, combining sharp hairpins, fast sweeping corners, and significant elevation changes that challenge drivers at every lap. Iconic sections include the uphill Turn 1 hairpin, which demands precision and perfect braking, and the flowing Turns 12–15 complex, where maintaining speed is crucial. Over its relatively short history, COTA has produced countless exciting races and memorable moments, quickly becoming a favorite among drivers and fans alike.
Sprint weekend
Free Practice -> Sprint Qualifying -> Sprint Race -> Qualifying -> Qatar Grand Prix
The Austin gp weekend is not a regular weekend; it’s a Sprint Weekend, which brings a different format than usual. This means there will only be one Free Practice session (FP1), which will take place on Friday. Teams and drivers will have just one hour to assess how their car performs on the track and fine-tune their setups. After FP1, the Sprint Qualifying session will take place. This session is shorter than a regular qualifying and has different tire rules. For example, in Q1, drivers are required to use specific tire compounds, which adds a layer of strategy. (For further clarification, Sprint Qualifying is typically a single, 30-minute session that determines the grid for the Sprint Race.
On Saturday, the Sprint Race will take place. The number of laps in a Sprint Race is much fewer than the original Grand Prix. This is typically around 100 km (approximately 30 minutes of racing), so there is usually no need for a pit stop. After the Sprint Race, the drivers will take part in another Qualifying session, this time for the Grand Prix that will take place on Sunday. This qualifying session follows the usual format, with drivers competing for the grid positions for the main event of the weekend.
his compressed format adds excitement and strategy, giving teams and drivers multiple chances to perform while reducing the usual downtime between sessions.
Here are the points that can be scored during a Sprint Race:
- 1st: 8 points
- 2nd: 7 points
- 3rd: 6 points
- 4th: 5 points
- 5th: 4 points
- 6th: 3 points
- 7th: 2 points
- 8th: 1 point
What time does the Singapore Grand Prix start in my time zone?
Free Practice
🇦🇺 Melbourne (AEDT): 03:30 next day
🇸🇬 Singapore (SGT): 00:30 next day
🇯🇵 Tokyo (JST): 01:30 next day
🇨🇳 China (CST): 00:30 next day
🇮🇳 India (IST): 21:00
🇦🇪 Dubai (GST): 19:30
🇩🇪 Berlin (CEST): 19:30
🇬🇧 London (BST): 18:30
🇺🇸 New York (EDT): 13:30
🇺🇸 Las Vegas (PDT): 10:30
Sprint Qualifying
🇦🇺 Melbourne (AEDT): 07:30 next day
🇸🇬 Singapore (SGT): 04:30 next day
🇯🇵 Tokyo (JST): 05:30 next day
🇨🇳 China (CST): 04:30 next day
🇮🇳 India (IST): 01:00 next day
🇦🇪 Dubai (GST): 23:30
🇩🇪 Berlin (CEST): 23:30
🇬🇧 London (BST): 22:30
🇺🇸 New York (EDT): 17:30
🇺🇸 Las Vegas (PDT): 14:30
Sprint Race
🇦🇺 Melbourne (AEDT): 03:00 next day
🇸🇬 Singapore (SGT): 00:00 midnight next day
🇯🇵 Tokyo (JST): 01:00 next day
🇨🇳 China (CST): 00:00 midnight next day
🇮🇳 India (IST): 20:30
🇦🇪 Dubai (GST): 19:00
🇩🇪 Berlin (CEST): 19:00
🇬🇧 London (BST): 18:00
🇺🇸 New York (EDT): 13:00
🇺🇸 Las Vegas (PDT): 10:00
Qualifying
🇦🇺 Melbourne (AEDT): 07:00 next day
🇸🇬 Singapore (SGT): 04:00 next day
🇯🇵 Tokyo (JST): 05:00 next day
🇨🇳 China (CST): 04:00 next day
🇮🇳 India (IST): 00:30 next day
🇦🇪 Dubai (GST): 23:00
🇩🇪 Berlin (CEST): 23:00
🇬🇧 London (BST): 22:00
🇺🇸 New York (EDT): 17:00
🇺🇸 Las Vegas (PDT): 14:00
United States Grand Prix
🇦🇺 Melbourne (AEDT): 05:00 next day
🇸🇬 Singapore (SGT): 02:00 next day
🇯🇵 Tokyo (JST): 03:00 next day
🇨🇳 China (CST): 02:00 next day
🇮🇳 India (IST): 22:30
🇦🇪 Dubai (GST): 21:00
🇩🇪 Berlin (CEST): 21:00
🇬🇧 London (BST): 20:00
🇺🇸 New York (EDT): 15:00
🇺🇸 Las Vegas (PDT): 12:00
Records and Statistics at the Circuit of The Americas
Fastest lap: The official fastest lap in an F1 race at COTA is held by Lewis Hamilton, who set a time of 1:32.237 in 2019. This record highlights the importance of perfect racing lines and speed on the straights.
Most wins: Both Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have multiple victories at COTA, making them clear favorites on this circuit.
Team dominance: Mercedes dominated in COTA’s early years, while Red Bull has become increasingly strong in recent seasons.
Number of corners: The track has 20 corners, ranging from tight hairpins to flowing S-curves, demanding a perfect balance between downforce and speed.
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