THINGS TO KNOW FOR THE AUSTIN GRAND PRIX | COTA 2023
Giddy up everyone, it’s time for the annual COTA Grand Prix! Wow, this was such a fun race to attend because I got to attend with a ton of other F1 creators which made it such a social and jam-packed weekend. Not to mention, the most random interactions we’ve had with the drivers which had us flabbergasted on what just happened!
Getting there & getting around
Getting there
You will fly into Austin’s main airport (AUS).
Getting around
Your BFF throughout the weekend is a rideshare or a chauffeur. From there Uber and Lyft will be your best friends! Rides are super affordable (usually $10 or less). I always like checking both fares to see which is better. Wouldn’t necessarily say you need a car since it’s pretty easy to get around in ride-share.
Shuttles are available and will depart from Downtown Austin to the track (this is a separate ticket you will need to buy on top of your race entry).
It is important to note that it does take about another 45 minutes to an hour to get to the track.
Accommodations
I recommend staying in Downtown Austin or in an Airbnb nearby. There’s so much going on in the area when the race isn’t going on, and filled with great restaurants and bars! A popular event that comes up every year is a driver meet and greet at the Williams popup.
My favorite hotels include the JW Marriott, the Fairmont, and Hotel ZAZA. However, staying in downtown Austin or on South Congress during the race weekend can be quite pricey. If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, consider an Airbnb or getting a house with friends!
Race Weekend
COTA is a MASSIVE track, so it’s easy to get overwhelmed. But never fear, Fifi is here! I’m going to break down where I was on the track and what to expect so you're not caught off guard when you get there.
We sat at Turn 2, Turn 19, and somehow managed to make our way into the main grandstands again! In the images below, you can get a glimpse of Turn 2 (Row 1, Photo 4), and Turn 19 (Row 2, Photo 1) which was super cool because you can see the cars go up the incline and right past you, through a turn that has challenging track limits. This is the last turn on the track.
Be prepared to do a TON of walking. Similar to Miami, COTA is set up like a stadium, but remember, everything is bigger in Texas. Temperatures during this race were close to 100 degrees Fahrenheit which will be challenging on your body. There are small pockets of shade in GA sections but a lot of the grandstands have zero shade (unless you’re in the main grandstands).
If you want to see the drivers, there is a fan stage event scheduled throughout the weekend (usually in the mornings) where you’ll be able to see them up close and see them interact with the crowd.
Once again…. lucky girl syndrome hit again and we were invited to sit up in the main grandstands overlooking the start/finish line and the paddock… *queue me losing my mind*. This was almost cooler than Miami because the main grandstands were smaller so you were significantly closer to the track even if you sat at the very top of the grandstands.
With fellow F1 creators, Gabby, Dev, and Neha! I recommend getting tickets day by day versus buying a weekend pass so you’re able to get different views of the track. Tickets for practice can be under $20, Qualifying under $100, and Race day usually being $200-300 depending on what experience you’re looking for. This is all through Ticketmaster.
Now let’s make sure you’re prepared
It is going to be hot, humid, sticky, and you’re going to be doing quite a bit of walking if you’re in general admission. Here are some tips from my experience:
Bring sunscreen and sunglasses!
If you have a sweat towel, you won’t regret it.
Wear comfy shoes and breathable clothes!
Dress in athleisure. the only people that really dress up are in the Paddock but otherwise, you’re not going to have a fun time in fancy clothes and sandals because it is dusty and sweaty!
Don’t forget your phone charger!
I would just buy water there. They have water stations but the lines are egregiously long because they’re more like water tanks versus the automatic refillable stations which are much faster. If you can bring some Liquid IV to help with your hydration definitely do so!
use my code “FIONAFKNTRAN” for 15% off Liquid IV!
On race day, the line for the shuttle is going to be LONG. If you can get out slightly before the race wraps up, it’ll be worth it.
COTA was probably one of my favorite races to attend out of the US races this year. It’s hard to compare them like apples to apples because each experience was so different and special but I don’t think I’ve ever had such a jam-packed schedule for these races (seriously we went to bed at 3 am every night and got up at 7 am the next day to repeat!). If there’s a race I recommend going to the most out of all the US races it has to be COTA. This is the one race where when you step off the plane, F1 is plastered everywhere and there are so many activations that allow you to feel fully immersed in the experience on or off the track.
Cheers,
Fiona