Honestly, if you're trying to pin down the f1 us grand prix schedule for 2026, you've probably noticed that things feel a bit scattered. Unlike the European leg where everything is a short train ride away, the American races are spaced out like distant cousins who only see each other on holidays. We aren't just looking at one weekend in Texas anymore.
In 2026, the United States is hosting three distinct races. Each one has its own vibe, its own timezone headaches, and its own weirdly specific scheduling quirks.
The Big One in Austin: October 23-25, 2026
The "official" United States Grand Prix—the one at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA)—is staying in its traditional autumn slot. It's the 19th round of a massive 24-race season. If you’ve ever been to Austin in October, you know the weather is a complete coin flip. It’s either gorgeous or a total washout.
The provisional schedule for Austin is pretty standard, but the sessions are timed to hit that "sweet spot" for European viewers while keeping the local crowd from melting under the Texas sun.
Friday, Oct 23 starts with Free Practice 1 at 10:30 AM local time. Later that afternoon, FP2 kicks off at 2:00 PM. Saturday is the big day for speed. You’ve got FP3 at 10:30 AM, followed by the Qualifying session at 2:00 PM. That qualifying hour is usually when the track temp peaks, making those "S" curves in Sector 1 a nightmare for tire degradation.
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Sunday’s race is set for 1:00 PM local time. That’s 2:00 PM for the East Coast folks and a late-night Sunday for the die-hards in Europe.
The Miami Heat: May 1-3, 2026
Before we even get to the tumbleweeds of Texas, F1 hits Florida. The Miami Grand Prix is the sixth round of the championship. This is where the schedule gets interesting because Miami is one of the designated Sprint weekends for 2026.
On a Sprint weekend, the traditional "three practice sessions" rule goes out the window. You get one hour of practice on Friday, and then you’re straight into Sprint Qualifying. Saturday features the Sprint Race followed by the Grand Prix Qualifying. It’s intense. If a team misses the setup in that lone Friday practice, their entire weekend is basically cooked.
The Vegas Saturday Night: November 19-21, 2026
Then there’s the Las Vegas Grand Prix. This is the outlier. It’s technically a "Thursday-Saturday" event to accommodate the local time difference and the fact that nobody in Vegas wants the Strip closed on a Sunday morning.
The race itself starts at 10:00 PM local time on Saturday, November 21. For most of the world, that’s actually Sunday morning. It’s the second-to-last race of the year, and by this point in 2026, we’ll be seeing the full effect of the new engine and chassis regulations. Expect some chaos.
Why the 2026 F1 US Grand Prix Schedule Matters More Than Usual
2026 isn't just another year. It’s the beginning of a total technical overhaul. The cars are getting smaller, the aerodynamics are shifting to "active" systems (think moving wings), and the power units are ditching the MGU-H.
What does that have to do with the schedule? Everything.
Early season races like Miami will be a "learning lab." Teams will likely bring massive upgrade packages to Austin in October after the summer break and the Singapore flyaway. By the time the f1 us grand prix schedule hits COTA, the championship fight might be in a completely different place than it was in May.
Historically, Ferrari has been a powerhouse at COTA with 10 wins, but McLaren and Lotus aren't far behind with 8 apiece. With Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari in 2026, that Austin race takes on a whole new level of drama.
Breaking Down the COTA Weekend (The Nitty Gritty)
If you're planning to actually be at the track in Austin, the schedule is more than just cars on asphalt. COTA is basically a three-day festival that happens to have a race in the middle.
- Friday (Oct 23): This is the best day for "track walkers." The crowds are thinner, and you can see the cars at their highest fuel loads. FP1 starts at 10:30 AM. Between F1 sessions, you’ll usually see support races like F1 Academy or Porsche Carrera Cup.
- Saturday (Oct 24): This is the high-stress day. Qualifying at 2:00 PM is often more exciting than the race itself. One tiny mistake at the Turn 1 "big climb" and your starting position is ruined.
- Sunday (Oct 25): The Main Event. Lights out at 1:00 PM. Pro tip: If you have a General Admission ticket, get to the Turn 1 hill by 8:00 AM. If you show up at noon, you’ll be looking at the back of someone’s head for two hours.
A Tale of Three Cities
It’s easy to get confused because "the US Grand Prix" technically only refers to Austin. Miami and Vegas are their own entities.
| Event | Date | Format | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Grand Prix | May 1-3 | Sprint Weekend | Round 6 |
| United States Grand Prix (COTA) | Oct 23-25 | Standard | Round 19 |
| Las Vegas Grand Prix | Nov 19-21 | Night Race (Sat) | Round 22 |
People often ask why they don't group these races together. Logistics. F1 tried to "regionalize" the 2026 calendar to be more sustainable, which is why Canada was moved to May right after Miami. But the US races stay apart because of climate and promoter contracts. You can't race in Vegas in July—the tires (and the people) would literally melt. And Austin in May is a humidity nightmare.
Logistics and Planning Your Trip
If you're looking at the f1 us grand prix schedule to book flights, do it now. Like, yesterday.
Austin is notoriously bad for hotel price gouging during race week. Many fans actually stay in San Antonio or San Marcos and drive in. It’s a 60 to 90-minute commute, but it saves hundreds of dollars.
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For the Vegas race, remember that the schedule is shifted. You want to arrive by Wednesday night. Practice starts Thursday, and if you arrive Friday, you’ve already missed a third of the action. Vegas is also significantly colder than people expect in November. It’s the desert; once the sun goes down, it drops into the 40s or 50s.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you are serious about following the 2026 season, don't just rely on a single calendar invite. Things change.
- Check the F1 Academy schedule: Often, the support races provide the best wheel-to-wheel action at COTA and Miami.
- Download the official COTA App: They update the "on-track" schedule in real-time. If there's a red flag in a support race that delays F1, this is where you'll see it first.
- Watch the Timezones: If you're a West Coast fan watching Austin, it’s an early start. If you’re an East Coast fan watching Vegas, prepare to stay up until 2:00 AM.
- Buy Grounds Passes Early: COTA usually releases 3-day grounds passes months in advance. These are the most flexible way to see the track from different angles.
The 2026 season is going to be a massive shift for the sport. With Ford joining Red Bull and Audi taking over Sauber, the grid will look unrecognizable compared to a few years ago. Keeping a close eye on the f1 us grand prix schedule is the only way to make sure you don't miss the moment the new era of racing finally clicks.
Plan your travel around the Austin dates of October 23-25, but keep that Miami May slot open if you want to see the Sprint format in person.