If you’re trying to plan your life around the upcoming F1 races in the US, you’ve probably noticed the calendar is a bit of a monster lately. We’ve gone from having almost zero presence in the States to being the only country on the planet with three distinct stops. It’s wild.
Honestly, it’s a lot to keep track of. You’ve got a temporary track around a football stadium, a permanent road course in the Texas hills, and a Saturday night fever dream on the Las Vegas Strip.
2026 is also a massive year for the sport. New cars. New engines. Ford is even coming back. If you’re heading to a race, the vibes are going to be completely different than what we saw last season.
The 2026 US Schedule: Save These Dates
Basically, the season is split. You get one race in the spring and then a long wait until the fall. Here is the actual breakdown of when the 2026 F1 circus hits American soil:
- Miami Grand Prix: May 1 – May 3
- United States Grand Prix (Austin): October 23 – October 25
- Las Vegas Grand Prix: November 19 – November 21
Notice that Vegas is a Saturday night race. People always forget that. They show up on Sunday morning expecting a Grand Prix and realize they missed the whole thing because the checkered flag waved at midnight. Don't be that person.
Miami: The Humidity and the Hype
Miami kicks things off in early May. It's held at the Miami International Autodrome, which is really just a fancy way of saying the parking lot of Hard Rock Stadium. But don't let that fool you—the track is surprisingly technical.
📖 Related: The Truth About the Memphis Grizzlies Record 2025: Why the Standings Don't Tell the Whole Story
The 2026 race is going to be the fifth time they’ve run this event. By now, they’ve mostly figured out the "fake water" and the logistics. It’s a Sprint weekend again, too. That means you get meaningful sessions every single day.
Friday has qualifying for the Sprint. Saturday has the Sprint race itself and then the "real" qualifying for Sunday. It’s exhausting for the drivers but great if you’re buying a three-day pass. You aren't just watching cars drive in circles for practice; there is actually skin in the game.
Austin: The Soul of American F1
October takes us to the Circuit of the Americas (COTA). This is the only "real" track in the US—a purpose-built facility that isn't made of temporary concrete walls.
Texas in late October is usually perfect. Not too hot, but enough sun to make the elevation changes at Turn 1 look iconic on your phone. This race remains the heart of the upcoming F1 races in the US because it attracts the "purist" fans.
COTA is also where the 2026 regulations might feel the most impactful. The cars are getting smaller and lighter. They’re losing about 30kg and getting narrower. On a flowing track like COTA, that agility is going to be much more obvious than on a street circuit.
👉 See also: The Division 2 National Championship Game: How Ferris State Just Redrew the Record Books
Vegas: The Expensive Spectacle
Then there’s Vegas. November 19-21. It’s cold. It’s flashy. It’s expensive.
The track is basically a long blast down the Strip. Because it’s a night race in the desert, temperatures can drop into the 40s or 50s. Tires hate that. Drivers hate that. But for fans, it creates this weird, unpredictable chaos because nobody can get their car to work right.
Vegas is also the penultimate race of the season. If the championship is close—which, with the 2026 engine reset, is anyone's guess—this could be where the title is decided.
Why 2026 is a Total Reset
The 2026 season isn't just another year. It’s a "new era." The FIA is ditching the MGU-H (the part that recovers heat from the turbo) and cranking up the electric power. We're talking a nearly 300% increase in battery output.
There’s also this new "Manual Override" mode. Think of it like a video game boost. Instead of the old DRS system just flapping a wing open, drivers will get a literal power surge to help them overtake.
✨ Don't miss: Por qué los partidos de Primera B de Chile son más entretenidos que la división de honor
What this means for you:
- Louder or Quieter? The engines will sound different. Maybe not V10 loud, but the shift in power delivery changes the "grunt" coming out of corners.
- Ford is Back: Red Bull is partnering with Ford. Seeing the Blue Oval back on an F1 grid in Austin is going to be a massive moment for US fans.
- Closer Racing: The "active aero" (wings that move on their own to reduce drag) is designed to let cars follow each other more closely.
Getting Tickets Without Losing Your Mind
If you’re looking at upcoming F1 races in the US, the ticket prices are usually the biggest hurdle. Miami and Vegas are notoriously pricey. Austin is slightly more "approachable," but even then, a "Grounds Pass" (General Admission) will still set you back a few hundred bucks.
The best move? Look for the Friday/Saturday only tickets if you’re on a budget. In Miami, the Sprint Saturday is arguably more exciting than the Sunday parade.
Also, watch the hotels. For the Austin race, staying in downtown Austin will cost you a kidney. Look toward Bastrop or even San Antonio if you don't mind a drive. For Vegas? Stay off the Strip. Seriously. The traffic during race week turns a 10-minute trip into a two-hour nightmare.
How to Prepare for the Race Weekend
If you actually go, bring comfortable shoes. You’ll walk five miles a day easy. At COTA, the hills are brutal. In Miami, the humidity will melt you. In Vegas, you’ll be walking through casinos for miles just to find your gate.
Bring a portable battery for your phone. The cell towers usually get overwhelmed with 100,000 people trying to post Instagram stories at once, which drains your battery like crazy.
Most importantly, keep an eye on the support races. In 2026, Miami is hosting the McLaren Trophy America and the Porsche Carrera Cup. Sometimes the best racing happens before the F1 cars even leave the garage.
Next Steps for Your F1 Trip:
- Check the Official Sites: Go to F1.com or the specific track sites (COTA, Miami GP, Las Vegas GP) to see if tickets are in the "Presale" or "Deposit" phase.
- Lock in Lodging: Do this now. Even if you don't have tickets yet, get a refundable hotel room. Prices triple the moment the official schedule is confirmed.
- Download the App: The F1 app is actually decent for tracking live timing when you're at the track and can't see the big screens.