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The Circuit of The Americas will give Formula 1 fans earlier access to its 2026 United States Grand Prix weekend with the introduction of a new Grand PrixView Thursday experience.
The Austin venue has announced a standalone ticket priced at $20, allowing visitors to enter the circuit on Thursday before the traditional three-day race weekend begins. It marks the first time in the eventâs history that fans will be able to access the venue on that day through a dedicated ticket.
The move is aimed at widening access to the Formula 1 experience beyond the headline on-track sessions. It also arrives as the sport faces concerns that attending a Grand Prix is becoming increasingly inaccessible for some fans.
Those attending will be able to take part in an F1 pitlane walk and watch F1 Academy track activity. They will also have access to the paddock, the circuitâs fan villages, merchandise outlets and the F1 Fan Zone.
COTAâs theme park will operate separately throughout the day, adding another attraction for visitors who arrive before the main race weekend action begins.
The Thursday format reflects a broader trend among Formula 1 venues, with circuits increasingly offering fans opportunities to explore the event environment before the cars take centre stage. The Australian and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix are among those that provide similar experiences, giving spectators a closer look at the circuit, teams and drivers during the period traditionally associated with media activity.
For COTA, the appeal is clear: the new ticket creates an additional entry point for people who want to experience Formula 1 without committing immediately to a full race-weekend package. That approach is consistent with the wider discussion around making the sport more accessible, a subject also raised in Otmar Szafnauerâs comments on a possible Formula 1 return.
COTA chairman and founder Bobby Epstein said the initiative was designed to bring the sport closer to the local community.
âWeâre always looking for ways to make F1 more accessible,â Epstein said. âGrand PrixView Thursday is like an open house for our Central Texas community. For just $20, you can come, get up close with F1 and see what all the excitement is about.â
Heâs a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.