Audi Revolut F1 Team heads to the United States Grand Prix in Austin following a points-scoring weekend in Singapore. The race at Circuit of the Americas opens a three-week stretch that continues in Mexico and Brazil, with Audi looking to build on its recent performance in a closely contested midfield.
Nico Hülkenberg arrives in Texas aiming to add to his points tally, while Gabriel Bortoleto will be looking to convert recent opportunities near the top ten into a points finish. Racing Director Allan McNish has identified further gains in performance and putting both cars in contention for points as priorities for the upcoming races.
Audi Driver Development Programme driver Emma Felbermayr will also compete in Austin as F1 Academy returns for its fifth round of the season. The series has three races scheduled at Circuit of the Americas across the weekend.
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SCHEDULE
| DAY/DATE | ACTIVITY | TRACK TIME | CET | EST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 23 Oct | Practice 1 | 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | 19:30-21:30 | 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM |
| Fri 23 Oct | Practice 2 | 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM | 23:00-24:00 | 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM |
| Sat 24 Oct | Practice 3 | 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | 19:30-21:30 | 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM |
| Sat 24 Oct | Qualifying | 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM | 23:00-24:00 | 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM |
| Sun 25 Oct | Grand Prix | 3:00 PM | 22:00 | 4:00 PM |
RACE INFORMATION
AUDI REVOLUT F1 | FORMULA 1 SERIES | OFFICIAL U.S. GP WEBSITE | GRAND PRIX EVENTS | PAM.CO COTA SMART MAP
CIRCUIT
CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS
Circuit of the Americas brought Formula 1 back to the United States in 2012, five years after the championship’s last visit to Indianapolis. Built in Travis County outside Austin, the circuit occupies land originally intended for a housing development. Construction began at the end of 2010, and the inaugural Grand Prix drew a reported 265,000 spectators across the three-day weekend.
The 3.426-mile (5.513-kilometer), 20-turn circuit combines significant elevation changes with fast direction changes, slower technical sections and a long back straight. Its defining feature is the steep climb into Turn 1, where a wide entry allows drivers to take different lines under braking. The flowing opening sector draws comparisons with Silverstone, requiring drivers to establish a rhythm through successive changes of direction.
That variety makes COTA a broad test of car balance and setup. Teams need stability through the fast corners, traction out of the slower turns and sufficient straight-line speed to attack or defend. The braking zones at Turn 1 and at the end of the back straight provide overtaking opportunities, while the tighter sections reward precise positioning and controlled corner exits.
PIRELLI TIRE PREVIEW
Austin opens the triple-header on the American continent, which also includes races in Mexico City and São Paulo. The Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas is also the second of the three events held in the United States this season, with the final American round of the year set to take place in Las Vegas.
For this edition of the United States Grand Prix, Pirelli has selected the C2 as Hard, C3 as Medium and C4 as Soft, returning to a compound combination used in the past following the 2025 experiment, when a compound step was introduced between Hard and Medium.
Last year, in fact, the C1 was nominated as the hardest tyre but was not used in the race. Teams favoured one-stop strategies, relying on the softer C3 and C4 compounds.
Compared to 2025, the weekend returns to the traditional format without a Sprint. The most recent Sprint race took place in Singapore. Teams will therefore have three free practice sessions available to work on car balance and optimise set-ups on a circuit that does not require particularly extreme compromises.
The Austin circuit, which is 5.513 kilometres long, features a mix of high-speed corners, rapid direction changes and slower sections that demand strong traction. To be competitive, teams must combine good straight-line speed with efficient aerodynamic load through the more technical sections, an aspect that becomes even more important with the current generation of Formula 1 cars.
From a tyre perspective, COTA places demands on both axles. In the first sector, characterised by fast corners and direction changes inspired by some of Europe’s great circuits, the front tyres will be placed under particular stress. In the third sector, meanwhile, the numerous acceleration zones out of slow corners will tend to generate thermal degradation primarily on the rear tyres.
The asphalt surface is not particularly abrasive. A section of the circuit between Turns 9 and 11 was resurfaced earlier this year. However, the ageing effect on the remainder of the track continues to be significant and contributes to high wear levels. Tyre wear, rather than graining, could therefore prove to be one of the key factors over the weekend. During last year’s event, several tyres reached very high wear values.
Track grip is generally good, aided by the support categories, including the Porsche Carrera Cup North America, which has been supplied by Pirelli since the start of this year. Track evolution, on the other hand, has traditionally not been among the most pronounced on the calendar.
From a strategic standpoint, the presence of the C2 as the Hard compound could favour long stints, offering teams a solid option for what is likely to be a one-stop race. However, the high temperatures that typically characterise the Texan weekend must also be taken into account, as they could increase degradation and open the door to alternative strategies.
AUDI REVOLUT F1 TEAM WELCOMES ELASTIC AS OFFICIAL RACE PARTNER
Audi Revolut F1 Team has named Elastic its Official Race Partner for the 2026 United States Grand Prix, with branding on the R26’s halo and headrest. From 2027, the software company will become the team’s Official Search and Observability Supplier under a multi-year agreement, adding branding to driver and pit crew suits and the garage.
The agreement builds on Audi’s existing use of Elastic to centralize software logs from engineering applications. Its platform helps technical staff monitor application performance, identify problems and investigate their causes, supporting the software systems used in car development.
TEAM RACE PREVIEW
Audi Revolut F1 Team heads to Austin for the United States Grand Prix, the opening round of the Americas triple-header, which will see the team embarking on three weeks of racing across the States, Mexico, and Brazil. Following a points-scoring weekend in Singapore, the focus is on carrying that performance into the upcoming races. With the midfield remaining close, the team will be looking to keep pushing and add to its points tally in the championship standings.
Audi Driver Development Programme driver, Emma Felbermayr, is also back in action this weekend, as F1 Academy returns for the fifth round of the season with three races scheduled at the Circuit of the Americas across the weekend.
TEAM QUOTES
Allan McNish, Racing Director
“It was encouraging to see our efforts translate into a strong performance in Singapore, and it gives us confidence heading into the next few races. At the same time, we know how close the competition is, and the work that there is still to do. Austin marks the start of another demanding run of races, and we want to approach it with the same determination we showed in Singapore. We have made some good steps recently, and the aim now is to keep pushing, find that little bit extra and give ourselves more opportunities to have both cars in the mix for points.”
Nico Hulkenberg, Car #27
“Singapore was a great way to finish the triple-header, and it felt good to reward the team with some important points. We certainly enjoyed that one, but in Formula 1 you’re only as good as your last session, so the focus is firmly on Austin now.
“COTA is a great track to drive, with a good mix of fast corners, technical sections and some proper racing. The Texan fans always bring great energy too. We’re heading into another busy three weeks, so it’ll be good to get straight back into it. Hopefully we can put ourselves in a good position and give the team something more to celebrate.”
Gabriel Bortoleto, Car #5
“Austin is always a fun weekend with a great atmosphere, so I’m happy to be heading back to Texas. Things haven’t quite gone my way in the last few races, so I’m motivated to get back out there and give it another go this weekend. We’ve been close to the top ten a few times, and I’m really keen to turn that into a good result. It’s the start of three races in a row, and I’m ready to give it my best and hopefully get this triple header off to a strong start.”
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