Everything you need to know about the US Grand Prix 2020

The US Grand Prix 2020 is on the horizon and F1 fans who fancy watching the action in Austin can start to make their plans.

In 2019 Lewis Hamilton roared to his third consecutive F1 Championship, having pretty much monopolised the sport for the last six years. He will be looking to add another Championship trophy to his cabinet in 2020 and he enjoys the US circuit as much as anybody. Hamilton has recorded the most wins in the US with six wins, although 2019 saw Valterri Bottas beat him to pole position.

When and where is the 2020 US Grand Prix?

The 2020 US Grand Prix takes place at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, where it has been held since 2012. In 2020, the US Grand Prix will be held from 23-25 October, following on the circuit from the Japanese GP on 11 October and before heading to the Mexico GP on 1 November.

How to get tickets for the 2020 US Grand Prix

There are a number of ways you can get hold of US GP tickets but the best way is to go through the official channels at the official formula 1 site. Ticket sales are not open yet, so you will need to keep an eye on when they come on sale in the near future. The tickets usually go on sale in spring but demand for tickets is high, so you should try and buy your tickets as soon as they go on sale. You can get packaged deals that include flights, accommodation and transfers to the circuit if you wish.

Ticket prices vary greatly depending on the type of ticket you get, for example the Turn 4 Bleachers tickets in 2019 were $295, compared to Main Premium Grandstand tickets that range from $595 (trackside) to $1295 (Club). General Admission tickets (no reserved seats) were priced at $195.

Entertainment at the US GP

The Grand Prix weekends offer a lot more than just racing, with a party atmosphere running from the Friday through to the Sunday. The US Grand Prix attracts some of the best music artists around the world, with the likes of Taylor Swift, Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears and Bruno Mars having performed in previous years. The performers have not been announced yet for the 2020 event but based on the stars that have previously been signed up, music fans are unlikely to be disappointed.

Accommodation in Austin

As you can imagine, accommodation will quickly get booked up once tickets for the US GP go on sale, so the earlier you look at hotels, the better. Downtown Austin is 14 miles from the Circuit of the Americas racetrack and there are plenty of hotels around Austin. The airport hotels are reasonably priced if you book early enough and are around 7 miles from the racetrack. Prices are continuing to increase, compared to any other time of year due to the increased demand at the GP weekend, especially the ones that are closest to the track.

Flying to Austin

The main airport for Austin is the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, which is about 7 miles from the racetrack. The next closest is Killeen-Fort Hood Regional GRK which is 60 miles further out and then San Antonio is the next closest (67 miles out).

If you cannot get a flight into the main airport, getting one to the next closest and then renting a car to drive to Austin is a popular way to get there.

What is Austin like?

Austin is the state capital city of Texas and has a population of just under 1 million. It is described as a laid-back city, with lots of restaurants to choose from and a great selection of live music, particularly jazz-funk.

What is the weather like in Austin? 

In October, the average max temperature is 82 and minimum is 61. The average rainfall is 3.9 inches in the month. Austin can be very humid and it is likely to be quite warm whilst the US GP is on.

Important travel information

If you are travelling to Texas for the US Grand Prix, or to any other part of the US then you will require some form of visa. Citizens from countries that are in the Visa Waiver Program are able to apply for an ESTA instead of a full visa and this will permit them to attend sporting events such as the GP, or for any other tourism purposes.

Applying for an American ESTA is relatively straightforward and can be done by simply filling in an online form and paying the application fee. Your application will be assessed and if it is approved, it will automatically link to your passport and border control will see this when you arrive in the US.