As the 2025 Formula One Season comes to an end, here is a look back at the exciting race weekend in Austin.

Before I attended the Formula 1 MSC Cruises United States Grand Prix this fall, I didn’t know the difference between “pole position” and “pit stop.” Formula One existed in my mind as something thrilling that other people understood. (My “Austin Fest” is the Texas Book Festival.) Then I received an invitation to attend F1 in Austin, complete with an Alpine Paddock Pass, and suddenly I was dropped into the deep end of one of the world’s most prestigious motorsports.

Surprising everyone, I loved every second of it.

UNDERSTANDING THE FORMULA ONE WEEKEND

The Circuit of the Americas (COTA) hosts F1’s only U.S. stop in Texas. The weekend unfolds across four days, with practice sessions on Friday, qualifying on Saturday, and the main race on Sunday. Each day builds anticipation, allowing newcomers like me to absorb the sport’s rhythms before the big event.

Download the COTA app before you arrive. This became my essential guide, helping me navigate the massive 1,500-acre facility and understand what was happening on track at any moment. The app provides real-time updates, track maps, and schedules—crucial when you’re trying to decode a sport with its own language.

PADDOCK PASS GLAM

Holding my VIP Guest paddock pass for the first time felt like receiving a golden ticket. This credential opened doors I didn’t know existed—literally. The BWT Alpine F1 Team, sponsored by MSC Cruises, welcomed paddock pass holders into their garage for exclusive tours that revealed the precision machinery behind every race.

Standing feet away from the A525 race car, I watched pit crew members work on massive Pirelli racing tires with pneumatic tools and synchronized precision. These weren’t casual mechanics—they were athletes in their own right, practicing movements that would need to happen in under three seconds during actual pit stops. The choreography was mesmerizing, every motion deliberate and rehearsed hundreds of times.

WHAT TO WEAR TO THE FORMULA ONE RACES

The dress code is “classy casual,” but F1, like Austin City Limits, is a showcase for fashion…the only requirement is closed-toe shoes are mandatory for safety around the garages. Otherwise, anything goes! Austin’s October weather is usually very hot, and I felt sympathetic for fellow race-goers who had dressed in leather pants. A sun hat became my essential accessory for daytime sessions, offering protection as I moved between the paddock area and viewing spots around the track.

THE LUXURY OF PADDOCK CLUB HOSPITALITY

Between track sessions, the Paddock Club became my unexpected favorite discovery. The culinary program matched anything I’d experienced at high-end resorts. International stations offered everything from fresh sushi to Texas barbecue, craft cocktails to champagne.

The indulgence reached new heights with dual chocolate fountains—one dark, one white—positioned beneath large screens showing live race footage and telemetry data. I found myself dipping strawberries in Belgian chocolate while watching split-second pit stop decisions unfold on screen. Watching mechanics change four tires in 2.4 seconds while enjoying perfectly executed eggs Benedict created a surreal Sunday brunch.

THE THRILL OF RACE DAY AT COTA

Each race day delivered different energy. Friday’s practice sessions let me learn the track layout and understand how drivers navigate Turn 1’s steep elevation climb. (Over lobster, my new F1 friends and I discussed what our favorite COTA turns said about us.) On Friday night, I stayed up late to watch my new favorite TV show, “Formula One, Drive to Survive,” which caught me up to speed on all the track gossip, and made celebrity-spotting even more fun.

Saturday’s qualifying determined Sunday’s starting positions, and suddenly I understood why everyone held their breath during those final flying laps.

Race day brought everything together. Watching Formula One cars scream through COTA’s challenging elevation changes beneath the massive MSC Cruises branded bridge, I felt the full spectacle of the sport. The sound, an otherworldly howl that vibrates through your chest…the speed, the precision, it all came together in a way no television broadcast could capture. The track’s red and white curbing blurred as cars navigated the technical sections at speeds that seemed impossible.

WITNESSING THE PODIUM CELEBRATION

Sunday’s race concluded with the podium ceremony—a moment that crystallized why Formula One captivates millions worldwide. Standing among the crowd as drivers celebrated, I watched MSC Cruises CEO Rubén Rodríguez present the Constructor’s Trophy. The energy was electric, the champagne flowed, and suddenly all those practice sessions and garage tours made sense.

EVENING CONCERTS ADD FESTIVAL ATMOSPHERE

COTA offers more than racing. Evening concerts featured major artists—Kygo on Friday, Garth Brooks on Saturday, and Turnpike Troubadours on Sunday. The festival atmosphere transformed the venue from racetrack to entertainment destination after the final checkered flag.

THE MSC CRUISES PARTNERSHIP WITH FORMULA ONE

MSC Cruises served as title sponsor for the 2025 Austin Grand Prix, marking perfect timing as the cruise line prepared to launch year-round sailings from Galveston in November 2025. The partnership felt natural—both brands emphasize innovation, cutting-edge technology, and exceptional experiences.

MSC Cruises will return as title sponsor for three 2026 Formula 1 races: Austin (October 23-25), Barcelona (June 12-14), and São Paulo (November 6-8). For Texas cruisers, MSC Seascape features an F1 simulator onboard, allowing guests to experience driving an F1 car through iconic circuits. The convergence of cruise luxury and motorsport excitement creates unique opportunities for fans to extend their F1 passion beyond race weekends.

INSIDER TIPS FOR FIRST-TIME F1 ATTENDEES

Arrive early. Traffic around COTA builds quickly, and you’ll want time to explore before sessions begin. Book accommodations well in advance—Austin hotels fill up months before race weekend.

Bring binoculars or rent them at the track. Even with Paddock Club access, viewing from different vantage points enhances your understanding of racing strategy and gives you appreciation for how drivers attack each corner.

Embrace the learning curve. Everyone was a first-timer once. Ask questions, watch the screens displaying race data and timing splits, and let the energy carry you. The F1 community welcomes newcomers enthusiastically.

Consider staying for evening concerts. The tram system makes transportation easy, and extending your day creates a complete entertainment experience that showcases why COTA has become more than just a racetrack.

FROM SKEPTIC TO SUPERFAN

I arrived at COTA unable to distinguish F1 teams by their livery or understand why tire strategy mattered. I departed obsessed with lap times, fascinated by aerodynamic trade-offs, and captivated by the ballet of pit stops. Formula One transformed from mysterious spectacle to comprehensible sport—one I now follow religiously.

For newcomers wondering if F1 is for them, my advice is simple: take the leap. Whether in Austin, Barcelona, or São Paulo, the combination of speed, strategy, hospitality, and pure spectacle creates unforgettable weekends. You don’t need to understand everything immediately. Just show up, stay curious, and let the roar of engines pull you in.

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Cover photo courtesy MSC Cruises. Drivers celebrate on the podium at the Formula 1 MSC Cruises United States Grand Prix, with MSC Cruises CEO Rubén Rodríguez presenting the Constructor’s Trophy during the ceremony in Austin. 

Amanda Eyre Ward is a New York Times bestselling novelist and travel writer whose work appears in Travel + Leisure, Bon Appétit, and Food & Wine. She lives with her family in Austin, Texas. Her newest bestselling novel is LOVERS AND LIARS.