Published October 20, 2025

Racing into Austin’s Future: F1 Extends COTA Through 2034 After Thrilling 2025 Grand Prix

Author Avatar

Written by Clay Byrne

Circuit of the Americas: Austin Grand Prix

Race winners and key moments

The race weekend at COTA (Oct 17–19, 2025) saw plenty of action on and off the track. According to the official listing, the 2025 United States Grand Prix (Round 19 of the season) took place on Sunday 19 October at COTA, with the sprint event and full Grand Prix format in play. 

The headline result:

  • Max Verstappen (Red Bull) took pole position for the sprint race, posting a lap time of ~1:32.143 to edge out the McLaren drivers. 

  • He then translated that into victory in the main Grand Prix event on Sunday. 

  • The podium places: 1st Max Verstappen (Red Bull), 2nd Lando Norris (McLaren) and 3rd Charles Leclerc (Ferrari). 

Although the official detailed classification (e.g., full top 10) hasn’t been fully dissected here, we do know the result had significant implications. Verstappen’s win “clawed him back into the race” for his fifth world title, shrinking a large points gap. 

Highlights & dramatic moments

  • Qualifying and sprint pole: Verstappen nailed the sprint pole in Austin, with Norris and championship-leader Oscar Piastri (McLaren) close behind. Piastri’s third in that session set him up but also showed how the title chase is tightening. 

  • The main race: Verstappen was dominant. Norris put in a bold overtake on Leclerc for second. Meanwhile Piastri faced a tougher day — he finished 5th, after a collision in the sprint with his teammate and lost ground in the standings. 

  • Championship shake-up: Before the weekend Piastri led Norris by 22 points and Verstappen by 63. After Austin, those gaps shrank — Verstappen now only ~40 points behind. With five races remaining and 141 points on offer, the title race is very much alive. 

  • Off-track & spectacle: As expected at COTA, the weekend delivered more than just racing. From live concerts and fan-zones to the unique Texas-style ambient vibe, it once again proved why this event is a firm favorite on the F1 calendar. 

Verstappen-Norris-Leclerc-Austin-2-2025

Why this race matters

In many ways, this weekend at COTA offers a snapshot of how F1’s U.S. strategy is paying off:

  • Purpose-built circuit: COTA is a modern facility (first hosting the U.S. GP in 2012) designed for high-speed, spectator-friendly racing. 

  • Fan engagement: Crowds continue to be strong (past years saw 430,000+ attendees), and the U.S. market is clearly engaged. 

  • Title implications: With the championship tighter than ever, the U.S. GP becomes even more significant as one of the final run-ins of the season.

Contract extension: F1 stays in Austin through 2034

Arguably the biggest news coming out of this weekend isn’t just the on-track victory, but the long-term strategic decision: F1 has extended the contract for the U.S. Grand Prix at COTA through to (at least) the end of the 2034 season. 

Key points:

  • The deal locks in the U.S. Grand Prix at COTA until 2034, providing at least nine more years of racing in Austin. 

  • It marks one of the longer-term commitments among F1 circuits in the U.S. and globally. 

  • The announcement emphasizes the mutual benefit: F1 gains a stable, proven U.S. base; Austin and Texas secure years of high-profile economic and tourism impact.

For Austin and the region, this is more than just good news—it’s a signal of stability for infrastructure planning, business investment, hospitality and real estate.

Economic impact: Jobs, infrastructure & tourism for Austin

With the race locked in for years to come and the 2025 weekend proving once again that the fans will travel, the positive effects for Austin’s economy and built-environment are considerable. Here are the main angles.

Jobs & employment

An event of the scale of the U.S. Grand Prix generates meaningful employment: from temporary staffing on race-weekend (hospitality, security, logistics, event services) to longer-term roles in venue operation, hospitality, transport and infrastructure.

Because the contract now runs to 2034, vendors, local businesses and the broader service ecosystem can plan ahead with confidence — which often translates into more stable jobs rather than one-off gig-work.

The repeated influx of tens of thousands of visitors means hotels, restaurants, transport services, event management companies and local suppliers all benefit. Over time that builds a backbone of jobs tied to the annual week of F1 plus the related events surrounding it.

Infrastructure & built-environment

Locking in an event through 2034 means local government and private stakeholders can justify infrastructure investments: roads, parking and transport links to COTA, hotel expansions, hospitality venues nearby, upgraded fan-zones and more.

For example: enhancements to surrounding transport networks, increased hotel capacity in Austin and surrounding Travis County, improved fan amenities at COTA, and other ancillary development (retail, restaurants, entertainment venues) all see a strong reason to proceed when the event is no longer a temporary gamble but a long-term fixture.

The ripple effect: as the event grows in size and scale, the circuit and local area may see upgrades that benefit the local community well beyond the race-weekend itself.

Tourism and visitor spend

The numbers tell the story: According to the announcement, the economic impact of hosting F1 at COTA since 2012 has been estimated at US $7 billion for Austin and Texas. 

In 2023 alone the event reportedly contributed over US $1 billion in direct & indirect expenditure. 

Those visitor-spending patterns bring money into local hotels, restaurants, nightlife, retail, transport, and entertainment—virtually every aspect of the city economy. And because the contract extension signals many more years of this activity, the tourism industry can plan for growth rather than uncertainty.

cota-hotel

Real-estate and local business opportunities

From the perspective of real estate and local development: when a high-profile global event is locked in for the next decade, that tends to boost confidence in the local luxury property market, especially in neighbourhoods around the circuit and the wider Austin area.

Luxury buyers, second-home owners and investors may be attracted by proximity to a major sporting event, high-quality infrastructure and consistent influx of visitors. Hospitality-related residential developments (condos, luxury homes, serviced apartments) may see stronger demand.

Moreover, vendors of high-end services (from property management, concierge, hospitality to leasing firms) benefit. The “race-weekend plus investment horizon” becomes a meaningful selling point.

cota-car-condos

Are you considering investing in luxury property in the Austin market?

👉 Check out properties here: Austin Luxury Listings

Let’s connect and make sure you’re positioned to capitalize on what promises to be many more exciting years of Formula One in Austin.

Long-term multiplier effects

The greatest gains are often cumulative: each year the race may bring more visitors, more global exposure, more brands partnering with the circuit etc. That exposure not only raises Austin’s profile as a destination city, but also can spur spill-over development — entertainment districts, new hotels and resorts, improvement in public transport and civic amenities.

Because that development is underpinned by the certainty of the race’s presence, the risks of speculative investment drop and more long-term projects become viable. For the city, that means improved amenities for residents (not just visitors) and, over time, a stronger regional economy.

Austin’s unique appeal: Why F1 loves COTA

A few words on why Austin, and COTA in particular, has become such a successful venue for F1 — and why the city stands to benefit:

  • COTA is purpose-built for F1: unlike the temporary urban street circuits favoured by some new venues, COTA was designed with binocular corners, elevation changes, dramatic sections (notably the uphill run into Turn 1). Many drivers and fans consider it one of the better tracks on the calendar.

  • Austin’s culture: The city mixes motorsport with music, food, live-entertainment and a vibrant hospitality scene. The 2025 weekend featured multiple live acts, local flavor and fan-zones. 

  • Fan friendly: Compared with some ultra-premium venues, COTA offers a relatively accessible experience for fans and makes the spectacle part of a broader trip to Austin (dining, live music, tourism). That helps attendance and repeat visits. 

  • Strategic U.S. market: F1 has been expanding rapidly in the U.S., and having a stable, proven American event helps anchor its calendar and its business model. Austin offers that through consistent attendance and local commitment. The contract extension demonstrates that symbiosis. 

  • Strategic U.S. market: F1 has been expanding rapidly in the U.S., and having a stable, proven American event helps anchor its calendar and its business model. Austin offers that through consistent attendance and local commitment. The contract extension demonstrates that symbiosis. 


cota-skyline

The 2025 United States Grand Prix at COTA delivered thrilling on-track action, dramatic championship implications and – perhaps even more importantly – a definitively positive long-term signal for Austin’s economy and real estate market. With the race locked in to 2034, businesses, infrastructure planners, hospitality providers and real-estate investors have a clear runway to build and benefit.

If you’re reading this and thinking about how this event—and the extended future of F1 at COTA—might impact your decision to invest, relocate, or acquire a luxury property in the Austin area, now is a compelling time. The certainty of an annual global-sporting event, combined with Austin’s vibrant lifestyle and growing upward mobility, makes for a strong proposition.

If you’d like to explore luxury real-estate opportunities in Austin or the surrounding areas—properties that may benefit from this F1-driven upside—please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’d be happy to guide you through the premium listings, neighborhoods, and investment considerations tied to the region’s evolving sports-and-tourism landscape.

Let’s connect and make sure you’re positioned to capitalize on what promises to be many more exciting years of Formula One in Austin.

Make sure you're following us for all the latest Austin, Texas news and real estate updates:  Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube

Sign up for our our weekly newsletter for all things related to real estate in central Texas here. 

Clay Byrne
Byrne Real Estate Group


Categories

Listings, Market Update, Neighborhood Guide
home

Are you buying or selling a home?

Buying
Selling
Both
home

When are you planning on buying a new home?

1-3 Mo
3-6 Mo
6+ Mo
home

Are you pre-approved for a mortgage?

Yes
No
Using Cash
home

Would you like to schedule a consultation now?

Yes
No

When would you like us to call?

Thanks! We’ll give you a call as soon as possible.

home

When are you planning on selling your home?

1-3 Mo
3-6 Mo
6+ Mo

Would you like to schedule a consultation or see your home value?

Schedule Consultation
My Home Value

or another way