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COTA Austin circuit layout
Track telemetry © OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL

TRACK BRIEFING UNITED STATES · AUSTIN, TEXAS

COTA Austin

40-meter uphill Turn 1 climb, Maggotts-inspired Esses, and triple-apex carousel

5.513 km20 turns · 56 Laps (308.405 km)

A modern classic designed with homage to historic venues. Drivers sprint up a 40-meter vertical rise into a blind Turn 1 hairpin before plunging into a supersonic sequence of Esses mirroring Silverstone.

LAP RECORD1:36.169Charles Leclerc (2019)
DRS ACTIVATION2 ZONESDetection points verified
DOWNFORCE LEVELHIGHWing & floor load package
TIRE STRESSHIGHLateral & thermal loading

01 SECTOR BY SECTOR GUIDE

01

Sector 1 (The Big Hill & Esses)

Turn 1 climb & Turns 3–6 flow

Steep uphill braking into Turn 1, then high-g Esses loading car diffusers.

02

Sector 2 (Hairpin to 1km Straight)

Turn 11 hairpin & DRS drag

Slow hairpin exit into the 1.1km back straight exceeding 335 km/h.

03

Sector 3 (Stadium & Quad Apex)

Turns 12–15 & multi-apex carousel

Heavy braking into stadium arena followed by continuous high-g right-hand carousel.

02 DRIVER CRAFT & TELEMETRY LESSONS

01

Blind apex commitment at Turn 1

You cannot see the apex curb until 30 meters after beginning your braking phase.

02

Bumping over ground effect platforms

Subsidence bumps can bottom out floor planks, disrupting aerodynamic suction.

03

Multiple overtaking lines in stadium

Wide entry at Turn 12 allows late braking switchbacks into Turn 13.

03 TRACK METEOROLOGY

TRACKSIDE METEOROLOGY
AIR TEMP22°C72°F
TRACK SURFACE38°COptimal Window
WIND24 KM/HNW (290°)
RAIN RISK18%Dry & Sunny
STRATEGIC IMPACT:

Track temp at 38°C favors starting on Medium C3 compound. Soft C4 tire degradation expected after 14 laps.

Austin offers immense elevation drama and a complete dynamic test of racecraft.

Track geometry: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) ↗. Circuit facts: Formula 1 circuit guide ↗. Official circuit: COTA Austin official site ↗.

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