COTA grandstand guide: the view from every stand
Where to sit at Circuit of the Americas. For each of 5 grandstands: the view from its front rows, the corners you can see, and what a Formula 1 car is doing right in front of you on the 2025 pole lap (Max Verstappen, 1:32.510).
A Main Grandstand
- 214 km/h Cars pass the stand at about 214 km/h, by the start/finish line and the pit lane.
- 5 corners Turns 2, 17, 18, 19 and 20 are within 450 m.
- 95 m from the middle of the stand to the track.
B Turn 1 grandstand
- 312 to 91 km/h Cars arrive at Turn 1 at 312 km/h and take it at 91 km/h in 3rd gear.
- 27 m climb The track climbs about 27 m on the way up to Turn 1.
- 2 corners Turns 1 and 2 are within 450 m.
- 80 m from the middle of the stand to the track.
Steep, blind uphill braking zone; heavy braking and the main passing spot.
Fly around Turn 1 in 3D →C Turn 12 grandstand
- 321 to 104 km/h Cars arrive at Turn 12 at 321 km/h and take it at 104 km/h in 3rd gear.
- 8 corners Turns 4, 5, 6, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 are within 450 m.
- 70 m from the middle of the stand to the track.
Heavy braking at the end of the back straight; the best overtaking spot on the lap.
Fly around Turn 12 in 3D →D Turn 15 grandstand
- 206 to 94 km/h Cars arrive at Turn 15 at 206 km/h and take it at 94 km/h in 3rd gear.
- 13 corners Turns 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 are within 450 m.
- 75 m from the middle of the stand to the track.
Slow, twisty corners under the observation tower and the big grandstands.
Fly around Turn 15 in 3D →E Turn 19 grandstand
- 283 to 218 km/h Cars arrive at Turn 19 at 283 km/h and take it at 218 km/h in 6th gear.
- 9 corners Turns 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 are within 450 m.
- 120 m from the middle of the stand to the track.
Fast left in the final sequence back toward the line.
Fly around Turn 19 in 3D →Questions
Which grandstand at COTA sees the most of the track?
Turn 15 grandstand: 13 corners are within 450 m of it (Turns 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19).
Where do F1 cars brake hardest at COTA?
Into Turn 1, in front of the Turn 1 grandstand: on the 2025 pole lap (Max Verstappen, 1:32.510) the car arrived at 312 km/h and slowed to 91 km/h.
Which COTA grandstand is closest to the track?
Turn 12 grandstand, about 70 m from the middle of the stand to the track.
Stand positions from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors). Speeds from the 2025 pole lap (Max Verstappen, 1:32.510), FastF1. Views are rendered from satellite imagery and elevation data, not photographs. COTA renames and rebuilds some stands between years, so check the official ticket map before you buy.