Throughout my years of attending the United States Grand Prix (USGP) at the Circuit of The Americas (COTA) one thing has always stood out to me, and that is the culture on display at COTA. As a former Texas resident, I can say that Texas takes great pride in their culture and the story is no different down trackside just outside the state’s capital. 

Bringing a true American Southern experience to Formula One is something so apparent and meticulously planned as well as famous on the calendar. Formula One transforms itself for the weekend, putting on its hat and boots. From drivers tapping into their inner cowboy, to appearances from Southern royalty, to fan environment, everything really is bigger in Texas.

When thinking of Texas, many people think of cowboys and what is a cowboy without the hat? COTA has leaned into fully embracing this side of the culture with their well known “Haturday” dress code. On the Saturday of the weekend is when the seas of people that came out to enjoy F1 festivities and action all show up in their cowboy hats. Teams, drivers, and fans all take part in Haturday festivities and it has become a beloved part of the weekend at COTA. Even within the track itself there is the world’s largest cowboy hat on display, because where else would it be?

From the strength of the tradition and culture, people look forward to the weekend where F1 has gone country. Drivers embrace it, having fun dressing in their yee-haw alter ego around the paddock with some teams going as far as having special western wear racing suits. Redbull is specially known for always having cowboy suits at COTA, being heavily influenced by former driver and honorary American, Daniel Ricciardo. 

While still racing there were booths at COTA called “Letters to Cowboy Ric” in which fans could leave notes for Daniel to see. Danny Ric always had iconic entrances at COTA and viewed the USGP as another home race, despite growing up in Australia from Italian descent. His  preferred mode of transportation into the paddock? Why on horseback of course! He would sport cowboy attire and University of Texas at Austin football jerseys alongside a simple “hook em’ horns!”. Even now as he has retired from Formula One he is still seen around Austin for USGP race weekend, having pop-ups either for his clothing brand Enchanté or making appearances at the Ford Racing pop-ups as an official Ford Racing partner and ambassador. 

This image COTA has created for itself has become so important and big that it is desired by fans to go for the USGP atmosphere. Not only is there very apparent physical evidence of the atmosphere such as the very large “Texas sized” flags, the stars in red, white, and blue around the track, the world record cowboy hat, and the list goes on, but it's also the people that contribute. Before the race the pre race festivities are also a display of culture at COTA.

Just before the drivers parade, the grid is set with a very warm Texas welcome. The grid is lined with the University of Texas at Austin band and the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders (DCC), often referred to as America’s Sweethearts or the Heart of the South. With how big football culture is within the South, or America in general, it is most girl’s dream to be a cheerleader, meaning the appearance of the DCC girls is a big deal. The driver’s parade takes place on the most souped up Texan trucks, a large part of the state's culture as well.

Most famous among fans has to be the track invasion after the race to watch podium from the starting grid. Some fans will get up from their seats many laps before race end just to get a good spot towards the front gates that will allow them the best chances at a good view. Once the gates are opened by track marshals, all chaos breaks out. Fans sprint to the fence and try to position themselves so they can see the drivers come out for podium celebrations. As a part of the celebration red, white, and blue confetti, streamers, and colored powder shoots out of canons into the air to cover the crowd. A small but fun touch is that some of the confetti that magically floats down into the crowd is shaped like the state of Texas. Having personally participated in the track invasion for podium celebration the past three years at COTA, it is some of my favorite memories in Formula One.

From trackside to the state’s capital, Formula One takes over Austin for the weekend and fully embraces all that Texan culture has to offer.