Whether you head to the track or just wander around town and hit the pop-ups and parties, F1 week in Austin never disappoints. From the track side activations to the celebrity sightings and more, these are the best things we saw and did during Austin F1 race week.
5 Of The Best Things About The Austin F1 Race 2025
1 – It’s Totally Texas
They say everything’s bigger in Texas and that’s definitely true of the US GP. There are Texas touches everywhere at the track – and we’re not just talking about the enormous Texas flag. Our favorite experience in 2025 was the Tecova’s boot branding station. The Austin based brand, currently celebrating their 10 year anniversary, offered race attendees free branding with special brands only available at the track.
Travel Texas took full advantage of the mass of visitors, setting up multiple booths in the Grand Plaza highighting towns around Texas. The Bandera booth had live music, El Paso offered race fans free Agua Fresca, Bastrop had a rocking horse photo op, while Visit Georgetown offered swag that included can coolers for tall boys – perfect for race day!
It was Uber that threw the most Texas sized party of the weekend. At The One Party By Uber, Uber One members were treated to a rodeo opener, a special performance by GRAMMY Award-winning group Zac Brown Band and bites from Terry Black’s BBQ and Torchy’s Tacos.
2 – New Tech at the Track
As technology continues to evolve, so does everything that goes into producing these big events. One of the coolest things we saw out at Circuit of the Americas was the Just Walk Out technology in place at the Grab and Go stations. All you have to do is tap your credit card and you’re charged for whatever you’re walking out with. It’s quick, easy and honestly, pretty darn cool.
Speaking of new things, how about that Circuit Breaker? The ride lifts passengers up 130 feet before tilting 90 degrees at the top, pausing and then dropping them straight down. Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli gave it a spin and gave viewers a first hand account of what it’s like!
3 – Merch That Is So Austin
There was no shortage of merch options this year, with drivers past and present popping up around Austin. Daniel Ricciardo brought his Enchante Garage back to the ATX, as did Lewis Hamilton with his +44 / Plus Four Four line. Monster Energy presented a pop-up with Lando Norris on South Congress, while, just up the street, the F1 Hub catered to thousands of fans throughout the week.
But it’s the Pacsun line we love the most. Their styles are sharp and their price points aren’t bad. While a jacket at the F1 Hub would run you about $250 to $300, those offered by Pacsun are in the $125 to $150 range.
4 – Pit Stops, Parties and Pop-Ups
The parties were plentiful! From the previously mentioned Uber event to Sports Illustrated, Jack Daniels, IQOS, Esses Magazine and more, it seemed there was something for everyone. We were lucky enough to attend events with IWC and Tag Heuer, both of which featured Q&A sessions with the drivers who rep their watches (see pictures). At one of the Glenfiddich events, we sipped on creative cocktails, mingled with celebrities among the Aston Martin inspired decor and realized we’ve been saying the brand’s name wrong all these years. It’s pronounced Fiddick, not Fiddich, for what it’s worth. And, for the third year in a row, Jack Daniel’s treated us to an intimate music set, headlined by Chase Rice.
5 – Celebrity Sightings
You can always count on F1 weekend to catch the stars shining bright deep in the heart of Texas. We spotted a few A-List Austinites at the track including Matthew McConaughey and family, Joe Rogan and rising superstar Glen Powell. Jewelry powerhouse Kendra Scott was ringside at the Uber One Rodeo to support her fiance Zac Brown. Other celebs spotted around town include Adele, Jay Leno, The Hunting Wives stars Malin Akerman and Brittany Snow, Chase Crawford and more. See a full list here.
