F1 Academy Driver Emma Felbermayr and Audi Reveal the Ultimate Way to Experience Race Weekend in Austin

NurPhoto//Getty ImagesBefore Miami or Las Vegas, the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, was the only race in the U.S. for Formula 1. And it has quite the history! The iconic Circuit of the Americas track was purposefully built for the sport and has become a quick favorite amongst drivers and fans alike thanks to its stunning turns that were inspired by the likes of the Silverstone Circuit in the United Kingdom and Bahrain’s International Circuit and spacing that allows for fun overturns and racing to happen at all parts of the circuit. (Try overtaking during a street race, we dare you!) But as a person who has experienced several races in her lifetime, the vibes of Austin stood out to me as the iconic venue brought the sport back to the Lone Star State once again for another incredible race that sets itself apart by being clear that it’s made by the fans and for the fans. And the mood was only elevated by the introduction of some brand-new teams in the circuit including the Audi Revolut F1 Team.In a surprise twist, this year they were also joined by F1 Academy after a schedule change moved one of their planned three-race weekends over to Austin. Which also meant that for the first time, second-year driver Emma Felbermayr would be experiencing the track for herself. And as someone who was heading to the United States Grand Prix weekend for the first time alongside Audi, it felt like fate that we were going to have this new adventure together!To get the epic Audi experience, the team invited us out to the 2026 United States Grand Prix to see race weekend up close. And in true Texas fashion, we got to see firsthand the real meaning of Southern hospitality. Get ready to find out how Audi is not only bringing a new kind of venture to Austin, but also how Emma got ready for an unexpected weekend in the Lone Star State.(P.S. The writer received free stays, meals, and experiences in order to write this story.)Thursday, October 22—Day Before Race WeekendI was determined to finally get to witness an entire full race weekend for the first time (third time is the charm, after all), so I traveled out the day before so I wouldn’t have to miss a single second. Ironically, this has also been part of Emma’s plan for success this year.“This year I took myself a bit more time to see the cities. Last year I was still in school. I always arrived the day before in the evening and went back on Sunday,” she revealed to Cosmopolitan after her final race of the weekend. “But this year, I arrive one day earlier before media day starts to do things you have to do in that specific city.”Emma used the extra time to her advantage, saying that she went to the city to “try cowboy boots, hats, and all that stuff. But also the most important is getting used to the time zone.”Colin McMaster//Getty ImagesIn a special surprise, Audi allowed me to bring a +1 and so I brought my dad out for his first official race. We hadn’t even made it to the track yet when he let out his first, “Oh my god,” as we were greeted by an Audi representative and were shuffled into a brand-new 2027 Audi Q9, our vehicle for the weekend. Our driver, Cody, let us know that the vehicle only had 18 miles on it before he picked it up, meaning we were truly one of the first to step into it.Unfortunately, since we got in a bit late, we couldn’t really follow in Emma’s footsteps and take in the sights. Instead, our only stop after our flight was our hotel, the newly opened 1 Hotel Austin. The hotel has a strong link to Audi (more on that later) and we automatically felt right at home as we walked in and immediately headed up to our room.Room service was absolutely necessary and I totally recommend their wagyu burger which also came with some perfectly cooked fries. After a quick shower, we settled in for the night as we got ready for an incredibly fun-filled weekend.AudiFeatured here: Audi’s Q6 E-TronFriday, October 23—Practice DayPractice day meant a more chill day at COTA and a later start than the following few days, so I was able to kick things off with a massage at the Bamford Wellness Spa in 1 Hotel Austin. Not only is there a sauna that I wish I had more time to enjoy, but the staff there were one in a million and made me feel so welcomed and relaxed. The deep tissue massage was a welcome reset after a flight and it got me so energized for an exciting first day.Unlike in Formula 1, where drivers get three official practices before the qualifying session, Formula 1 Academy drivers already come into day one ready to participate in their first of three races of the weekend. While Emma notes that simulator training does help them be fully prepared for packed weekends like this one, nothing relates to the real thing.“The track time you get isn't a lot. In karting you don't really learn that you have to prepare yourself that much for a weekend, because you've got five test sessions before every weekend. But here you only have one, so that's the only session you can try something on track and just go through different situations before a weekend,” Emma said.And so, it was important for us to get the lay of the land. As my dad and I got to the track in the middle of the day and it was officially time to take everything in. We did a hot girl walk around the track going from Turn 1—where he would be taking in the race all weekend—before walking backwards the track’s direction until we hit turn 16. It allowed us to get a pretty good idea of what the track was like and also check out some of the incredible spots where other folks who were attending were able to see the races.Anni Graf - Formula 1//Getty ImagesIt was a shorter day at COTA, but for a good reason. We ran back to the hotel after doing some very important shopping at the F1 merch shops and got in just in time for our special dinner experience, “Driven by the Journey,” a special partnership between Audi, 1 Hotels, and SingleThread—a three-star Michelin restaurant located in Sonoma County in California.The dinner brought the iconic SingleThread Farms experience to Austin with a special five-course menu created by owner-chef Kyle Connaughton that featured fresh produce picked from the farm and picked out by owner-farmer Katina Connaughton. Each course also came with a wine pairing and it was truly one of the most incredible dining journeys I’ve ever had the pleasure to try. And the views from the hotel’s 14th floor were absolutely gorgeous, especially as we caught the Austin sunset.As the sun went down, we went straight up to the rooftop to Watr—1 Hotel’s Japanese-inspired restaurant—where the night was just getting started for the ultimate nightcap.Collin FindlaySaturday, October 24—Qualifying DayIt was a very full day on the track, so we headed out first thing in the morning in order to catch every single minute. Somehow, Audi worked their magic and gave my dad the greatest gifts you can give an F1 fan: a Paddock Club pass. Some lucky fans are able to win the chance to go into the Paddock Club with a team, while a few tickets are also sold to the public, but usually it’s access that’s reserved for those who are close to the team like sponsors or friends and family.After catching up with the rest of the group, we walked over to the pit lane to get a private tour of the Audi F1 garage. Not only did we get to see the cars up close, but we also got to see the incredible mechanics and engineers get ready for qualifying day.Clive Mason//Getty ImagesWe also caught Emma’s Q&A back in the Paddock Club, where she shared her experience so far in Austin and her hope for the rest of the weekend as she prepared for her second race.“The track is so wide, so big, and with our cars being that small compared to F1 cars, it it's even bigger. So I'm enjoying it a lot,” she revealed.Soon after, we were heading out to the track for the ultimate experience: a Pirelli Hot Lap. Since I was the first one up for our session, I ran straight into the special Audi RS 5 where Audi F1 ambassador and current F1 Academy mentor Carrie Schreiner took me for the ultimate ride around the track that went up to 150 miles per hour. Just when I thought that walking around COTA was the best experience, there’s nothing like actually getting driven around the track.Then came the day’s biggest main events: the F1 qualifying race as well as F1 Academy’s Reverse Grid Race. Grabbing one of the team radios only available in the Paddock Club and in the garage, we were able to listen to the team’s communications that made for a fun and different experience compared to watching at home.For dinner, we headed out into the town and checked out Comedor, a spectacular Mexican restaurant located in downtown Austin where we grabbed some guacamole topped with chapulines—or Mexican crickets—and some Crab Luis Totopos that I will be dreaming about for years.Then it was back to 1 Hotel for a much-needed rest before the final day. Emma notes that relaxing and getting a good night’s sleep before a race day is always key.“I like to get my nine hours every day. I just like getting into bed early and maybe watch something on Netflix, not doing so much,” she said. What’s she watching right now? Outer Banks and some reality TV, along with Gossip Girl as she prepares for her first trip to NYC with Formula 1 Academy. But no time for an all-nighter! There’s still race day to look forward to!Sunday, October 25—Race DayIt was finally race day and things couldn’t be more heated as both Formula 1 and Formula 1 Academy geared up for another wild day.After grabbing a smoothie at Neighbors Cafe at 1 Hotel, my dad and I got one final look around the track.Bonus: There’s one new experience at the United States Grand Prix that blew my mind during race day: the Guest House at Turn 20. In partnership with Austin’s Guest House restaurant, the special private hospitality space gives the perfect view of the final turn into the pit lane and includes a gourmet menu, fun performances throughout the day, and a bar with specialty drinks. Believe me, if you want to get as close to the Paddock Club experience, this is it!We got to the track just in time to see Emma in her final race of the weekend which left her third in the overall Formula 1 Academy standings. There’s only one more race left in the F1A calendar: Las Vegas.“It's going to be so much colder, so it's going to be different. Since I've raced there already last year, that's at least an advantage for myself compared to this weekend,” she added. “I think I just can focus a bit more on the driving through practice than learning the track.”Anni Graf - Formula 1//Getty ImagesEmma is looking forward to resetting herself before then, something she says is key to further success.“Either after a bad or a good weekend, you need to reset. If it was a good weekend, it doesn't mean the next one is going to be good as well. But if it's a bad one, there is a chance to come back stronger.”Part of that includes hanging out with friends and family while she’s back home.“I love seeing my friends. Since we are traveling so much, I don't get to see them really often. But when I do, it's even more nice,” Emma revealed.She hasn’t revealed her plans for next season, especially as she finishes up her two-year limit in Formula 1 Academy.“I'd say it's a bit hard to say now. I don't have proper plans for next year, so we are a bit on seeing the options,” she noted.But, above all, she’s keeping one thing in mind: her love of racing.“It was always about having fun, enjoying it, and that's also why I do it. I've always done what I really enjoyed doing and what I felt was the right thing to do.”And so, with one final look at COTA and a last “yee-haw,” we officially said goodbye to the United States Grand Prix and Audi’s first rodeo in Austin. If this is what their first go-around is like, we can’t wait to witness what they have coming up next!