US GP Chief Says 2026 Rules Aren't Hurting Sales, Points to F1's Stadium-Free Edge

Circuit of the Americas founder Bobby Epstein says US Grand Prix ticket sales are on pace for a record October crowd, rejecting fears that controversial 2026 regulations have cooled interest. He argues F1's lack of fixed stadium boundaries lets promoters keep expanding the live experience.

Why it matters:

Despite vocal driver criticism of the 2026 rules, F1 attendance is surging with six record-breaking events in the first eleven races and overall turnout up six percent. The trend suggests on-track action matters far more to fans than technical rule disputes.

The details:

• The British Grand Prix set an all-time F1 record with 564,000 fans, joining Australia, Canada, Austria, Belgium, and Hungary in hitting new highs. Eleven races have drawn 3.7 million attendees and eleven sell-outs.
• Room to Grow: Epstein says F1 venues aren't confined by seating bowls, allowing them to add programming. COTA's new Grand PrixView Thursday offers a $20 pitlane walk and F1 Academy access.
• Future Capacity: Highway improvements around Austin within two years should add lanes, allowing COTA to safely increase daily attendance by 15,000 to 30,000 fans.
• Action Over Noise: Epstein says promoters only need to watch ticket sales, which remain strong. He believes fans want genuine competition, not "quirky" results, and the 2026 backlash will fade.

What's next:

Epstein ruled out Austin hosting a season finale after Las Vegas, calling back-to-back US races logistically impractical and harmful to COTA's identity as America's largest annual single-weekend sporting event. With infrastructure upgrades pending, Austin aims to extend its attendance lead.