“COTA F1 2021” by rsyphotography is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Turn 4 at Circuit of the Americas is the start of the incredibly fast ‘esses’ section of the track, where the cars wiggle from left to right and back again at super high speed.
This article provides a full guide to spectating at COTA Turn 4, including information on the grandstands, the view, the seating chart, general admission areas and more.
Contents
What is the Turn 4 grandstand at COTA?
The grandstand at COTA Turn 4 is a premium seating area with reserved seating. It used to be 3 separate sets of bleachers but now it is a single full grandstand with individual seats.
This grandstand isn’t always present. It was there and full of fans for the US F1 Grand Prix in October 2022, but wasn’t there for the 2023 EchoPark Nascar Cup Series race. It seems it’s only in place for the headline events.
The COTA Turn 4 grandstand is available for the 2023 Formula One US GP.
COTA Turn 4 grandstand Tickets
Tickets for the Turn 4 grandstand at the United States Grand Prix are very popular and can sell out pretty quickly.
So I’d recommend buying tickets on StubHub.
I’ve used StubHub for F1 tickets a bunch of times in the last year, including when I went to the Las Vegas F1 race, and have always had very good experiences.
Their FanProtect guarantee will also protect your tickets and your money.
Where is the Turn 4 grandstand?
The COTA Turn 4 grandstand is located on the grass banking on the outside (right-hand side) of the circuit at Turn 4. It’s such a big grandstand, however, that it pretty much stretches alongside the track for the entire length of turns 3, 4 and 5.
The grandstand starts shortly after the bridge at the entrance to the third corner. It runs in a straight line along the circuit fence as the track moves away for Turn 4 and then comes back towards the stand for the fifth corner.
COTA Turn 4 grandstand view
Being positioned directly alongside the circuit and in the highest seats around 40 feet above the track, pretty much all seats within the grandstand have a great view of the cars exiting the second corner and running through turns 3, 4, 5 and most of turn 6.
As you look to your left you can see the cars exiting the second corner. The COTA Turn 2 grandstand blocks your view of the entry and apex of the second corner. Once they’ve exited it you have a great view of them running under the bridge towards Turn 3. Images below from tcco.
Depending exactly where you’re sat the cars will pass directly in front of you near the apex of Turn 4. As you then turn to look to your right you can see them as they round Turn 5 and disappear out of sight half way around Turn 6.
The image below shows the parts of the track that are visible from the COTA Turn 4 grandstand highlighted in green.
The video below was filmed from the Turn 4 grandstand at the 2022 Formula One race in Austin, and gives a great example of the view of the circuit from here.
Turn 4 general admission viewing
As well as the reserved grandstand seating there are also COTA general admission viewing areas either side the stand.
To the left of the stand there’s an area between turns 2 and 3 (GA Viewing 1 on the map below). This is on a slightly raised grass banking, but has a pretty limited view. If you can get close to the edge of the track here, one benefit is that you can watch the cars wiggle their way through the ‘esses’ from behind, rather than being side-on.
The second area is to the right of the Turn 4 grandstand and is on a large banking that goes all the way around the inside of the sixth corner.
If you can get a spot on top of the bank on the inside of Turn 6 then you’re in prime position; you can watch the cars come almost directly towards you as they exit Turn 2 and run through the ‘esses’, plus you can follow them all the way around turns 6 and 7. This is the GA Viewing 2 on the map.
COTA Turn 4 grandstand facilities
- As of 2024, the Turn 4 grandstand at COTA is partly covered. The most expensive seats in the upper section of the grandstand are under a cover. These are rows 12 and up.
- There is a toilet block directly behind the grandstand, as well as a fully stocked bar. There are a number of other food providers just a short walk away towards the third corner, plus a La Cantina village on the outside of Turn 6.
- The seats are full chairs with a folding seat base, fixed seat back and cupholders.
- There are 3 giant TVs visible from the grandstand located on the other side of the track. They’re on the infield and are angled towards the grandstand, and depending where you are sat you should have a good view of one, if not two of these.
COTA Turn 4 seating chart
Enter your name and email in the boxes below and the hi-res COTA grandstand seating charts will be sent to your inbox. These will include all details of row and seat numbers. The files are too big to host here!
There’s 17 different sections within this grandstand. The rows are numbered 1 to 21, with 1 being the lowest down row at the front and 21 being the highest at the back.
Rows 12 and up are under the cover which is new for 2024.
There’s over 8000 seats in the COTA Turn 4 grandstand, making it one of the biggest at the circuit.
Personally I would try and sit towards the right hand side of the grandstand to have better views of the cars coming towards you through the ‘esses’. I’d be looking at sections 14 and up for this.
Is Turn 4 at COTA a good place to sit?
Turns 3, 4, 5 and 6 at COTA were modelled on the infamous Maggots and Becketts corners at Silverstone. These are incredibly high speed switch backs that tests a car’s downforce and grip, and challenge the driver’s neck strength.
Whilst there’s not normally a huge amount of overtaking that happens here it’s a great place to see the F1 cars cornering at high speed, being sucked to the ground by their aerodynamics.
The huge stars and stripes runoff area in front of Turn 4 can make the cars seem a little further away. But being in the massive stand packed with fans does create a great atmosphere.
This is a better place to sit than the Turn 2 grandstand, but personally I would still try and get seats at the COTA Turn 1 grandstand as that has amazing views over much of the track.
Closest parking lots
Parking lot N is the closest to Turn 4 at COTA, followed by lot T.
See our detailed guide to parking options at COTA for more info.
Other COTA grandstands
Below are detailed guides to all other grandstands at COTA:
