Ferrari now has a clearer picture of one of the key performance factors awaiting Formula 1 at the Circuit of The Americas, with the FIA map confirming two Straight Mode Zones for the United States Grand Prix. Both are positioned on significant acceleration sections that lead into important braking and overtaking areas, adding another consideration to the balance teams must find in Austin.
COTA presents a particularly varied challenge because its long straights are combined with fast direction changes, technical corners and demanding braking zones. That mix means outright speed cannot be pursued in isolation, with teams also needing stability, traction and sufficient aerodynamic load through the more complex parts of the lap. The full 2026 United States Grand Prix schedule and COTA guide provides further information for fans preparing for the Austin weekend.
FIA confirms two Straight Mode zones at COTA
The official circuit map identifies two sections designated as Straight Mode Zones. The first is located along the main straight, while the second covers the long acceleration section between Turn 11 and Turn 12.
The positioning of the two zones is particularly significant because each leads towards a part of the circuit where overtaking can take place. On the pit straight, drivers accelerate uphill towards Turn 1, one of the most recognisable braking zones on the entire COTA layout.
The steep climb into the opening corner creates different possibilities depending on a driver’s position and momentum on the approach. Its width allows attacks to be made from different lines, making the speed carried along the straight an important element when two cars are fighting for position.
The second Straight Mode Zone comes after Turn 11 and continues along COTA’s lengthy back straight before the heavy braking area for Turn 12. After an extended period at full throttle, the speed achieved before braking can become an important factor in determining whether a driver is close enough to attempt a move.
Ferrari must balance straight-line efficiency with corner performance
For Ferrari, the two zones form part of a broader challenge presented by the Austin circuit. The Maranello team will need to extract performance on the straights without compromising the behaviour of the car through COTA’s faster corners and more technical sequences. That balance will also be important as Ferrari continues its wider Austin development programme for the SF-26.
Circuit of The Americas measures 5.513 kilometres and contains 20 corners. Its opening sector features a demanding sequence of direction changes and fast corners, while other areas of the lap place greater emphasis on traction and precision. The two major straights create an additional requirement for efficient energy use and strong acceleration.
As a result, teams cannot simply optimise their cars for the Straight Mode Zones. Any advantage gained on the faster sections must be considered alongside the aerodynamic requirements of the corners, making COTA a circuit where compromise remains particularly important.
Turn 1 and Turn 12 could become crucial Austin overtaking points
The locations selected for the two zones underline how important Turn 1 and Turn 12 could be during wheel-to-wheel battles. Both come after substantial acceleration phases, although the nature of the two approaches is different: Turn 1 follows the steep uphill run from the start-finish straight, while Turn 12 arrives at the end of the circuit’s long back straight.
Those characteristics make the FIA’s confirmed layout particularly relevant before cars take to the track. COTA’s wider Formula 1 history, including previous winners, Ferrari results and circuit benchmarks, can also be explored through the dedicated Circuit of The Americas F1 records and statistics page.
The official map provides teams with an important reference before the United States Grand Prix begins, but the real competitive impact of the two Straight Mode Zones will only become clear once the cars are running. Practice will offer the first indication of how effectively Ferrari and its rivals have balanced straight-line performance with the stability and aerodynamic load required across the rest of the Austin lap.
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