Daniel Ricciardo is back in Austin, but being in town is not the same as returning to the Formula 1 paddock. His appearance ahead of the 2026 United States Grand Prix brought an obvious question: would he finally attend another race?

Elsewhere, media day at the Circuit of the Americas offered plenty to talk about. Liam Lawson swapped preparations for driving with nerves about performing on stage, a new private members club transformed the skyline at Turn 1, and changes to the paddock brought the prospect of an even busier race weekend.

Will Daniel Ricciardo Attend the US Grand Prix?

It has been 2 years since Ricciardo lost his VCARB seat following the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix. He had not attended an F1 event since that departure, making his presence in Austin particularly interesting.

Ricciardo had arrived at the end of a week-long road trip from Arizona. The journey followed a gathering at Lake Havasu and finished in Austin with roughly 100 trucks involved in the wider celebration.

He also confirmed that he had received his key to the city, complete with a plaque. He thought that had happened around 2024, although he was not entirely certain of the timing.

His message to Australian fans was warm. After keeping a relatively low profile, he said he missed them and was beginning to get out into the world again.

A visit to COTA, however, remained unconfirmed. Ricciardo was noncommittal when asked about attending and indicated that he did not want to create a fuss. The impression was that going to the circuit was not especially high on his list of priorities.

Liam Lawson’s Challenge Away From the Circuit

Liam Lawson admitted to being terrified on media day. Not of COTA, and not of driving an F1 car. The source of his nerves was singing and playing guitar in front of a crowd.

Lawson performed at In Cahoots that evening, in what was understood to be his first appearance playing to a sizeable audience. His set consisted of 4 songs:

• Daughters by John Mayer
• Rein Me In by Sam Fender
• Indigo by Sam Barber
• I’m the Problem by Morgan Wallen

It was a very different sort of pressure from a race weekend. A driver accustomed to performing in a cockpit was taking on an unfamiliar challenge with a microphone and an acoustic guitar instead.

COTA’s New Turn 1 Club Changes the Skyline

The approach to Turn 1 looks noticeably different in 2026. Where the uphill view once opened onto empty sky, a substantial private members club now stands above the circuit.

The reported membership offer was striking: 200 memberships at $1,000,000 each. That figure was supplied during the visit rather than independently verified, but the building itself leaves little doubt about the scale of the development.

The club occupies 4 levels and has 2 pools at the top. One runs along the rooftop area; another projects outward over the front of the building.

Level 3 was not quite ready on media day. Guests were nevertheless expected on level 2 and the top level for Sunday’s race. From above, the views extend across the circuit and its expanding surroundings.

A gondola links the Paddock Club area with the new building, travelling approximately 300 m uphill. Both Ferrari drivers were reported to have tried the journey.

One operational question remained unanswered: would the gondola carry passengers while cars were running on track? Attempts to establish that on media day did not produce a definitive answer. Its operation during the first free practice session was still something to check.

New Photography Positions and a Growing Circuit

The new development also changes the working environment for photographers. The previous elevated position near Turn 1 could accommodate roughly 70 to 80 photographers. Its replacement is positioned slightly around the corner rather than directly head-on.

That difference may barely register with most people at the race, but it matters when choosing a camera position. The new area also appeared likely to make securing a place more difficult.

Beyond Turn 1, the wider growth around COTA is hard to miss. More hospitality suites are appearing, and the circuit has its own amusement park, COTALAND.

Those additions point to a venue becoming more than a place to hold a motor race. With the continued development of hospitality and attractions, the US Grand Prix could eventually challenge Silverstone for the largest spectator numbers on the calendar. That is a forecast, not an attendance record already achieved.

MotoGP Machinery and Handmade Driver Dolls

One of media day’s louder photo opportunities involved Franco Colapinto sitting on a MotoGP bike in the paddock.

He was not riding it through under his own power. A crew member pushed the bike while Colapinto sat aboard, with the engine running and the throttle getting some attention. It certainly made itself heard.

The bikes were not there solely for a stationary appearance. A run involving 4 MotoGP machines was scheduled for Saturday after the third F1 practice session.

Another paddock detail was rather quieter but no less distinctive: a Mexican fan’s handmade driver dolls. She had created versions of Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez and said she had given the dolls to the drivers. A fair amount of work had clearly gone into them.

Pérez was also scheduled to take part in a show run in Mexico City on the Wednesday after Austin. His previous appearance there in 2021 drew a large crowd and produced the familiar spectacle of an F1 car surrounded by tyre smoke.

That earlier event also supplied an unwelcome reminder about crowded public appearances: a phone was stolen from a front pocket during the visit. It was the only such loss experienced on these assignments, but it caused plenty of stress.

Austin Transport Trouble and a Generous Local Response

Getting to and from COTA presented an unexpected problem before the race weekend had properly begun.

An Avis reservation had been in place for months. The city depot had also received a call the previous day explaining that collection would move from 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Despite that, no car was available on arrival.

The failed collection prompted a social media request asking whether anyone in Austin could lend or rent a vehicle. Around 150 people responded, offering everything from rental arrangements to the use of their own cars.

Teresa and Brian ultimately lent a car for the weekend, restoring the transport needed to reach the circuit and carry out the photography work.

The contrast was considerable: a long-standing reservation produced no vehicle, while a public request brought an unexpectedly generous response from the local community.

Antonelli’s Title Opportunity and a More Crowded Paddock

Kimi Antonelli appeared relaxed during his media-day appearances, despite the possibility of securing the drivers’ championship in Austin.

The title scenario presented for the weekend required an Antonelli victory, with Lewis Hamilton finishing 5th or lower and George Russell finishing 9th or lower. That combination was considered a long shot, with Mexico City looking the more likely setting for a championship celebration.

Further down the paddock, Gabriel Bortoleto and Ollie Bearman found time for a lengthy conversation and a laugh. Drivers do not often stand around chatting for extended periods during an F1 weekend, making the exchange a welcome, unhurried moment.

A separate conversation with Bortoleto lasted around 5 to 6 minutes, which counts as a substantial chat in Formula 1 terms. He left a very positive impression.

The space around those conversations has become tighter. Comparing the paddock with the previous year showed that roughly 4 m of room beside the red, white and blue ground markings had disappeared as the hospitality frontage moved closer.

That matters at a venue already known for a busy paddock, particularly on Saturday and after Sunday’s race. Drivers moving between the television media pen and their hospitality areas are likely to have less breathing room.

For people with paddock access, the same layout creates more opportunities to be close to the 22 drivers. For the drivers themselves, it means fewer quiet journeys between commitments.

There was no shortage of local character, either. Large stacks of cowboy hats were being carried into the circuit, apparently for team guests. Even a sizeable dog made an appearance, travelling through the paddock in a utility vehicle.

Questions Remain Over the Final 2 Races

Beyond Austin, attention was turning to the final 2 races of the season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. At the time of media day, there was no indication that either event would be cancelled. Preparations were continuing on the basis that both would go ahead.

MotoGP’s scheduled visit to Qatar in 2 weeks was particularly relevant. No riders had withdrawn at that point, although around 75% were understood to have concerns about the regional situation. The arrival of equipment and personnel would provide an important operational test ahead of Formula 1’s own visit.

Carlos Sainz expressed caution when asked about the issue in the press conference. He felt it was too early to be fully convinced that the races would proceed, pointing to continuing events in the Middle East and the approaching US election.

The 3 drivers in that press conference broadly shared the same position: if the FIA and Formula 1 judged it safe to race, they would attend.

The distinction was between an event remaining scheduled and every concern having been resolved. The calendar was unchanged, but the safety assessment remained central to what would happen next.

For Austin, the immediate picture was clearer: an expanding circuit, a tighter paddock and a busy weekend ahead. Ricciardo was back in the city, but his return to the track remained an open question.