Giant cowboy hat to steal the show at Austin F1 circuit in world record attempt

The structure measures 75 feet and is being constructed from fibreglass. Rather than serving purely as a decoration, it will house a Western-themed bar, accessible from Lone Star Land, one of the circuit's main spectator areas. Construction is reportedly nearing completion ahead of the Formula 1 weekend.

The idea came from circuit president Bobby Epstein, who wanted to introduce a distinctive tourist attraction that would remain recognisable even when Formula 1 was not visiting Austin. Instead of building a conventional tent, the organisers opted for an enormous cowboy hat, reflecting the traditional Texas identity associated with the event.

The circuit is also pursuing official recognition from Guinness World Records. A representative is expected to inspect the structure on Thursday, 22 October, although a record has not yet been confirmed. There is currently no specific Guinness category for the world's largest cowboy hat, meaning the Austin installation could potentially establish a new one.

For comparison, a giant cowboy boot sculpture in San Antonio stands 10.74 metres tall, less than half the height of the new attraction. Epstein also expects the hat to remain at the circuit throughout the year, rather than being removed once the Grand Prix weekend is over. The attraction will form part of Lone Star Land, an area dedicated to Texas's Western traditions.

One important detail for European viewers to keep in mind is the switch from daylight saving time to standard time, which takes place overnight between Saturday, 24 October, and Sunday, 25 October. Clocks will move back one hour in both the United Kingdom and Central Europe, meaning the time difference with Austin will change ahead of Sunday's race.

As a result, Friday and Saturday's sessions will take place under British Summer Time (BST) and Central European Summer Time (CEST), while the Grand Prix itself will follow Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and Central European Time (CET).

The opening day of track action on Friday, 23 October, will feature two free practice sessions. FP1 is scheduled to begin at 18:30 BST (19:30 CEST), giving drivers and teams their first hour of running at the Circuit of the Americas. The second session, FP2, will get underway at 22:00 BST (23:00 CEST), bringing Friday's programme to a close late in the evening for European viewers.

Saturday, 24 October, will follow an identical schedule, with the third and final free practice session starting at 18:30 BST (19:30 CEST). This will be the last opportunity for teams to work on their car setups before the competitive action begins. Qualifying is then scheduled for 22:00 BST (23:00 CEST), when the drivers will battle to determine the starting grid for Sunday's race.

The United States Grand Prix will take place on Sunday, 25 October, with the race scheduled to start at 20:00 GMT (21:00 CET). Unlike the previous two days, the start time will be expressed in standard time following the overnight clock change.