What happened: Formula 1 featured Texas country artist Dylan Gossett to set the stage for the MSC Cruises United States Grand Prix in Austin. The scheduled race weekend brings the 2026 regular season to Circuit of the Americas.

Why it matters: The Austin round opens a three-race stretch on the Formula 1 calendar. Championship stakes hang over the Texas weekend, where the 2026 Drivers' Championship title can be clinched before the series leaves Austin.

What to watch: On-track sessions at Circuit of the Americas get underway this weekend to open the triple-header.