Circuit of the Americas

Using Your Phone at Circuit of the Americas: Practical Tips for Race Weekends and Events

Big events at Circuit of the Americas put real strain on the gadgets you carry. Tens of thousands of people share the same cell towers, the grounds are spread out and exposed to the Texas sun, and a long day trackside can drain a battery well before the evening's headline act or the final lap. A little preparation makes a noticeable difference.

Expect congested networks

When crowds peak, mobile data can slow to a crawl even with full signal bars. Download tickets, parking passes and the event map to your phone before you leave home rather than relying on loading them at the gate. Save screenshots of anything essential. Text messages often get through when calls and data struggle, so agree on a meeting point with your group in advance in case you get separated.

Power is the real bottleneck

Between photos, video, navigation and constant searching for a weak signal, phones burn through charge quickly at large outdoor venues. A compact power bank and a short cable are worth packing. Lowering screen brightness, closing background apps and switching off features you don't need will stretch what you have. Our buying guides cover what to look for in portable chargers and phones with strong battery life.

Heat, sun and dust

Central Texas heat can trigger a phone's thermal protection, dimming the screen or pausing charging. Keep your device out of direct sunlight when you're not using it, and avoid leaving it on hot surfaces or in a parked car. A case with decent grip helps when you're holding a phone up for long stretches to film cars passing at speed.

Getting better photos and video

Fast-moving cars are a tough test for any phone camera. Burst mode, a high frame-rate video setting and locking focus on a fixed point of the track usually beat trying to pan smoothly. Telephoto lenses help from the grandstands, though digital zoom quickly loses detail. If you're weighing up which handset handles action shots best, see our comparisons.

Schedules, bag policies and permitted equipment vary by event, so check the venue's official information before you go.