ATX Grand Prix Club Brings Formula 1 Fans Together in Austin
October 6, 2026
- What: Local watch parties and fan events for Formula 1 supporters organized by ATX Grand Prix Club
- Who: Founders Julia Wezio and Maria Rodriguez, hundreds of club members and thousands of social media followers
- Where: Watch parties at East Austin bar Inn Cahoots and other venues across Austin, plus activities at Circuit of The Americas
- Why it matters: The club offers a social setting for a sport that has limited local live events, coinciding with rising U.S. interest in F1
A Sunday evening at Inn Cahoots in East Austin looked more like a race weekend at a track than a typical bar crowd. Fans gathered around a large projector to watch the Australian Grand Prix, cheering as cars sped off the line and jockeyed for position. The event was one of the regular watch parties run by ATX Grand Prix Club.
The club began after founders Julia Wezio and Maria Rodriguez finished at the University of Texas in 2021 and 2022. They said leaving college and the pandemic era made maintaining social connections harder, and they used their shared interest in F1 to bring people together on race days.
What started as occasional meetups expanded quickly. The group now counts thousands of followers online and hundreds of official members who attend events on a weekly basis. That growth comes as Formula 1 has attracted larger U.S. audiences: average American race viewership rose from about 554,000 in 2018 to roughly 1.3 million last year.
Club gatherings happen at a variety of Austin spots, including Inn Cahoots, Cabana Club, Brushy Street Commons and Circuit of The Americas. Each watch party includes themed food or drinks tied to the race location, and Wezio produces limited edition postcards featuring custom artwork for attendees.
Beyond viewing parties, ATX Grand Prix Club runs simulated racing tournaments designed for newcomers, giving fans a chance to compete in beginner friendly events. In June the group partnered with Red Bull to display a full scale show model of the team’s car, an appearance that drew fans of all ages.
During last year’s Grand Prix weekend in Austin the club organized a meetup at the Fan Zone near Turn 19, where members distributed hydration packets and gathered for a group photo. For the upcoming local race the club plans at least two separate watch parties and will publish a guide to the city’s activations and special events for the weekend.
Club organizers say their aim is to create a social place for fans who want more than watching from home, and they continue to expand programming as local interest in Formula 1 grows.
Sources
- Magazine feature (Austin Monthly)
- Interviews with club founders
- Event photograph