Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has confirmed that the sport has gained significant popularity in the United States of America, successfully managing to avert threats from sports that its fan base follows. The efforts to seal an F1 stronghold in America began in 2012 after the debut of the United States Grand Prix in Austin on the F1 calendar.
Over time, especially after Liberty Media’s takeover of Formula 1 in 2017, the sport steadily gained traction in the United States. A major catalyst for its growing popularity was the launch of Netflix’s Drive to Survive docuseries in 2019. The show provided an exclusive look behind the scenes, revealing the intense politics, rivalries, and drama that unfold throughout an F1 season, capturing the interest of a broader American audience.
Three years later, in 2022, the Miami Grand Prix secured a spot in the sport’s calendar, followed by the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix in 2023, where F1 cars raced through the strip in a street race at night, marking the best marriage of entertainment and racing.
Despite a decline in Formula 1 viewership and social media engagement in 2023, largely due to Red Bull‘s overwhelming dominance, winning 21 out of 22 Grands Prix, the overall response indicates that the sport has firmly established itself among American fans. It no longer faces significant competition from other sports that could divert its audience. Speaking to BBC Sport, Domenicali said:
“It’s really…
