Some sports are just synonymous with gambling — football, greyhound racing, and horse racing being prime examples.
In recent years, however, as bookmakers continue to expand their markets, more sports have emerged in the world of betting, with Formula 1 racing being a prime example. Figures from Irish bookmaker IrishBetting.ie show that F1 has become the fourth most bet-on sport in Ireland. Is it because of the hit Netflix series Drive to Survive? Let’s find out.
In the UK, F1 has been popular for decades. Just look at the rich lineage and you can understand why. Names like Eddie Irvine, John Watson, Derek Daly, David Coulthard, Damon Hill, Jackie Stewart, and Nigel Mansell all paved the way for stars like Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, and George Russell.
In the United States, it has only recently started to really take off and is quickly proving to be one of the most popular sports for betting. Both Ireland and the US have seen enormous growth over the last couple of years when it comes to betting on motor racing, and that is what we are looking at today.
The Irish love to bet and the Americans are pretty keen themselves
First and foremost, without throwing about any stereotypes, there is the simple fact that the Irish love a good bet. Horse racing in Ireland is of course incredibly popular, as are a variety of other sports including football, Gaelic football, hurling, golf, and rugby. What do they all share in common? They are all sports that fans from the Emerald Isle love to wager on.
In the United States, despite gambling laws and regulations varying from state to state, sports betting is now far more common than it was a decade or so ago, and Formula 1 racing is one of the most popular sports for betting on. In Ireland, the same applies.
The past, present, and future of F1 racing in Ireland
While F1 may not be a sport synonymous with Ireland, there is still a great deal of Irish history associated with it, which is part of the reason why so many keen gamblers across the nation are betting on F1.
Perhaps Ireland’s most celebrated F1 driver of all time is Eddie Irvine. A legend of the sport, Irvine won four Grand Prix races with Ferrari and narrowly missed out on the Drivers’ Championship by just four points in the 1999 season.
Dublin’s Derek Daly is another popular former driver who competed in more than 64 grands prix, racing for teams including Ensign and Williams.
Another famous Irish figure in F1 is Eddie Jordan. As the founder and owner of the Jordan Grand Prix team, he transitioned to ownership following a successful racing career and was even responsible for giving Michael Schumacher his F1 debut in 1991. In the mid-2000s he moved into broadcasting, serving as a pundit for both Channel 4 and the BBC.
The driver perhaps most responsible for reigniting Irish interest in F1 is the up-and-coming Alex Dunne. Dunne has quickly proved to be a highly capable driver in Formula 2, becoming Ireland’s first F2 race winner, and has recently signed with Alpine. He has not yet secured a full-time F1 seat, but it almost certainly will not be long.
Famous US F1 racing circuits
While motor racing betting is popular in the US, it is NASCAR that grabs many of the headlines. Recently, however, the tides have turned and F1 in America is very much on the up. As many as 47% of sports bettors in America have stated that they are interested in F1 racing, with around 28% having bet on the sport at least once over the last twelve months.
One of the main reasons why F1 is becoming more popular in America is that three of the biggest races in the calendar take place there, at three legendary circuits.
Miami Grand Prix
The first US F1 race of the calendar year is held in Miami at the Miami International Autodrome. Having taken place since 2022, it has quickly turned into one of the most eagerly anticipated races of the year. Its sunny, glitzy location attracts the big names, and what is even more remarkable is that the track is only temporary — once the race concludes, down it comes for another year.
United States Grand Prix
For hardcore F1 racing fans, the United States Grand Prix holds a great deal of reverence due to its location. The Circuit of the Americas, one of the country’s most respected racing tracks, has hosted the United States Grand Prix since 2012, with the sole exception being 2020. While other circuits in the US are constructed specifically for F1 events, COTA is the only purpose-built permanent Formula 1 circuit in the country.
Las Vegas Grand Prix
Finally, as we are talking about F1 betting, it is only right that we leave the Las Vegas Grand Prix until last. The Las Vegas Strip Circuit is remarkable — a nighttime race where the neon glow of the Strip makes the circuit a spectacle in itself, and that is before the racing even gets under way.
