Each year, the FIA hands out two trophies at an awards ceremony. One is for the driver that scored the most points in the previous season; the other is for the team that achieved the same feat. Both trophies contain the words “FIA World Champion”, despite the fact that for many years, the season was held almost entirely in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Australia, Brazil, and Canada have all been regular stops for the Formula 1 circus each year, but the United States has had an on/off affair with the sport for many years until recently.
Organizers have attempted numerous times to find an American home for Formula 1, with races in Watkins Glen, Dallas, Las Vegas, Long Beach, Detroit and Indianapolis, but the US Grand Prix never stayed at one place on the calendar for very long.
When the Formula 1 cars arrived at Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s new road course in 2001, everyone was very excited to see racing on its banked turns and the new infield section. But the embarrassing 2005 race, which saw just six cars take the start was the beginning of the end for another attempt to find a home for the United States Grand Prix.
Then in 2012, five years after the last race at Indianapolis, Formula 1 returned to the United States. This time, the race was going to be run on a new purpose-built circuit near Austin in Texas known as COTA (Circuit of the Americas). It was an immediate success and has become a firm favourite of fans and drivers alike, the world over.
Fast forward nine years and the United States Grand prix at COTA remains on the calendar and a lot has changed in the near-decade that has passed; it’s also beginning to look like Formula 1 may have finally cracked the United States…
F1 is Not a Mystery to Americans
Despite the common belief, Formula 1 is not a complete mystery to American petrol heads. Races have been broadcast on TV in the USA for decades and there are millions of fans that tune in to watch the grands prix each week with TV audience now regularly over the 1m viewer mark.
Many of these also place wagers on the races and championships. This is pretty easy too since almost every American sportsbook offers Formula 1 betting odds to their customers.
Sure, some Americans prefer home grown competitions like NASCAR and IndyCar, but in a Venn diagram of American F1 and IndyCar fans you will find a large overlap.
COTA is a Great Venue
COTA has played a big part in the recent success of Formula 1 in the United States; this is thanks to three main reasons. The circuit was designed specifically with Formula 1 in mind, with a combination of corners inspired by the best parts of other circuits to create overtaking opportunities and exciting racing.
The second is the circuit’s location. COTA is situated just south of Austin, just a few hours from Mexico as well as several major US cities. This makes it easy for many Mexican fans to attend and support their compatriot, Sergio Pérez.
The other reason COTA has been such a success is the fact that there’s plenty of action taking place off the track as well as on. Concerts by big-name artists like Pink, Imagine Dragons, and Kool & the Gang entertain fans on each of the three days, along with a zip line, go-karting, the COTA Tower, and other activities.
Second Race
With COTA now firmly established on the calendar, Formula 1’s bosses have been on the lookout for additional US races to add to it. In 2022, the Miami Grand Prix will be held around the outside of the Hard Rock Stadium, a venue that will feel a little like the US races of the past thanks to the street-circuit layout and palm trees that’ll line the track.
This may not be the last US race to appear on the schedule either. In April 2021, F1 boss Stefano Domenicali refused to rule out the prospect of a third Grand Prix being held in the country, though it’s likely the sport will wait for the Miami circuit to enjoy the limelight for a while first.
The USA is an important market for Formula 1. It offers a lot of commercial opportunities thanks to its large and wealthy population. While nothing is guaranteed yet, it does look like F1 may finally have cracked the United States.
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