I bet if you ask any American what Formula 1 is, a majority of the people you will look at you and have no clue what you’re talking about. F1 is not a big deal in America compared to baseball, football, or basketball. In Europe, F1 is life. 

So, how are more Americans learning about F1? 

Well, there have been a couple of different ways. 

First, new race tracks have been popping up all over the United States. For example, the newest track to hit the calendar last season was the Las Vegas Grand Prix where the drivers drove around the strip. The Miami Grand Prix is also a brand new track which debuted in the 2022 season. It brings F1 to our state Florida and has a lot of new people wondering what F1 is. 

The United States Grand Prix is a motor racing event that has been held on and off since 1908. It has moved around race tracks until eventually finding its home in Austin, Texas at the Circuits of the Americas track. F1 has been racing here since 2012 and many F1 fans were shocked that Formula One was moving back to the United States. There has been an on and off relationship with races in the US but the FIA decided to bring them back. There has been a rise to the popularity of the sport since bringing the races back to America. 

America has had other motor racing in the country. IndyCar and NASCAR are major sports that fall under the category of racing but are not the same as F1. F1 is a much more expensive motor racing than IndyCar or NASCAR. The rules and the cars are completely different as well. 

I first heard of F1 while scrolling through Netflix. The Racing Documentary show, Drive to Survive, popped up on my to watch list, I started watching it and I ended up being hooked. I have watched every race since watching the show. 

A lot of fans do not like the show Drive to Survive because it brings an even more dramatic twist to the sport. Formula 1 has always been a sport with lots of drama but the show showcases Drivers and Teams in either a good way or a bad way. Netflix only shows the parts of racing they think will get them to most views which makes fans of F1 mad. 

There has also been a rise of women becoming fans of the sport. Now, F1 Academy is becoming popular and now more women are watching to support the women racing in it. Women are becoming less scared to say that they like F1 because women like Lissie Mackintosh and other influential women are showcasing their love for F1 out in the open. 

I think Formula One will start to become even more popular in the US especially with the three races that take place. There are even rumors that there might be another race added in New York or Chicago but nothing has been confirmed yet.