Formula One: the pinnacle of motorsport. Despite the fact that other racing series–such as IndyCar and NASCAR–are based in the US, Formula One (F1) has dramatically risen in popularity in the US despite its European origins. For example, this year’s Miami Grand Prix had 48% more viewers than last year’s race. F1 viewership in America has seen steady growth since 2020, each year adding more and more fans.

First off, what even is F1? F1 is a global single-seater open-wheel racing series with 20 drivers in 10 teams competing in about 24 races, known as Grands Prix, over the year-long season around the world. Formula One has been a staple part of European culture since it was started in 1950 in Paris; for example, Italy is known for their fanatic Ferrari supporters called the Tifosi. This results from F1’s Eurocentric history, as evidenced by its inaugural year having only one non-European race out of a total of seven races. Today, more than half of the races are not in Europe, a contrast from the earliest seasons. In fact, this year, there are three races in the US: Miami, Austin, and Las Vegas.  Unlike the number of IndyCar and NASCAR races in the US, three races in one country is an abnormality for F1; the only other country with multiple Grands Prix is Italy, with both the Imola and Monza Grands Prix.

F1’s many differences from IndyCar and NASCAR might explain its growing popularity in America despite the other series’ native advantage. For one, F1 tracks tend to have more turns than the other series. For example, IndyCar occasionally races in ovals, and NASCAR mostly races in ovals compared to F1’s winding tracks. More turns generally mean more excitement thanks to overtakes and potential crashes. Secondly, F1 has fewer drivers than either series, with only 20 compared to IndyCar and NASCAR’s 30. The smaller number of drivers means that viewers can get more acquainted with each driver and develop personal connections. These reasons might be why F1 has grown in popularity over its decidedly more “American” counterparts.

Besides technical differences, another reason F1 viewership in the US has increased in recent times is the emergence of the Netflix series Formula 1: Drive to Survive. This documentary-style series follows F1 teams and drivers through a season, and if there’s anything that can get Americans to care about something, it’s reality television. Although not a true reality TV show, Drive to Survive certainly likes to dramatize relationships between drivers, team employees, and anyone else involved in the sport. This show introduced F1 to a new demographic, drawing them into the sport. 

Despite the increase in American viewership, this past year has been a rough one for American F1 fans—the only American driver in F1, Logan Sargeant, was dropped from his seat at Williams Auto Racing Team in August. Born in Florida, Sargeant climbed the ranks, going from karting to F4, F3, and F2. Karting is essentially highly competitive go-karting, where little children start to learn the basics of racing. F2, F3, and F4 are feeder series to F1, so they drive the same style of cars but at a slower pace. He finally reached F1, beginning his short-lived career in the 2023 season. However, Sargeant soon became known for his crashes, which occurred in more than a third of the races. In addition, he only scored one point in two years by finishing in the top ten of a race on a technicality. He did so at his home race at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas. Between his lackluster results and penchant for expensive damage, it was no surprise when Williams decided to drop him mid-season in favor of Argentinian driver Franco Colapinto.

F1 is a riveting sport, filled with engineering, conflict, and excitement, so it’s no wonder it has staked its place in American minds. From its European roots, Formula One now has a global reach, constantly finding new audiences to add to the old.

Information retrieved from The New York Times, The Rule, F1, IndyCar, and NASCAR.