Formula 1 is experiencing a new explosion in popularity in the United States. The United States Grand Prix saw a record-breaking 400,000 fans at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, more than four times the fans of its opening weekend. According to COTA, that makes it the city’s most-attended and highest-grossing weekend event. Pitched indeed as an event, not just a race, the track has drawn in a variety of fans and newcomers alike.
F1 CEO Stephano Domenicali said popularity stateside is “continuing to grow the excitement around our sport in the US following the huge success of Netflix, the work of ESPN, and the incredible season we had in 2021.” He added that “Austin is a great city, and the track is a favorite for all the drivers.”
This is good news for fans of the track, since such a move wasn’t always a given, despite its success. F1 will be making its race debut in Miami this year, and the Circuit of the Americas date – at a track that’s never seen a long-term contract, looked like it was in jeopardy.
Bobby Epstein, Founding Partner at Circuit of The Americas, said of the event: “We are extremely proud it has found a home in Texas… and are grateful to the millions of fans who visited us over our first decade. Thanks to everyone in the Formula 1 community for supporting our endeavors and rewarding our hard work. We are glad to have renewed our commitments and look forward to many more years of World Championship racing, entertainment, and fun.”
The 2022 COTA race and beyond will feature the new generation of Formula One cars. This comes amidst a period of restructuring the sport itself. Formula 1 racing in America has gotten a lot bigger, with more fans and more events, so keeping the series grounded at the popular track is a little bit of normalcy.
- Lola will returns to racing with a Formula E entry - March 28, 2024
- Doriane Pin impresses Mercedes team with dominant F1 Academy debut - March 8, 2024
- Lewis Hamilton announces move to Ferrari shocking F1 and the world - February 1, 2024