Formula One (F1), one of the premier motorsports in the world, races on circuits in 20 countries all over the world — on the streets of Monte Carlo, under the lights of Singapore, in the desert of Bahrain or on a Royal Air Force airstrip-turned-circuit in England. Now, F1 has gone all-in on the American market, with three rounds in the U.S. in 2023 with no end in sight.
In 2022, Formula One announced the third race to be held in America in 2023: the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Held under the dazzling lights of downtown Paradise, Nevada, the 3.9-mile street circuit incorporates famous city landmarks like the Las Vegas Strip and the brand-new MSG Sphere.
Though the new street circuit has massive amounts of funding behind it, there are several question marks surrounding the layout. With several long straights and technical corners, concerns about overtaking and racing quality have been at the forefront of fans’ minds.
For many European supporters, three races in the U.S. alone seems to be a bit much. Typically, countries do not host more than one race in a season, with some exceptions in the past made for the “European Grand Prix,” which has bounced around throughout the years. Before the unique 2020 COVID season, where back-to-back races were common, the idea of a country hosting more than two races was simply unheard of.
However, when compared to the geographical and population size, the choice of splitting the U.S. into three races seems to be a smart choice. The distance between the furthest east U.S. race (Miami) to the furthest west race in Las Vegas covers roughly the distance from the furthest east European race in Baku, Azerbaijan, to the furthest west race in Barcelona, Spain. While the U.S. only has three rounds, Europe gets eight, including two in Italy at Imola and Monza.
F1 and the United States have had a rocky relationship, with six circuits spread across the country that never caught on with the local audience. Throughout the years, Bernie Ecclestone, F1’s former CEO, tried to make the sport work in America once again, but it was a massive risk.
Many Americans had fallen out of love with the sport in 2005, which saw one of the biggest controversies in the sport’s history. Michelin, one of the tire suppliers for F1 that season, had failed to provide a tire compound durable enough to handle the high-speed final turn at Indianapolis. Because of this, 14 of the 20 drivers did not start the 2005 running of the event, which enraged local supporters and left a dark cloud over the event before it was canceled just two years later.
The U.S. started hosting races in Texas in 2012 at the $400 million Circuit of the Americas that opened in Austin, Texas. The 20-turn, 3.4-mile long circuit was the first U.S. venue to host F1 since the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway last held a round in 2008.
The 2012 running of the United States Grand Prix was a smashing success, as were the many races afterward. The event was flamboyantly American, from the red, white and blue runoff to the cowboy hats for drivers to wear on the podium. The event was a fantastic spectacle, but Formula One Management had greater plans for the United States.
In 2016, Liberty Media, a U.S.-based entertainment company, bought the rights to F1. In 2021, Liberty announced that the United States would have not one but two races: the original in Austin and a brand-new race in Miami, Florida. The new 3.3-mile circuit in Miami Gardens was a spectacle, with the track going around Hard Rock Stadium — the home of the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League.
Both the 2022 and 2023 Miami races showed the unique character of both the circuit and the region, with one of the most well-known features being an artificial marina (where spectators could purchase spaces to put their personal boats on race day) and a sand beach at Turn 12. Both events were attended by stars from around the world, such as David Beckham, Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady, Michelle Obama, Paris Hilton, Michael Jordan and more.
Following the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin just two weeks ago, anticipation is high for the next American round on Nov. 19. There was post-race controversy when Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton were disqualified due to a safety violation. Due to the two disqualifications, Florida native Logan Sargeant — the first American in F1 since 2015 — scored the first points of his career and the first by a U.S. driver in 30 years.
F1’s venture into Vegas is, fittingly, a massive gamble. Only time will tell if the sport will hit the jackpot or leave empty-handed.
