Formula One's Home in the United States
Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, is thrilled that Formula One has finally found a home in the United States. Hamilton hails the way the sport has been run by Liberty Media since 2017 and credits their engagement with social media for attracting a younger audience. The hit TV series on Netflix, Drive to Survive, has also changed the demographic of the sport worldwide.
Expanding Popularity in the US
F1's popularity has skyrocketed in the US, leading Liberty Media to add two races to the calendar in Las Vegas and Miami. This growth is further evidenced by NFL stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce investing in the Alpine F1 team, and the potential investment from Walmart heir Rob Walton in McLaren. Hamilton sees these developments as an indication of a healthy position for F1 in the US.
Concerns over Max Verstappen's Dominance
However, Hamilton admits that Max Verstappen's dominance this season has caused a downturn in social media engagement. Verstappen has already secured the title, and his team, Red Bull, has also secured the constructors' championship. Hamilton believes that fans want to see close racing and that the right decisions need to be made to keep the competition tight.
Making F1 More Accessible
Hamilton hopes that the new F1 film, in which he is helping to write the script and stars Brad Pitt, will attract a new audience to the sport. With the addition of Vegas to the F1 calendar this season, Hamilton sees the movie as a step towards broadening the horizon and reaching more people. The film will showcase the spotlight on Vegas and contribute to the overall growth of F1 in the US.
The Importance of Educating and Engaging
Hamilton emphasizes that F1 is the only truly international sport and that there is still a need to educate and engage more people in it. The goal is to get more people to "catch the bug" and become fans of the sport. With multiple races in the US and the release of the F1 film, Hamilton believes that F1 can continue to grow and capture the attention of a wider audience.
