All American: F1’s relationship with the United States
- Maham Mir
- Apr 20
- 6 min read
Written by Maham Mir, Edited by Marit Everett
Formula One has grown in its global image in recent years at an exponential rate and nowhere better showcases this growth than the United States. Going from hosting a single race at the Circuit of the Americas to being the only country on the calendar with three race venues, the relationship between America and F1 has perhaps never been stronger.
The three events within the United States — the United States Grand Prix, the Miami Grand Prix and the Las Vegas Grand Prix — bring their own excitement and represent one part of F1’s global image. From catering to global superstars who come to witness the on-track action to wheel to wheel racing that the drivers enjoy, F1 in the United States is an experience within itself.
Circuit of the Americas - The All-American Race
Hosting its first race in 2012, the purpose-built track gave the opportunity for F1 to return to America after a four year hiatus. The track, with a contract to be on the calendar until 2034, is a driver favourite with the circuit having taken some of the best parts of other iconic circuits on the F1 calendar.
Some of the most successful drivers around COTA include former world champions Lewis Hamilton, who holds the record of five wins at the track, and Max Verstappen who has won there four times.
The first sprint weekend to be hosted at the track came in 2023 where Verstappen took the chequered flag. Till date, the Dutch driver has won every single sprint race event to be held at the circuit.
As the original of the three current American tracks on the calendar, COTA has surely become a fan and driver favourite circuit. In recent years, this Grand Prix, which is almost guaranteed to be a sold-out event, has seen drivers take the opportunity to express their creativity with special edition helmet designs. Like drivers, teams often design special one-off liveries to celebrate the event and 2025 saw six teams wear new designs for the weekend.
Driver opinions about the circuit are overwhelmingly positive. For Hamilton, who also secured two out of his seven world championship titles at the track, states it is “the best track in the States”. Adding, “it’s one of my favourite tracks on the calendar”.
Racing at COTA almost always presents the opportunity for something unexpected to occur — part of the reason why it is a fan and driver favourite.
Miami International Autodrome - the home of (motor)sports
Outside of F1, there can be no doubt that America absolutely loves their sports. Nowhere showcases that love better than the Miami Grand Prix, where sports from across the world come together.
Introduced in 2022, the Miami International Autodrome circuit is built around the Hard Rock stadium, which has been host to plenty of events over the years including football matches and concerts along with being the home of football’s Miami Dolphins.
With 2026 set to host the fourth grand prix at this venue, it is a circuit loved by Verstappen who has won here twice and both McLaren drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who have stood on the top step once each. Miami has also been home to some historic moments including Norris’ maiden Grand Prix victory in 2024 and Kimi Antonelli becoming the youngest ever sprint pole-sitter in 2025.
Although not known for its overtaking opportunities given that the track doesn’t present many opportunities for wheel to wheel racing, Miami has hosted two sprint events. In 2024’s inaugural event, it was Verstappen who took the win and in 2025, a year on from his maiden win at the circuit, it was Norris who crossed the line ahead of the pack.
Unlike the positive attitude the drivers have towards COTA, the reaction towards the Miami circuit has been more mixed. Verstappen noted it as “an interesting circuit” however has previously identified issues with the surface where “during the race, it [the grip] got worse and worse again” which has hampered racing and overtaking opportunities.
Las Vegas Strip Circuit - that’s show business!
As the newest American addition to the calendar, fans and drivers alike are still getting used to the glitz and glamour of the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Introduced in 2023, the circuit has a contract which is currently set to end in 2027.
The event enjoys a unique position where Formula 1 and its parent company, Liberty Media, are the main promoters for the weekend. Since its arrival on the calendar, the Grand Prix weekend has been a sold-out occasion, attracting racing fans and major global celebrities alike.
Over the years, Las Vegas has seen some crucial moments for the championship including Verstappen winning his fourth title in 2024. Most recently in 2025, the double disqualification of Norris and Piastri from the race meant that Verstappen remained in contention for the 2025 title.
Despite the attention that it attracts, and the way teams and drivers go out of their way to make the weekend special through one-off helmet and livery designs, the circuit is far from being heralded for its racing and for driver enjoyment as well.
Although the race puts the city on show, comments have also been made from locals about the disruption to the life of Las Vegas residents due to the circuit’s nature as a street track.
American teams
After the return of an American track to the calendar, the calls for an American team also grew and in 2016, these calls were answered when Haas joined the grid. Owned and run by Gene Haas, the team is entirely based in the United States and recorded a team best finish of P5 in the WCC in 2018.
However, owning and running a team has not been the only way that major American car brands have entered the pinnacle of motorsport. Starting in 2026, Red Bull’s collaboration with Ford on their engine project has seen another American giant join the ranks as Red Bull started on their path to become a works team for the first time in their history.
While the project has showcased mixed results so far given Red Bull’s current position in P6 in the WCC, there’s no doubt that it has been yet another boost to American viewership of F1.
When the calendar expanded to include multiple American races, and as the American audience also grew in numbers, further plans began to emerge to include another American outfit on the grid. In 2025, it was announced that a combined effort with Andretti and General Motors would see an 11th team join the grid under the name of Cadillac.
Although they have had their fair share of issues over the first three races of the season, the most recent American outfit have been entirely realistic of their expectations for their first season. There can be no doubt that when F1 returns for round four of the 2026 championship for the Miami Grand Prix, Cadillac can expect to see plenty of fans in the grandstands.
American audience
With the number of American tracks and teams growing, it comes as no surprise that F1 has placed a greater importance in understanding their American audience. The growth of F1 fans in America can certainly be attributed to the success of ‘Formula 1: Drive to Survive’ and ‘F1: The Movie’ for bringing the sport off the track and onto the big screen.
With F1’s CEO Stefano Domenicali at the helm of operations, there can be no doubt that the additional two American races are the cornerstone of Domenicali’s wider view of F1’s position in American culture. In an interview, Domenicali stated: “For us, the U.S. is important as a market, as a country, as a culture”.
There has been some opposition to the way that Domenicali has proceeded with the American expansion of the sport, having been accused of putting spectacle over sport especially with the increased media focus in Miami and Las Vegas.
However, Domenicali has continued on his path, citing the sport’s changing audience as the reason why. In discussing the changing demographic, he said: “Forty percent of our U.S. audience is female. [...] we need to connect with them.”
F1 enjoys a unique position in sports where the venue changes every week and whilst certain circuits, like Silverstone or Monaco, represent the history and prestige of the sport, the American circuits have come to showcase the 21st century part of F1’s global image.
In combining the glitz and glamour with the spectacle side of F1, the growing relationship between F1 and America has no doubt never been stronger.
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