The direction in which F1 is moving makes for an interesting discussion! Since the year-long title fight between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen in 2021, the viewing figures grew faster than ever before. This provided the biggest opportunity for growth. Not just to convert the new audience to lifelong fans, but also to draw interest from different countries to host races. At a time like this, one can easily get greedy and lose a sense of the sport’s core values. Ironically, Stefano Domenicali seems to be doing just that. 

Since Domenicali started as the CEO of the Formula 1 group, he’s threatened to remove heritage tracks like Spar and Monza and add new American venues to the calendar. In short, Formula 1 is targeting the US market aggressively to capitalize on the American interest in the sport since 2021. For the same reason, the Miami GP was added to the calendar last year. Additionally, the Las Vegas GP will debut in 2023, making it the 3rd race in the United States. And did you know F1 is also very close to signing an agreement with New Jersey to race on the Port Imperial track?

In 2013, a race was proposed in the New Jersey street circuit, but it never came to fruition. However, recently Red Bull veteran David Coulthard confirmed he believes F1 should seriously consider a bid for the track to return. He recalled his demo run on the track and told motorsport.com, “We tried to organize a race in New York several years ago in Weehawken–I remember racing in one of the Red Bull show cars. I covered part of the track with the F1 and it was incredible. Facing Manhattan, there was a stretch that made Spa’s Eau Rouge look like a kid thing. If they ever get the project going again, it would be the perfect stage for another race in the US.”

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But Formula 1’s attempts to lure the American audience are not going well with the paddock. 

“Distracting”: George Russell calls out F1’s American way of doing things

In the recent Miami GP, there was no lack of glitz and glamour. Miami pulled out all the stops to make the weekend a spectacle off the track. It seemed like every celebrity in existence was attending the race, and Hard Rock stadium looked house full. To cater to this audience, F1 added a new ‘driver introduction ceremony’ to the pre-race procedures. However, it didn’t go down well with the drivers who regarded it as an unwanted addition. 

During the ceremony, the drivers were required to take part in a showcase to introduce them to the crowd. They were brought out one by one past an honor guard of cheerleaders, announced by the rapper LL Cool J. Meanwhile, the singer will.i.am conducted a 30-piece, black-tie orchestra. The drivers stayed calm during the ceremony. However, the look on their faces, it was clear that they hated it. As a result, they issued a chorus of dissatisfaction after the race. 

When the Mercedes driver George Russell was asked about the ceremony, he said, “I guess it is the American way of doing things and doing sport. Personally, it is probably not for me but that is just my personal opinion because I am here to race. I am not here for the show, I am here to drive and I am here to win, but I guess we have to roll with it.”

Russell added, “It is distracting because we were on the grid for half an hour in our overalls in the sun. And I don’t think there is any other sport in the world where 30 minutes before you go out to do your business that you are out there in the sun, all the cameras on you, making a bit of a show of it.”

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What are your thoughts on the direction Formula 1 is taking? Are these changes good for the sport?