Why the US Should Push for a Serious F1 Program
A more global approach to the sport could put the US back in the world motorsport scene.
An unstable relationship
The United States is one of the biggest economies in the world. It certainly is an attractive market to Formula 1, and in recent years, the number of races in the country has increased to 3.
However, the relationship between F1 and the US has been a toxic marriage. The sport has raced there in the past but it never reached the level of consistency as other race tracks in other emerging markets like Bahrain, China, and even Malaysia.
F1 raced on tracks like Watkins Glen, and Indianapolis, but they felt more like an obligation due to their heritage rather than a true desire to compete there. A number of issues like 'Indygate' in 2005 made F1 leave the US out of the calendar until its return in 2012 in Texas, on the 'brand-new- Circuit of the Americas, designed by Hermann Tilke.
The US has hosted a total of 11 venues for F1 races across the decades. Lesser-known venues include street circuits like Phoenix, Detroit, or race tracks like the famous Sebring International Raceway in Florida, or the extinct Riverside International Motorway.
The result of this unstable relationship has resulted in lack of interest in Formula 1 by American spectators. Even former racing legends like Mario Andretti, who won the F1 championship in 1978, have not made a significant effort to put a strong US team in F1 due to lack of proper support.
Despite all of this, it seems that the US has secured a stable presence in F1 thanks to Liberty Media. As mentioned above, the number of races has increased to 3 in US soil, with a potential 4th race to be added eventually.
A matter of pride
F1 started as a sort of nations championship. The Italians painted their cars red, the British in green, and the French in blue. Every country involved in F1 got engaged and were expectant to see if their colors made it to the finish line first.
The US has attempted to challenge Europe in other categories like endurance. The famous Ford vs. Ferrari race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966. It was one of the greatest moments in American motorsport history.
There is a subjective sense of patriotic pride when your country pulls a feat like that. That is why the World Cup is seen by millions accross the world. You always root for your country and want to see it win.
If the United States develops a serious F1 program, with significant investment to enter a new team, general interest will grow. Haas Racing is the only American F1 team, but is very small compared to the rest of the European teams. While Haas employs hundreds of people, their European counterparts hire thousands, like Mercedes.
The US is not a small country with a limited budget. Private capital should make a serious effort to make an American powerhouse race in Formula 1. Names like Ford already have the racing heritage, and having huge team, with a large budget, and adequate facilities will steepen the learning curve.
This will attract American drivers to the sport, and everyone would love to race for a potential big team like Ford, even companies like Tesla, Space X or other tech giants can test the waters of F1 and start developing unique technologies that will come from America.
Developing Technologies
The US has a lot of specialized industries that can be seamlessly implemented in F1. Companies like Tesla can adapt their electrical technologies in developing energy store components. Others, like Space X, can apply materials science into manufacturing exotic metals used in the combustion engine, brakes, and even more efficient and durable carbon fiber.
There are incredibly advanced institutions like MIT, and Stanford who can develop programs to work with American Formula 1 teams in terms of aerodynamics, material research, and data science. A big team like Ford could greatly benefit from these areas and they certainly have the budget for it.
Silicon Valley is a tech area that can greatly assist an American F1 team. They could implement data science, artificial intelligence, data mining, and simulations in order to further develop F1 technologies.
They could develop state-of-the-art F1 simulators which drivers can use to train. Data centers that can run real time aerodynamic simulations can help engineers understand better how aero components work, and how to make them better.
Data science can help engineers and strategists gather data at a granular level in order to detect patterns in driving, traffic, tire behavior and many other areas that can help a team gain an edge from the pit lane.
More drivers, more teams
A strong US F1 team will inevitably attract talent. There are great race drivers in America that will certainly be capable of driving in Formula 1. Colton Herta, Josef Newgarden, and Alexander Rossi are a few examples of American drivers that are more than qualified for an F1 entry.
If an American F1 team starts yielding results, more teams will be likely to be encouraged to enter the F1 circus. Since F1 is a closed sport, introducing new teams could be difficult. Mario Andretti considered entering the sport but the F1 teams did not like the idea too much because the prize pool would be diluted.
Private capital can purchase existing teams like Williams, who are struggling to find significant investment. Audi did this with Sauber, and will increasingly gain stake in the company until they reach more than 70% of it.
Don't get me wrong, F1 has not entirely closed the idea of increasing the number of teams, and hence drivers. Perhaps F1 teams should 'cut the crap' and accept newcomers with significant budget and aspirations.
Do you think that private capital should attempt an ambitious Formula 1 program? Should F1 open up to the idea of a second US based F1 team? Let me know in the comments below.
Happy racing.
