Some might have taken offence to the piece we published by The Associated Press (AP) and their American motorsport correspondent Jenna Fryer in which the writer suggests Formula 1 is maybe too boring for fans in the USA where the sport is booming.
We took it further and suggested too sophisticated for the age of TikTok fans we might have added, which we believe are the wave generating the boom times. They read little, yet have 30-second video-ed opinions on everything, and they are everywhere, turning things viral like swarms of locusts devouring entire plantations of information all for the sake of being entertained with an ever-present, glowing gadget in the palm of their hands.
Folks whose boredom threshold is mighty slim, who use the divisive 2021 F1 season as a template to base their newfound 'love' for a sport whose Champions most cannot name, I am sure of that simply by being privy to what goes on in social media environs, and the nonsense that is spewed.
These are the nouveau Netflix, Drive to Survive-inspired fans that account for the widely reported boom. Fryer in her report suggests F1 needs to get more entertaining before the TikTok brigade finds something else to make go viral. Well that's because Racing is not really in their blood.
They do a huge injustice to a large segment of True American F1 fans, folk that have followed the sport for decades, many periods against the odds as Networks avoided F1 coverage in the States; more times than not coverage was sporadic. The same applies to new ones, who bother to delve into the history and study a sport they were perhaps unfamiliar with.
Over the years many Americans followed F1 avidly - along with the UK the USA accounts for the bulk of our readers - despite the timezone differences, the lack of info and not being catered for at all back in the day.
Real American F1 fans would rather go to Watkins Glen and Elkhart Lake rather than Miami and Vegas
Real American F1 fans indeed exist and must not be confused with the flood of new riff-raff who will flock to Miami and Las Vegas as long as it is TikTok-cool when instead if real motorsport hearts ruled and not the mighty dollar, we would be going to marvellous F1-revamped Watkins Glen and/or the incredible Road America at Elkhart Lake and/or even back to the Indy road-course, imagine that!
The difference between the nouveau fans and the Real Deals in the USA is simple, the Real American F1 Fans will agree with that final paragraph (with some F1-needed improvements to those iconic venues of course) because those are real race tracks, not pop-ups like Miami is and Vegas will be.
I will hazard a safe guess and suggest that the TikTok brigade will not have heard of Watkins Glen let alone Elkhart Lake and that's the fundamental difference.
Whether people like it or not, F1 is a sophisticated sport, some get it some don't. The cars are the most sophisticated in the world, and the myriad of F1 rules are absurdly sophisticated. And relative to ball sports, to really stay hooked for life you need to understand what the sport is all about because it is constantly changing, and evolving as cutting-edge technologies are explored.
I would venture selling F1 to NASCAR fans will be a tough challenge. Of the 100k or so that fill an oval on a race weekend, how many are or will become avid F1 fans? NASCAR is simple, F1 is quite the opposite. So where would the attraction be to crossover?
History shows that F1 is about dominance and others chasing
Formula 1 cars are vastly different today from (say for example) the seventies, yet a soccer ball and the goal; a baseball and bat; a ball and hoop remain the same. The basic rules of different sports have not changed in most non-motorized sports for decades or even centuries, yet F1 has a new package every decade or so, and each season the cars are changed, and updated. It's a constantly shifting 'playing field' with dynamic goalposts, unlike any other sport.
History shows that F1 is about dominance and others chasing. Geniuses get the upper hand with their designs; engine manufacturers find magic switches in their PUs and then superhero drivers maximize the kit at their disposal. We fans are mesmerized by what they do even if every Sunday we know who the winner is probably going to be.
Yes, the above could be based on the Max Verstappen story right now with Red Bull dominating as they are, but the same also applies to the Lewis Hamilton era; the Michael Schumacher era; the Alain Prost era; the shortlived Ayrton Senna era; the Jackie Stewart era and several more such periods of dominance that prevailed in F1 history.
I admit times when F1 was a total snooze and even nodded away after a good lunch and not enough eyeball action on the telly to keep awake. At times two blokes in the best team would lap the other guys, the gaps to the field were huge, one or two seconds.
Formula 1 is in the best place it has ever been
Today three-tenths is considered an age between teams and often covers the top ten drivers. It's never been closer, overtaking is plentiful and we have a crop of brilliant drivers in the mix. F1 has not been in a better place, Verstappen's dominance is all part of the game, and it is beautiful.
Yes we may still have some bugs here and there. Sprint weekends, are they good or bad? Is Monaco good enough to still host F1 races? Screaming V10's or the current muted hybrids? And the list goes on. These are all discussions and issues that keep the avid fan worried or in doubt regarding the future of the sport, but we maintain F1 has always found a way to keep going and become better.
If you understand and love that paradox, you are destined to be or already are a true lifelong F1 fan, be you American or not, it's in your blood, and we are family because of that.
In closing this comment from an American reader deserves to be highlighted, as it illustrates why I respect Real USA F1 fans as it sums up their tenacity and passion quite aptly, while embracing newcomers to learn about our sport:
History of F1 Television coverage in the USA:
Formula 1 television coverage in the United States has evolved over the years, with various networks and platforms broadcasting the sport to American audiences. Here's a brief history of Formula 1 TV coverage in the USA:
- 1960s-1980s: Wide World of Sports In the early days, Formula 1 coverage in the United States was limited, with occasional highlights shown as part of ABC's "Wide World of Sports" program. These segments provided a glimpse of the sport but were not dedicated broadcasts.
- 1990-1997: ESPN/ESPN2 In 1990, ESPN began broadcasting Formula 1 races in the United States, providing more comprehensive coverage. The races were shown on ESPN or its sister network ESPN2, often on tape delay due to the time difference between the US and European races.
- 1998-2012: Speed Channel In 1998, the Speed Channel (formerly Speedvision) obtained the rights to broadcast Formula 1 in the United States. This marked a significant milestone as it dedicated an entire channel to motorsports, including Formula 1. Speed Channel provided live race coverage, pre- and post-race shows, as well as other F1-related programming.
- 2013-2017: NBC Sports Network NBC Sports Network (formerly known as Versus) took over the broadcasting rights in 2013. The network aired races live and provided pre- and post-race analysis. NBC Sports Network also offered additional coverage through its digital platforms.
- 2018-2021: ESPN/ABC Formula 1 returned to ESPN in 2018, with the majority of races broadcast on ESPN2. Some races, including the Monaco Grand Prix, were shown on the main ESPN network. ABC occasionally aired a few races, such as the United States Grand Prix, as tape-delayed broadcasts.
- 2022-present: ESPN Starting from the 2022 season, ESPN became the exclusive broadcaster for Formula 1 in the United States. ESPN airs all Formula 1 races live on its networks, including ESPN, ESPN2, and occasionally on ABC. ESPN also provides comprehensive coverage through its digital platforms, allowing fans to stream races online.
It's worth noting that in addition to the TV coverage, Formula 1 also offers a subscription-based streaming service called F1 TV Pro, which allows fans to access live streams, onboard cameras, and other exclusive content. This service is available in the United States and can be accessed through various devices and platforms.
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