Since the release of the Netflix Documentary, Drive to Survive, in March 2019, Formula 1 has garnered a significant uptick in popularity throughout the United States.
In the last decade and a half, Formula 1, which traditionally competed mostly within Europe, began casting its net across the entire globe with annual races held on every continent except Africa and Antarctica, though there is speculation about the reintroduction of a South Africa Grand Prix.
In the United States, a television deal with ESPN simulcasts every practice, qualifying session, and race of the Formula 1 season, and the U.S. will host three Formula 1 events in 2023 – Miami, Austin, and Las Vegas. Thus, from a viewership perspective Formula 1 in the United States is more popular than ever.
As mentioned above, much of Formula 1’s recent success can be attributed to the popularity of Drive to Survive – and its not-so-subtle dramatization of the on- and off-track interactions between the teams and drivers. Further, the production quality and television broadcast of every Formula 1 session, even practice, is second to none, filled with compelling commentary, superb camera footage, and enticing storylines.
Putting aside the glamour of F1’s television production, does the actual race product live up to its claim as the pinnacle of motor racing? To this, I am not convinced. There can be no denying the technical superiority of a Formula 1. Modern Formula 1 cars have no rival. A Saturday qualifying session, especially in tight street courses like Monaco and Singapore, are as exciting as any event in motorsports.
However, Formula 1 has a racing problem.
First, and probably most important, there is a deep parity problem in Formula 1. Since 2010, only two teams have won the constructor’s championship (Mercedes and Red Bull) though at least 10 teams competed in each of the last 14 Formula 1 seasons.
I recognize that to some extent, inequality will always exist in motorsports and, frankly, that is a good thing. The team that builds a car that goes around the racetrack the fastest and/or most efficiently should win. The problem in Formula 1 is that Mercedes and Red Bull have been so dominant that no other team had the slightest chance of truly competing. Even Red Bull, from 2014 to 2020, could not even come close to challenging Mercedes. Thus, throughout many of the last 14 seasons the compelling stories were who was going to finish third or fourth.
Much of the competition disparity is due to money. The top finishing teams had the resources to put a better car on the track and attract the best drivers. To a large extent, there are no Cinderellas in Formula 1.
Second, the on-track action in Formula 1 is underwhelming, largely because the cars simply could not pass. Aerodynamics plays an extremely important role in Formula 1. Formula 1 cars compete on road or street courses with many corners. The goal is to get the cars through the corners as fast as possible. A car with more “downforce” (opposite of “lift” in an airplane) can drive through a corner faster. More downforce, however, creates more turbulence (again, like an airplane) around the car, which greatly reduces the amount of downforce a trailing car can achieve. Thus, the trailing car, even if it is faster than the lead car, will struggle to pass.
With respect to the on-track action and financial disparity, Formula 1’s governing body implemented massive change during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, including a spending cap and new technical regulations designed to promote financial equity and closer racing. To date, the changes have brought the field closer together in terms of lap times, but have not greatly altered the balance of power. In 2022, Red Bull won 17 of the 22 races. Red Bull’s success has continued in the current season, winning the first two races.
If Formula 1 wants to remain relevant in the United States, it cannot produce a racing product that Americans perceive as boring. Nor can the promoters of Formula 1 expect increased attention if Formula 1 continues to be dominated by one or two teams.
Motorsports in the United States were built on aggressive, side-by-side racing. The 1979 Daytona 500 or last week’s Cup Series race in Austin are two examples. Formula 1 will never have the contact of NASCAR or the lap-after-lap action of an Indy Car on an oval. However, it cannot forget that most fans watch to see their favorite drivers go wheel-to-wheel with a chance to win.
Time will tell the fate of Formula 1. As a European sport it will continue to succeed as it has for the last seven decades. But will Americans grow tired?
Zech Yoder is a local resident, an attorney at Adler Attorneys in Noblesville, and a lifelong race fan.