Formula One and the United States have had a rocky relationship for as long as the sport’s
been around, but new American-led management is set on changing that once and for all.
Since its founding, Formula One has been an international organization.
The first world championship was held in 1950 at Silverstone in the United Kingdom. The
winning driver, Italian racer Giuseppe Farina, drove a supercharged Alfa Romeo in front
of 120,000 cheering spectators — including England’s reigning monarch, King George VI.
That European race set the stage for Formula One’s global presence, excluding America.
Headwinds in America
Logistically, it’s hard to be a Formula One fan in America. Most of the races take place in
Europe, so watching live events often means waking up at the crack of dawn. The U.S.
also has its own motor sports to watch like IndyCar and NASCAR, which has been around
since the 1940s.
Peter Habicht is the founder of Formula One's largest fan group in America, located in
San Francisco. The group has about 2,500 members.
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