Formula 1 has been making inroads in the United States in recent years. The sport has gained millions of new fans from the ‘Land of the Free.’ This led to the start of the Las Vegas GP last season. However, some reckoned that this could pose a threat to the Miami GP as the Vegas race was meant to be a big spectacle. Now, Lewis Hamilton has denied such claims.
The seven-time world champion was asked if the Miami race had diminished due to the Las Vegas GP. Lewis Hamilton reckoned that the Miami GP had actually become a bigger event this time around. Moreover, Hamilton highlighted that there was a lot more awareness about Formula 1 in the United States.
Diminished? No, I think the sport’s got bigger here. It’s got a lot more awareness. Every city that I go to, people are excited. Lewis Hamilton said, as reported by Planetf1
The 39-year-old claimed that F1 was finally a sport for US fans. Lewis Hamilton claimed that previously, a Grand Prix was simply an event for American viewers. However, now the sport had become a part of the culture in the country. Moreover, the seven-time world champion was grateful to see F1 gain such popularity in the US.
It’s now a sport here in the States. Before, it was just an event that arrived once a year. Now, we’re kind of a part of the culture here, which is really, really cool. Lewis Hamilton stated
Williams’ James Vowles praises ‘enormous change’ at Miami GP
The Miami GP joined the F1 calendar in 2022, as the second American F1 race alongside COTA’s US GP. The Miami track goes around the iconic Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins. Moreover, the entire paddock was shifted inside the stadium since 2023, creating a perfect spectacle for fans.
Williams team boss James Vowles claimed that the transformation of the circuit had been an enormous change compared to three years ago. Vowles highlighted that the area was essentially a car park before it was turned into an F1 race track. Certainly, an eye-catching aspect of the race weekend.
If you compare where we are today, three years in, from where we were at the beginning, it’s an enormous change. This was a car park, fundamentally, that they converted into a top tier Formula 1 track. James Vowles said, as reported by PlanetF1
It is clear that the Miami GP has been a success for F1. The 2024 iteration of the race witnessed many big names including Travis Kelce. As such, the Las Vegas GP seems to have had no negative impact on Miami’s F1 race. The number of F1 fans in the US will likely continue to increase in the coming years.
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