When Max Verstappen and Lando Norris race for important World Cup points today, millions of people are watching.
Especially in the USA, where the premier class of motorsport is booming. Since last year there have been three races in the land of unlimited possibilities in Austin, Miami and Las Vegas.
But that wasn’t always the case…
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In 2015, the US Grand Prix struggled with dwindling fan interest. The USA race had only been added to the Formula 1 calendar three years earlier – the number of spectators fell year after year.
The 2015 race marked a low point: Hurricane Patricia brought record rainfall to Austin, the second training session was canceled and qualifying was postponed to Sunday after hours of waiting.
Fans were disappointed, doubts about the sport’s popularity grew, and government subsidies were cut by $6 million.
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Source: BILD10/19/2024
The organizers around chairman Bobby Epstein needed new ideas for next year – and thought of Taylor Swift.
Epstein asked, Swift said yes. The pop singer went on a big tour in 2015 with her album “1989”. If you wanted to see them live in 2016, you had to go to Formula 1.
In an interview with “The Athletic,” Epstein said: “It was a big investment back then and it was worth it. We are grateful to Taylor for taking this opportunity.”
Taylor Swift on her Eras tour this year
Photo: ANDRE DIAS NOBRE/AFP
The idea wasn’t new – before Swift, Kid Rock and Elton John, among others, had performed at the USA race. But Swift brought the viewers (back).
Around 80,000 fans stayed at the track after qualifying and watched Swift’s performance. After the weekend, the organizers reported almost 50,000 more viewers than last year (an increase of 17 percent).
Epstein: “When we look back, we feel confirmed in the vision. You don’t take anything away from the race by offering the fans more.” In 2018, two years after Swift, Justin Timberlake will perform, and in 2022 Ed Sheeran will give a big concert on the race weekend.
The route in Miami passes the Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins
Photo: IMAGO/eu-images
And while the F1 cars are racing around the Circuit of the Americas these days, Swift is starting the North American finale of her Eras tour. The pop icon is playing three concerts at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami – the Miami GP race track is located around the arena.
Swift’s tour ends on December 8th in Vancouver (Canada) – coinciding with the final racing weekend in Formula 1 (takes place in Abu Dhabi).
