Although F1 is currently looking strong enough to challenge the likes of other American motorsport series including Indy and NASCAR, there was a time when the term Formula 1 hardly attracted any audience from the United States. Many even seemed unbothered about what was typically hailed as the Pinnacle of Motorsport. The sole F1 event in the United States was steadily heading for failure.
Indeed, the inaugural 2012 US GP was an absolute blast, but the succeeding years witnessed a drastic fall in fan attendance. Hence, the sport was desperately seeking a breakthrough, but no amount of promotions across the massive country helped revive the grandeur racing event. And, quite unexpectedly, just when the hopes were beginning to fall flat, F1 came up with a bold move of chess.
After almost a year of silence, world-renowned singer Taylor Swift announced a full-fledged concert to be held on the Circuit of The Americas following Saturday’s qualifying session in 2016. Ex-F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone partnered with the ‘Bad Blood’ fame in the hopes of a lifeline for the sport and managed to attract a whopping 80,000 spectators.
And now, seven years later, F1 is visibly unstoppable in the very same country, with the stardom persistently growing to unimaginable proportions. What’s more, along with Texas, the new owners, Liberty Media, have managed to hold two additional races in the country as well – Miami and Las Vegas. Hence, to project this explosive fame, Christian Horner hilariously pulled Swifts’s legs.
Christian Horner questions the need for Taylor Swift in the future F1 races
Speaking to ESPN F1, Horner reckoned that there was no longer a need for Swift or other such famed celebrities to glorify the sport in the United States. “If you remember Austin a few years ago, we had to get Taylor Swift to get a crowd there! Now, she’s lucky if she’s allowed in!” he said.
Christian Horner opened up about F1’s unprecedented growth in the U.S.
(via Unlapped) pic.twitter.com/j6WXO62Ees
— ESPN F1 (@ESPNF1) August 7, 2023
Truth be told, the Las Vegas Grand Prix could well be the most extravagant racing event held in the entire world, with the tickets likely to soar up to millions of dollars. With the inaugural event inching closer, one can sense that the entire Hollywood could be yearning to make their appearances on the grid, and hence, the weekend will undeniably be a celebration for the fans and a massive victory for the sport itself.
Overall, amidst such ever-growing hype surrounding this potentially outlandish racing event, will Sin City live up to the searing expectations and deliver a weekend of extravaganza?