FLOYD ON F1: American success crucial for sport’s growth

This weekend the F1 world moves into a triple header with the US Grand Prix, followed by Mexico and then Brazil. The line-up also includes the last two sprint events of the season.

If you had not already heard, Pirelli has won a new contract as sole tyre supplier to F1 from 2025 to 2027, with an option to continue for another season. The Italian manufacturer will also supply the F2 and F3 championships.

Pirelli’s tyre issue at Qatar recently was primarily due to the type of kerbing and cars exceeding track limits. It’s an area which is now under scrutiny by the FIA – particularly by the governing body’s president Mohammed ben Sulayem. The number of penalties and the long time periods before announcing them is not doing anything for the sport’s image.

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Tyre issues

Following the Qatar race, he was reported as saying: “We had the same issue in Austria, it was 1 200 (violations). And I have to say, congratulations to the stewards because they spotted it.

“But is that the solution? No. The solution is to improve the track itself.

“I know some are resistant to it, but if they don’t, there is no race. It is as simple as this. We can’t afford this.”

The FIA president is creating waves, not just regarding track limits. His statements made regarding the inclusion of Andretti-Cadillac on the F1 grid.

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Andretti-Cadillac

I wrote recently of the FIA’s acceptance of the US-based teams application to enter F1 and the opposition of Formula One Management and the majority of the teams, basically due to the reduced annual income to the current teams if an extra team has to share the pot. Many are questioning what Andretti-Cadillac will add to the sport financially. Surely this is obvious?

The strong growth in American interest in F1 must prove this point. Plus the fact the US hosts three grands prix on home soil this year, Miami, Austin and Las Vegas.

With an American team, albeit almost a privateer, Haas, and a lone American citizen, Logan Sargeant, racing for Williams, it is time for a successful American motorsport team and automobile manufacturer to grace F1’s grid. This is almost guaranteed to increase spectator and television viewership dramatically.

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F1 politics

Some serious conflict could arise, with the FIA saying yes, but FOM and the teams, no. Ben Sulayem has pointed out the FIA owns F1 and basically leases it to Liberty Media. In other words, the FIA is the lessor: it lays down the rules and expects the lessee to respect them.

He has also pointed out the teams have no direct say in this matter as it is strictly between Liberty Media and the FIA. Has the gauntlet been thrown down?

The first race of a triple header is the US Grand Prix, featuring the penultimate sprint event of 2023.