The story of F1's first failed Big Apple grand prix
This year Formula 1 matches its record high of races in one nation, as the United States hosts three grands prix. But 40 years ago, it nearly held four in one season - one of them in New York. Here's the story of F1's near-miss in the Big Apple
It seems that, when addressing modern Formula 1’s business sensibilities, it is becoming increasingly impossible not to mention the championship’s boom in popularity over the previous few years. The growing presence of F1 in the current cultural zeitgeist has been the main driving force behind greater sponsorship interest, the inflating values of the 10 teams on the grid, and economic powerhouses queuing up to get their own countries on the calendar.
This is why the United States, capitalism’s own backyard, has landed three races on this year’s schedule. F1 toiled for years in its largely wasted efforts to ‘crack America’; subpar street circuits did nothing to enhance the series’ image in the eyes of Americans brought up on a diet of NASCAR and Indy cars, while F1’s finest racers hated the bumpy, claustrophobic nature of the 90-degree city streets. Perhaps F1 thought it had finally ‘made it’ after landing a race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway – American motorsport’s heartland – but this faded away after 2007 as F1 succumbed to its own hubris.
F1 Japanese GP: Verstappen on top again in FP2 as Gasly crashes late on
F1 Japanese GP: Verstappen on top again in FP2 as Gasly crashes late on F1 Japanese GP: Verstappen on top again in FP2 as Gasly crashes late on
Hamilton: "Something's up" if Red Bull doesn't win F1 Japanese GP by 30 seconds
Hamilton: "Something's up" if Red Bull doesn't win F1 Japanese GP by 30 seconds Hamilton: "Something's up" if Red Bull doesn't win F1 Japanese GP by 30 seconds
The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake
The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake
The Singapore secrets that helped Sainz end Verstappen's F1 winning streak
The Singapore secrets that helped Sainz end Verstappen's F1 winning streak The Singapore secrets that helped Sainz end Verstappen's F1 winning streak
Sainz: "Cheeky" Singapore F1 strategy to keep Norris in DRS was a risk
Sainz: "Cheeky" Singapore F1 strategy to keep Norris in DRS was a risk Sainz: "Cheeky" Singapore F1 strategy to keep Norris in DRS was a risk
F1 Singapore GP: Sainz holds off Norris to end Red Bull win streak, Russell crashes
F1 Singapore GP: Sainz holds off Norris to end Red Bull win streak, Russell crashes F1 Singapore GP: Sainz holds off Norris to end Red Bull win streak, Russell crashes
Sainz: Can't discount Verstappen from Singapore F1 victory battle
Sainz: Can't discount Verstappen from Singapore F1 victory battle Sainz: Can't discount Verstappen from Singapore F1 victory battle
Sainz, Leclerc would accept Singapore F1 team orders if in victory contention
Sainz, Leclerc would accept Singapore F1 team orders if in victory contention Sainz, Leclerc would accept Singapore F1 team orders if in victory contention
FIA admits to Verstappen F1 Singapore GP penalty mistake
FIA admits to Verstappen F1 Singapore GP penalty mistake FIA admits to Verstappen F1 Singapore GP penalty mistake
F1 Japanese GP qualifying - Start time, how to watch & more
F1 Japanese GP qualifying - Start time, how to watch & more F1 Japanese GP qualifying - Start time, how to watch & more
Friday favourite: How a knack for Thruxton opened doors to an F3 stalwart
Friday favourite: How a knack for Thruxton opened doors to an F3 stalwart Friday favourite: How a knack for Thruxton opened doors to an F3 stalwart
Verstappen: Red Bull F1 car "enjoyable to drive again" after Singapore struggle
Verstappen: Red Bull F1 car "enjoyable to drive again" after Singapore struggle Verstappen: Red Bull F1 car "enjoyable to drive again" after Singapore struggle
Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge
Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge
Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius
Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius
The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP
The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP
The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake
The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake
Singapore Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Singapore Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Singapore Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
The Singapore secrets that helped Sainz end Verstappen's F1 winning streak
The Singapore secrets that helped Sainz end Verstappen's F1 winning streak The Singapore secrets that helped Sainz end Verstappen's F1 winning streak
How a McLaren winner overshadowed by scandal was dealt self-inflicted setbacks
How a McLaren winner overshadowed by scandal was dealt self-inflicted setbacks How a McLaren winner overshadowed by scandal was dealt self-inflicted setbacks
The numbers that reveal F1's aerodynamic efficiency improvements
The numbers that reveal F1's aerodynamic efficiency improvements The numbers that reveal F1's aerodynamic efficiency improvements
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.