Ferrari Star Carlos Sainz Once Recalled “Crazy” Reception From American F1 Fans: “I Didn’t Expect…”

Ferrari star driver Carlos Sainz has talked about the insane reception he’s got in the United States. Ahead of his race in Miami in 2022, the Spanish driver was on the receiving end of a “crazy” fandom from American fans.

Speaking at an interview with the Pitstop podcast a month ahead of the second US race, Sainz said the support and recognition he got back then was amazing. This took place when he went out to have dinner outside at a restaurant.

Talking about the ordeal, the Spaniard, who has a new opportunity ahead, shared that as he went to have dinner at the restaurant, he didn’t expect what he saw there. With the hope to have steak as dinner, the Prancing Horse driver entered the restaurant, as to his surprise he got a standing ovation.

The 28-year-old continued to thank the American fans because they made the former McLaren star good about himself. He said, “I didn’t expect to go into a restaurant, suddenly everyone pointed in” towards him and instantly recognized the Ferrari star.

Leclerc and Sainz revealed the reason for the F1 boost

Much like everyone else, the Ferrari driver duo pointed at Netflix and its immensely popular F1 docu-series Drive to Survive for the massive boom in the American market.

Talking about this, Leclerc mentioned how things have changed over the years, from the time he joined Formula 1 back in 2018. It was also the year when the mega series started its journey.

Forbes has valued Liberty Media at $21 billion, calling it the ‘World’s Most Valuable Sports Empire’

Of that, they put the current market value of F1 at $17b, thanks in part to the growth in America and Drive to Survive

Liberty bought F1 for $4.4b in 2016, not a bad return pic.twitter.com/7vNFQ7m7R7

— Dan – EngineMode11 (@EngineMode11) January 30, 2023

The Monegasque then went on to talk about the incredible leap in fandom. He said, “The first years, there weren’t that many people watching Formula 1. Also in the streets, we could have a normal life in the US, and now it’s crazy.”

How popular did F1 become in the US?

To be honest, the growth of popularity has been staggering. Even though it is yet to become the most followed sport in North American country over NASCAR, it’s certainly on its way to becoming the second most-watched motorsport in America.

From a place where Liberty Media was worried about hosting the United States Grand Prix in Austin, the sport has gone on to add two more races in Miami and Las Vegas, respectively.

Moreover, the immense growth of the sport also made Liberty Media, the owner of Formula 1 the “world’s most valuable sports empire” by Forbes for its staggering $21 billion value.