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“Formula 1, what is that?”- F1 journalist reveals how immigration at Miami Airport had no idea what Formula 1 is

Somin Bhattacharjee
Published

"Formula 1, what is that?"- F1 journalist reveals how immigration at Miami Airport had no idea what Formula 1 is

An F1 journalist revealed that immigration at Miami airport had no idea what Formula 1 and thought it involved horse racing.

Over the last few years, F1 has grown a lot as a sport. The number of people watching races is substantially increasing every year, and it’s made the sport a global spectacle.

In particular, we’ve seen a sharp increase in viewership in the United States. Netflix’s superhit docu-series, ‘Drive to Survive’ plays a major role in the promotion of F1. Until 2021, there was just one American race on the calendar, but that changed this year.

F1 travels to Miami for the first time ever this weekend. It is one of the two races that will be held in the US this campaign, and Las Vegas will also be added as a venue next season onwards.

It’s a testament to just how popular the sport has become over the last few years, especially in the USA. In fact, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali does not rule out adding more American races to the calendar if need be.

Also read: “As an American he’s 100% correct”- F1 fans respond to Alex Albon and his comments on the American cuisine

Has F1 really grown in the USA as much as we think?

On his Twitter account, F1 journalist Christian Menath revealed how the Miami airport immigration had no idea what F1 is. The officer asked him what his purpose of visit was, to which he answered,  “Reporting for Formula 1.”

Menath then revealed how the immigration officer asked him what that was. Even when he told him it was racing, the immigration officer was puzzled and questioned if it was ‘horse racing’.

No one can doubt how much F1 has grown in the US over the last few years. In the 2021 campaign, we witnessed the biggest ever audience in an F1 race in America at the COTA in Austin. However, when organizers an F1 insist that there’s still room for a lot more growth, they mean it.

Historically, series like NASCAR and IndyCar have been more popular in America. But Formula 1 is gaining ground, and they will grow a lot more in terms of viewership and fan following over the next few years.

Also read: “What you sayin’ @NBA @MiamiHEAT?”– Lando Norris up for basketball game ahead of Miami Grand Prix

About the author

Somin Bhattacharjee

Somin Bhattacharjee

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Formula 1 Editor Somin Bhattacharjee fell for the sport as well as Fernando Alonso on the same day — during the Spaniard’s thrilling victory at the German GP in 2010. Over the years, the passion magnified manyfold, and metamorphosed into a writing career in 2021. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. He has penned over 2,700 articles for TheSportsRush, presenting a diverse range — news reports, opinions, and exclusives. A true Tiffosi, Somin never gives up on a chance to defend the Ferrari boys as a fan. As a sports writer though, he remains objective to the core and relishes opportunities to follow and engage in dissecting the action during races. That’s where the real thrill lies for him. Beyond the racetrack, Somin plays different sports including soccer. He enjoys exploring other sporting events and proudly supports Spanish soccer club Real Madrid.

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