Lewis Hamilton challenges Formula 1 to achieve new 'mission' with different kind of driver

Lewis Hamilton says that one of Formula 1’s biggest ‘missions’ in upcoming years should be finding its next American driver in order to capitalise on its Stateside popularity increase.

Only two Americans have raced in F1 since the highly-rated Michael Andretti’s ill-fated 1993 season at McLaren, with neither Scott Speed nor Alexander Rossi possession the requisite talent to last more than a couple of years each in the top tier of single-seater motorsport.

The behind-the-scenes Netflix series Drive to Survive has become one of the most popular shows on the streaming service, and has helped F1 grow its audience in the US significantly. Last weekend’s inaugural Miami Grand Prix saw it become F1’s second annual event in the United States, while the addition of the Las Vegas Grand Prix on thanksgiving weekend in November 2023 will make it three American events on the race calendar, with the Circuit of the American in Austin, Texas having hosted a grand prix since 2012.

For Hamilton, the power of that popularity must be harnessed and developed by giving American fans a home favourite to cheer on during races.

‘It doesn’t really surprise me,’ Hamilton says about the lack of American drivers in F1. ‘I think it’s perhaps more a cultural thing, you know, here in the States, it’s the NFL, it’s NBA. It’s NASCAR, IndyCar. And I mean, in my 16 years of coming over here, it’s been such a slow build, trying to bring awareness of the sport.

‘Unfortunately, the Americans have to wake up at odd times in order to watch a grand prix. But I think this new step that’s been taken, into bringing awareness, the Netflix show has really just brought in that amazing fan base, a sports fan base that we have, that there is here in the US.

Andretti is