This weekend, Formula One racing returns to American shores for the US Grand Prix in Austin. The Circuit of the Americas, hosting the race for the third time, is a beautiful new facility and will attract hundreds of thousands of race fans for years to come.
But one thing those fans won't see on Sunday is a single American driver in the world's most prestigious racing series. Indeed, there hasn't been an American in F1 since (the perfectly named) Scott Speed raced for Toro Rosso in 2007. You have to go back to 1978 to find our last champion, the legendary Mario Andretti (who was born in Italy before immigrating to the US and becoming a citizen). American Alex Rossi is a test driver for Marussia and was slated to take the seat of the gravely injured Jules Bianchi, but Marussia has dropped out of the rest of the season for financial reasons. In an interview this week, Rossi said "there's always a chance" he could be a permanent driver in 2015. No guarantees.
So why the overall lack of American drivers? And why are F1 insiders so skeptical that the North Carolina-based team being started by NASCAR man Gene Haas can succeed?
Because geography, mostly. Nearly all the F1 teams are based in Europe. So are the less prestigious racing series that work as a farm system for young drivers. Most of the world's F1 experts---the engineers, aerodynamicists, engine and drivetrain experts, and engine manufacturers---are concentrated in England. Young Americans looking to break into F1 need to move overseas to have a realistic shot.
"It is financially impossible for almost all kids growing up racing karts to move to Europe," says Speed. "Finding the funding to do it is almost impossible and without doing that, F1 may as well be happening on Mars. It would be like racing stock cars in Europe as a kid and trying to get a ride in [the Sprint] cup. Not impossible, just extremely difficult."
Then there's the fact that F1 just isn't as popular in the US as it is everywhere else, which likely discourages young Americans from participating. Yes, F1 is in Austin and is being broadcast live on the NBC Sports network, but even the well-rated broadcasts are insignificant compared to the juggernaut that is NASCAR, for example.
Part of the reason for that is F1 isn't friendly to the casual or first time viewer. It's massively complex and largely about engineering. Teams build their own cars, always looking for an edge while staying just within the guidelines set by the FIA, the sport's governing body. "That's the magic of F1 and what a lot of people here do not get," says Speed. "F1 is for the die-hards who love to read the latest engineering mag and find out what each team is doing different each year." It can take years for fans to understand all its nuances, even with top-notch television presenters there to explain what's going on. NASCAR, with cars constantly passing one another---and crashing---is easier to grasp and enjoy.
Formula One is the pinnacle of racing and should be the ultimate sport for engineers and geeks, particularly those who don't care for most sports. It's all about precision, detail, and engineering. The tiniest advantage in a wing or engine or battery or exhaust can make all the difference.
Coverage of the United States Grand Prix begins Sunday at 2:30PM Eastern on NBC. There won't be any Americans to cheer for, but we hope you watch anyway.
