STEELE SPORTS
Formula One racing came to Miami this past weekend and, for the first time ever, I watched an entire race weekend from the beginning of the practice rounds to the entirety of the race day.
As someone who has never had an interest in NASCAR racing, I was skeptical I would have an interest in Formula One when my friend who had recently become obsessed with the sport introduced me to it.
His excitement for the event is what led me to give it a chance, along with the fact that the race has a team aspect with each organization having two drivers both competing for points to earn money for the team at the end of the season.
While I refrained from mindlessly choosing a team to support with zero knowledge of the sport itself, what I can say is that I believe Formula One will grow extremely quick in American sports media if given the proper attention.
NASCAR racing – albeit popular in niche markets around the country – has seemingly gone by the wayside in the past 10-15 years, opening the door for a new supercharged league to take its place.
In my opinion, what sets Formula One apart from other racing organizations is its rules and racetracks.
As of last year, Formula One introduced a rule that put an equal spending cap on every team, all but eliminating the monetary advantage that larger teams used to have.
When you add this on top of the fact that the sport has featured 68 unique tracks, uses cars that go over 20 mph fast than NASCAR vehicles, and that the organization is internationally loved, you can start to see why Formula One has begun stronger efforts to tap into American markets.
While practice rounds aren’t the most captivating, what helps them stand out is how the coverage does its best to show what adjustments each team is making to its car between rounds.
Next up are qualifying rounds, where each team sends its drivers onto the track to determine starting grid positions.
The incentive of navigating difficult tracks at nearly 223 mph average speeds to get as close to the start of the pack as possible is captivating to say the least.
One crash can keep a driver out of the race the whole weekend, meaning these athletes are essentially gambling on themselves multiple times even before the real race begins.
Thus brings race day after qualifying – where the real magic begins.
Race days are must-watch TV for two simple reasons: chaos and skill.
Formula One cars are much larger than NASCAR cars, meaning that navigating turns and using speed down straights is far more complex – especially when the course involves more than just the typical left turns of NASCAR tracks.
If you want to watch adrenaline at its finest, you should give the sport a chance.
Also, with the NHL and NBA seasons coming to a close and the return of the NFL still months away, Formula One could be a great option for sports fans to find a new interest in what is usually sports’ slowest season.
Race days are typically once every two weeks as well, bringing with them a much greater sense of build-up and pageantry.
The next grand prix set to hit TVs worldwide will be held in Italy at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on Sunday, May 21 at 8 a.m. CST.