First published 2024
Formula 1 spent decades trailing NASCAR and IndyCar in American popularity, despite being the world's wealthiest racing league. By 2023, everything had changed. The sport surged to the front of the pack, powered by a passionate new American fanbase. Wall Street Journal reporters Joshua Robinson and Jonathan Clegg reveal how this transformation unfolded over decades through constant reinvention and calculated risks. They trace F1's journey from near collapse to American conquest, examining the drivers, teams, and executives who reshaped the sport. The authors provide insider access to legendary figures like Bernie Ecclestone, Christian Horner, and Lewis Hamilton, plus iconic teams like Ferrari. This account shows how F1 broke into America's crowded sports marketplace through money, personality, and a fresh understanding of entertainment value. The book captures both spectacular successes and dramatic failures that led to F1's current moment of triumph and uncertainty.
Genres: history, business, sports, non-fiction, 21st-century
Vibes: fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: insider-access, transformation
Setting: America
Period: 2023
304 pages · Hardcover · Mariner Books