F1 Fast Five: FIA opposes more races in Formula 1, Has F1 found its place in the US TV market?, and other big updates

FIA opposes more races in Formula 1

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said the governing body does not want to add more races to the 24-race F1 calendar because of concerns for drivers and teams. He mentioned that a longer schedule would make things harder and could mean needing two teams to handle the work. Although some places want to join, it's not likely the schedule will grow. Liberty Media, which manages the calendar, also understands that more races could cause fatigue.

Click here to read the full article by Balazs Szabo (f1technical.net)

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Has F1 found its place in the US TV market?

In its bid to gain traction in the US market, Formula One has focused on increasing visibility since Liberty Media acquired the series in 2017. ESPN has reported substantial growth in viewership, with average audiences rising from 539,190 in 2018 to 1.17 million in 2024. Despite this progress, F1 still struggles to compete with NASCAR's consistent audience of over three million viewers. The series aims to engage younger and female demographics to build a dedicated fan base rather than directly challenge the established dominance of domestic racing.

Click here to read the full article by Cian Brittle (blackbookmotorsport.com)

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Drivers who only managed one Grand Prix win

Throughout F1’s 75-year history, there have been talented drivers who only won one Grand Prix despite having the skill and equipment to achieve more. This includes five notable winners who, for various reasons, didn't capitalize on their potential: Jochen Mass, Heikki Kovalainen, and Jarno Trulli, among others. Mass won the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix amid a chaotic race, yet he never became a championship contender despite showing promise. Kovalainen scored his only victory in the 2008 Hungarian Grand Prix due to good fortune, and Trulli's success at Monaco in 2004 was overshadowed by team dynamics that favored his teammate, Fernando Alonso.

Click here to read the full article by Thomas Maher (planetf1.com)

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Antonelli sets winning goals for debut

Andrea Kimi Antonelli is raising the stakes for his Formula 1 debut in 2025, where he will race for Mercedes alongside George Russell, replacing Lewis Hamilton. Unlike many newcomers, Antonelli isn't just aiming for participation; he expects to secure race wins right from the start. He expressed his goal to achieve victories and acknowledged the challenge posed by competitive teams but remains determined. 

Click here to read the full article by Matt Gretton (gpblog.com)

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COTA changes track layout to fix limits

Promoters of the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix have made important changes to the Circuit of the Americas to fix problems with track limits. They narrowed the asphalt at Turns 6, 13, 14, and 15 by 1.5 meters and replaced it with turf to discourage drivers from going off-track. A new gravel trap has been added at Turn 11 to replace the old curbing, and new cameras have been set up to better monitor track limits. Track resurfacing has also been completed to address complaints about the bumpy surface, with hopes that drivers will find the updated COTA significantly improved.

Click here to read the full article by Dan Lawrence (motorsportweek.com)