Americans flocked to Formula One at the height of the pandemic, when a Netflix docuseries showcased the series as the sexiest thing in sports. The new audience was rewarded by an epic 2021 title fight between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. But Verstappen has won 21 of 31 races since and Red Bull has totally dominated the series. Verstappen's 9.5-second win over Fernando Alonso in Canada on Sunday was the closest race so far this season — and that's not going to hold the attention of a fickle American audience very long.
Do you honestly think the educated American racing fan considers felon Gene Haas and his adoption of Russian oligarch money an American team? First season, yeah. But it went downhill pretty quick and once he painted the car in Russian colors he was dead to many of us.
McLaren is more of an American team than Haas will ever be.