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.
Number of unique individuals on the podium through eight races by season: 2019: 5; 2020: 6; 2021: 6; 2022: 6; 2023: 7. If anything, this is the most interesting season we’ve had in a while.
It is an interesting season if you look at the AM vs Merc vs Ferrari podium fights. But you know at the start of the weekend with high certainty which of the national anthems that are going to play on the podium. The 2021 season was peak excitement in recent years since it had a tight battle for 1st instead of 2nd or 3rd.