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.
Then they’re not really F1 fans, and they were always going to switch off eventually. F1 managed 70 years without a massive American fanbase and would survive without it now.
They surely would, but they would make less money, so it’s not an option.