Attendance at this year’s United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, was slightly below 2022 numbers.
Organizers last year reported 440,000 spectators across the weekend while this year the figure was placed at 432,000—and even that lofty numbers raised a few eyebrows on account of the notably emptier grandstands on Friday and Saturday. It is still a healthy figure for Formula 1 and for COTA but not quite at peak levels.
It may be worth noting that both Friday and Saturday saw temperatures as his has 96 degree, and on Sunday, the thermometer reached just a tick under 90.
Also, a lack of true competition should also be noted, as the Formula 1 championship for 2023 has already been won by Max Verstappen. The driver has also won 15 races this year, including 13 of the last 14. And, yes, Verstappen won again on Sunday.
Horner Dismisses Marko Rift
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has dismissed speculation of a rift between him and motorsport consultant Helmut Marko. Reports arose indicating that relations had cooled between the duo in the wake of the restructuring of Red Bull’s sporting arm following the death of founder Dietrich Mateschitz 12 months ago. Those were given short shrift by Horner.
“Some degree of humor reading some of the stories,” said Horner. “It’s amazing these days how a pebble can be dropped in the water in Brazil and can end up in a wave by the time it reaches Europe, but it also demonstrates that we’ve tied up both championships and there’s not a lot to be talking about so it’s very easy for others to wind the situation up. Helmut and I, we’ve had a great relationship since 1996 when I first met him, and we have a very strong working relationship and nothing’s changed.”
F1 Academy Gives Women a Chance
Marta Garcia was crowned the inaugural F1 Academy champion after taking victory in the first race at COTA.
Marta Garcia celebrates her win at COTA in the all-women open-wheel series.
F1 Academy was created for 2023 to provide an entry-level series for up-and-coming female racers, with the category backed by Formula 1, and run by ex-Williams test driver Susie Wolff.
F1 Academy supported Formula 1 for the first time for its finale at COTA and Garcia, who previously competed in the now defunct W Series, arrived with a sizeable points advantage, and duly wrapped up proceedings in the first of three weekend races.
F1 Academy races Formula 4 cars and will join Formula 1’s schedule full-time in 2024 with all seven rounds in support of the championship.
The 2024 season will begin in Saudi Arabia and take in Miami, Barcelona, Zandvoort, Singapore and Qatar before concluding in Abu Dhabi. Further ties will be strengthened next year with each Formula 1 team set to support one racer and also feature their livery on her respective car.
Pro golfer Rory McIlroy joined in the fun at COTA as a new investor of the Alpine time.
Rory McIlroy Joines Alpine Investor Group
An eclectic mixture of high-profile sports stars has joined one of the investment groups that has a stake in Alpine. Earlier this year Otro Capital, RedBird Capital Partners and Maximum Effort Investments acquired a 24% equity stake in Alpine’s Formula 1 team for a $200+ million investment.
Last week, Otro Capital announced that several athletes have bolstered the partnership with the aim of raising Alpine’s status on the global stage. Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, golfer Rory McIlroy, boxing champion Anthony Joshua, and soccer stars Trent Alexander-Arnold and Juan Mata, along with Miami Marlins investor Roger Ehrenberg, are now all part of the consortium.
McIlroy and Joshua were present in the paddock at the Circuit of the Americas and held small media roundtables, with the pair eager to get stuck in with Alpine. McIlroy and Joshua were part of the usual mixture of celebrities on the ground at the grand prix, with Prince Harry, Elon Musk and Sha’Carri Richardson all soaking up the spectacle.
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