‘More people in the US cared about ostrich racing than F1 until Drive to Survive’

On May 4, 2023

Motorsport legend Johnny Herbert believed people in America “cared more about Ostrich racing than Formula One.”

The United States has become one of the most important countries in F1 with three major Grand Prix taking place across the pond. Since Austin, Las Vegas, and Miami were all attributed their own Grand Prix, the popularity of the sport has grown exponentially.

Herbert believes much of this rise can be attributed to the pulsating ‘Drive to Survive’ Netflix series that has chronicled the racing seasons and given fans unprecedented access into everything that happens on the track, the pits, and in behind the scenes meetings. And to offer an amusing perspective of how little the US population cared for F1, Herbert insists people were more interested in Ostrich racing.

“Cracking America is difficult and the holy grail for sport,” the Brit said to Ice 36. “Bernie Ecclestone tried for decades, but wasn’t able to do it.

“I remember going to Phoenix in my first season when I smacked myself up, and walking in the morning with my wife. We met a couple who were walking too. They asked, ‘what’s going on here?’

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Ostrich racing is still very popular in the United States
(Image: YouTube/Canterbury Park)

“We said ‘we are here for the Grand Prix’. They said ‘where you from then? Are you British? What’s Formula 1?’ They said ‘we are here for the ostrich racing’.

“From what I remember there were more people at the ostrich racing than there were at the Grand Prix. There is a different mindset now which is benefitting everyone involved.”

Herbert believes things may have been very different were it not for the iconic series. “F1 is gaining traction in the USA. They have three races this year, Las Vegas, Austin and Miami. Drive to Survive has definitely opened up the eyes of the American fans.

Johnny Herbert;'s earliest experience of trying to sell F1 in the United States was certainly memorable — Johnny Herbert;’s earliest experience of trying to sell F1 in the United States was certainly memorable
(Image: Photo by Qian Jun/MB Media/Getty Images)

Netflix's production of drive to survive has played a key role — Netflix’s production of drive to survive has played a key role
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

“There has always been an American F1 fan but they were relatively small. Quite a lot of Americans go to Monaco.

“It has also been helped by the mentality we have had with Liberty. They have added elements which have actually made the sport more engaging.”