'It's been amazing to see the growth and interest' – Hamilton praises rise of F1 in Austin and USA

Lewis Hamilton believes that Formula 1 has "tapped into the sporting community" in Austin and that the United States of America has now become a central part of the World Championship.

The Circuit of The Americas has hosted the United States Grand Prix since 2012 – minus 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic – and become a staple on the F1 calendar with drivers and fans due to the challenging and varied nature of the track.

F1's popularity in the country has surged in recent years, which has led to two further venues Stateside, including Miami (introduced in 2021) and Las Vegas (reintroduced in 2023 having held races in the early 1980s).

While F1 has raced in the USA since its inception – the Indianapolis 500 having been part of the championship for a decade from 1950 – and at other venues, the popularity of Netflix show Drive to Survive, as well as this summer’s record-breaking F1 The Movie, have helped propel the sport into the mainstream in the country.

Speaking to the media on Thursday ahead of this weekend's United States Grand Prix, Hamilton praised the growth of the sport at the Austin venue during more than a decade.

"I think it’s been amazing to see the growth and interest here," said the Ferrari driver, who has claimed five victories at the track, as well as two of his seven world titles.

"For me, this is the best track in the States. It’s one of my favourite tracks on the calendar.

"I love that we’ve tapped into the sporting community here. I think the first time we came here, it was like, ‘What is F1?’

"The journey we’ve been on with Netflix and the movie has been amazing. It’s also bringing people of all ages to the race. I’m really thankful to the people of Austin."