Lewis Hamilton crowns COTA ‘the best track in the States’ as US F1 popularity explodes

October 17, 2025

Seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton has discussed the rapid growth in popularity of the championship and the United States Grand Prix since the race at the Circuit of The Americas joined the calendar in 2012.

As one of the few current drivers to have raced at the event since this time, the British driver was quizzed on how the series has changed since the first F1 race in Austin, Texas.

“I think it’s been amazing to see the growth and the interest from people here in the States,” the Ferrari driver explained during the press conference ahead of the United States Grand Prix. “And I think this track is, for me, the best track here in the States. It’s one of my favourite tracks on the whole calendar.

“But I love that we’ve been able to tap into the sporting community here. I know you have a big college football team here. And I know they’re massively passionate about sports. So it’s great that we were able to kind of tap into that.”

Netflix’s Drive to Survive was a huge driving force in increasing the viewership of F1 in the United States as well as introducing a younger audience to the series. In addition to this, the F1 movie, which was released in June 2025, has helped push the popularity of the championship further. Hamilton served as executive producer on the blockbuster starring Brad Pitt and Damson Idris, alongside director Joseph Kosinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer.

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Photo by: Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images

“Finally, I think the first time we came here, it was all kind of ‘Formula 1? What is Formula 1?’ But the progress, the journey that we’ve been on from, you know, from Netflix being out to then the biggest sports movie of all time, the F1 movie that we did this year, which has been amazing,” Hamilton continued.

“And not only that, but bringing people of all ages to the race, and this is a huge turnout every time we come here. And this is one of my favourite weekends of the year because you get to head into town and get some great food. And it’s just a really great atmosphere always. So I’m really thankful to the people of Austin and to Bobby [Epstein] for hosting us every time.

“The circuit’s improving every time we come. Still a little bit bumpy, but I think that’s because the underground is moving a little bit. But they’ve just added a theme park. So it’s becoming a really, really incredible event.”