'That, next to Verstappen, is the big winner of this weekend'

With the first-ever Miami Grand Prix, Formula One has two races in the United States this season. In October, there will also be a race in Austin. Next season there will also be a Grand Prix in Las Vegas. Formula 1 is therefore rapidly gaining popularity in America.

Max Verstappen won the first ever Miami Grand Prix on Sunday. Although the Dutchman started only third, he managed to work his way up to the lead of the race within ten laps. With his second victory in a row Verstappen managed to reduce the gap on Charles Leclerc in the world championship standings to nineteen points.

According to Hakkinen, Verstappen was not the only winner this weekend. Indeed, so was Formula 1 itself. "To see sports legends like Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, Venus Williams and David Beckham present, and former First Lady Michelle Obama watching qualifying in the Mercedes garage, it was a very special event," the Finn writes in his column for Unibet.

That Formula 1 is becoming increasingly popular in the United States is now clear. The popular Netflix series Drive To Survive has also contributed to this, despite criticism from Verstappen and others that the series does not always portray the drivers and the sport accurately.

The fact that so many celebrities were present in Miami, according to Hakkinen, shows how much success the new owners of Formula One are having. "With a third American Grand Prix in Las Vegas next year, the interest will only increase."