Briatore Reveals How He and Trump Sparked New Jersey F1 Bid

Flavio Briatore says he and Donald Trump sparked a New Jersey Formula 1 bid in the 2010s, pitching it to Bernie Ecclestone as F1 sought a renewed US foothold.

The initiative followed F1’s 2007 split with Indianapolis, after which the championship evaluated alternatives while US enthusiasm centred on NASCAR and IndyCar.

Briatore recalls presenting location options in Trump’s office. Trump, inexperienced with F1 but a seasoned promoter, judged Manhattan unworkable and urged a New Jersey waterfront alternative.

Ecclestone subsequently opened talks with several New Jersey powerbrokers, but the framework never solidified into a race contract or a viable long‑term promoter agreement.

The bid collided with a market that prioritised domestic series. Compared to NASCAR and IndyCar, F1 carried limited clout with broadcasters, sponsors, and civic stakeholders.

While New Jersey advanced, Austin secured the United States Grand Prix from 2012. F1 then targeted a second event, the Grand Prix of America along Port Imperial.

Sebastian Vettel and David Coulthard fronted promotional runs on public roads. Financing, permitting, and scheduling setbacks forced repeated postponements, and the race never made an official calendar appearance.

Liberty Media’s 2017 acquisition reoriented F1’s US strategy, easing commercial restrictions and prioritising marketing reach, event experience, and stakeholder partnerships.

The shift underpins surging attendances. Miami and Austin sell out, while Las Vegas attracts vast numbers, with crowds approaching 500,000 across the inaugural weekend.

Briatore contrasts Ecclestone’s centralised control with Liberty’s collaborative stance. Openness around media rights and sponsorships strengthens promoter alignment and team incentives.

He argues that improved visibility and diversified revenues lift F1 team values, reshaping negotiations with manufacturers, sponsors, and prospective entrants.

Briatore’s recent advisory stint at Alpine adds contemporary relevance to his perspective on governance and commercial structures.

Ultimately, the unsuccessful New Jersey project reflects F1’s earlier US headwinds and foreshadows the strategy that now sustains multiple American rounds.

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Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.