Danica Patrick and the Forgotten American F1 Project That Nearly Joined the Grid
Formula 1 has never been more popular in the United States than it is today. With two American-based teams competing in the championship, Haas and Cadillac, along with three major races held in Miami, Austin, and Las Vegas, the sport has firmly established itself as a major attraction across the country.
The growth of F1 in America has been helped by the involvement of US-based owners such as Liberty Media, which has played a major role in expanding the championship’s popularity. However, building a successful presence in the United States was not always easy. Even former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone struggled for years to make the sport truly connect with American audiences.
Back in 2009, Formula 1’s presence in the United States was almost nonexistent. There were no American teams competing in the championship, and there was no American Grand Prix after the final race at Indianapolis in 2007, where Lewis Hamilton took victory.
The relationship between F1 and American fans had suffered greatly after the infamous 2005 United States Grand Prix. That race became one of the biggest controversies in Formula 1 history when only six cars competed due to problems involving Michelin tyres. The embarrassing event damaged the sport’s reputation in the country and contributed to the eventual disappearance of the US Grand Prix from the calendar.
The Attempt to Bring an American Team Back to F1
Formula 1 entered a period of major change heading into the 2010 season. The sport planned to introduce a budget cap system, offering financial restrictions in exchange for greater technical freedom. At the same time, officials wanted to expand the grid and allow more teams to join the championship.
As part of this expansion, an American team was selected in 2009 to become one of the new entrants for the 2010 season.
The project was called US F1 and was created by former Williams team manager and F1 journalist Peter Windsor, alongside Ken Anderson, a former technical director in NASCAR. The pair officially announced their plans in early 2009, hoping to create a fully American Formula 1 operation.
The team’s main headquarters were planned for Charlotte, North Carolina, while a second facility would operate at MotorLand Aragón in Spain to support the European races.
US F1 had ambitious goals. The organization wanted to represent American motorsport on the global stage and planned to field two American drivers. One of the biggest names linked to the project was IndyCar star Danica Patrick.
Danica Patrick’s Possible F1 Opportunity
At the time, Danica Patrick was one of the most recognizable figures in American motorsport. Many believed she had genuine racing ability and could potentially become only the sixth woman to compete in Formula 1.
Her popularity made her an obvious candidate for an American F1 project, but she was not considered only because of her fame. Patrick had already demonstrated strong performances in IndyCar and was viewed by some as a driver who deserved a serious opportunity.
Ken Anderson admitted that he would be interested in giving Patrick a test in the team’s F1 car. He acknowledged that she attracted significant media attention but also suggested that her driving ability deserved evaluation.
However, despite the rumors and speculation, the test never happened. More surprisingly, Patrick later revealed that the team never even contacted her.
In 2022, during an appearance on Formula 1’s “Beyond the Grid” podcast, Patrick explained that an F1 move was never truly close to becoming reality.
She said that while media reports frequently suggested she might join Formula 1 or participate in testing, she never received an official offer or phone call.
According to Patrick, the rumors often felt more like publicity stories rather than genuine negotiations. She recalled seeing headlines suggesting that she was preparing for an F1 opportunity while wondering why nobody from the team had actually approached her.
Patrick was not the only driver connected with the project. Former F1 racer Scott Speed and Marco Andretti, the grandson of 1978 Formula 1 champion Mario Andretti, were also rumored to be candidates for the American team. However, neither possibility developed into anything concrete.
The US F1 Car That Never Raced
US F1 eventually revealed the name of its planned car: the US F1 Type 1. In September 2009, the team released computer-generated images showing what the vehicle was expected to look like.
However, those images were as close as fans ever came to seeing the team compete on the track.
Behind the scenes, serious problems were beginning to appear. The project suffered delays, especially after Formula 1’s budget cap plans became complicated due to opposition from major teams, including Ferrari.
US F1 initially attracted several investors, including advertising company Goodby, Silverstein & Partners and YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley. The financial support created optimism that the team could become a successful American entry.
But the situation quickly changed.
Financial Problems and the Collapse of the Team
Originally, US F1 planned to use two American drivers. However, by late 2009, those plans had changed. Argentine driver José María López became the team’s first confirmed signing after securing a deal that reportedly brought around $8 million in sponsorship funding.
Team management described López as a long-term target and praised his previous achievements in junior categories.
A second driver was expected to be Honda test driver James Rossiter, although the deal was never officially announced.
Despite public confidence from team officials, doubts continued to grow. Bernie Ecclestone publicly questioned whether US F1 would actually be ready to compete in the 2010 season.
Peter Windsor rejected those concerns and insisted the team was making progress. However, reality proved different.
US F1 missed several pre-season testing sessions and later requested permission from the FIA to delay its debut until the Spanish Grand Prix. The request was rejected.
At the same time, investors began withdrawing support. Chad Hurley reportedly stepped away from the project, leaving the team facing major financial difficulties.
With no realistic chance of competing throughout the full 2010 season, the remaining financial backing disappeared, effectively ending the project.
FIA Punishment and the End of US F1
Following an FIA investigation into the team’s failure to participate, US F1 officially collapsed in March 2010.
The consequences continued several months later. In June 2010, the FIA World Motor Sport Council reviewed the situation and punished the team for failing to enter the championship.
US F1 was fined $309,000 plus additional costs and was banned from future FIA-sanctioned championships.
For Danica Patrick, missing out on the project may have ultimately been fortunate. Being involved with a team that never reached the starting grid could have damaged her career rather than helped it.
However, a small connection to the failed project still remains. The team’s social media accounts continue to exist, and messages have suggested that the organization is not completely gone.
More than a decade later, Formula 1 fans continue to wonder whether the forgotten American project could somehow return.
Although US F1 failed before ever competing, its story remains an interesting chapter in Formula 1 history — a reminder of how difficult it can be to enter the world’s most demanding motorsport championship.
