Before Formula 1 conquered America with packed stadiums in Miami, Austin, and Las Vegas, Alpine F1 chief Flavio Briatore was working with Donald Trump to bring the sport stateside. After Indianapolis hosted its final F1 race in 2007, there was genuine hunger to get the championship back on American soil. Briatore and Trump joined forces to explore potential venues, initially eyeing New York before the future US President pivoted hard toward New Jersey.

The plan centered on a Port Imperial circuit that was supposed to debut in 2013. Briatore even arranged a video call between Trump and then-F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone to scout New York locations. But Trump wasn't feeling it. According to Briatore, the mogul made his position crystal clear: New York was too difficult, but New Jersey had genuine potential. Ecclestone started negotiating with local Jersey contacts, and things actually looked promising for a moment.

Ultimately, it all fell apart. Briatore reckons the timing just wasn't right for Formula 1 in America. The sport simply didn't have the profile it needed. NASCAR and IndyCar were the real draws in the US market, and honestly, F1 just wasn't seen as anything special compared to those series. Without that commercial appeal, the whole project eventually got shelved, and nothing came of those negotiations.

The funny thing is how completely the script has flipped. Today, Formula 1 is absolutely booming in the States. Those early 2000s doubts look silly now. Liberty Media completely transformed the commercial approach compared to Bernie's more restrictive playbook. Briatore acknowledges the shift, noting how much smarter and more open the sport's business operation has become. What failed back then thrives today, proving sometimes it really is just about timing and the right people making the right moves.