Briatore: Trump pointed F1 toward New Jersey long before US boom

Flavio Briatore has revealed that he and Donald Trump once pushed to bring Formula 1 to New Jersey, only to watch the project fade because the sport held little value in America at the time. The Alpine team boss recalled approaching Bernie Ecclestone after Indianapolis left the calendar in 2007, with Trump steering the effort away from Manhattan toward Jersey.

Why it matters:

The failed bid is a striking reminder of how differently F1 was viewed in the United States just over a decade ago. Long before Liberty Media built a booming American portfolio with Miami, Austin, and Las Vegas, Briatore and Trump were already trying to sell the same vision to a market that wasn't buying.

The details:

• Briatore told The Race that he sat in Trump's office to pitch Ecclestone on a race near New York. Trump dismissed Manhattan as too difficult and suggested New Jersey instead, prompting Ecclestone to open negotiations.
• The concept evolved into the Grand Prix of America at Port Imperial, targeting a 2013 debut. Sebastian Vettel and David Coulthard even sampled the street circuit during a Red Bull promotional event.
• Repeated delays killed the project while Austin's Circuit of The Americas secured the US round from 2012.
• Briatore noted that Trump was no F1 expert but was a "great promoter" with deep experience in boxing and Vegas events, making him a natural ally for the pitch.

The big picture:

Formula 1's American landscape has transformed beyond recognition. Briatore credits Liberty Media's open commercial approach for unlocking the US market that Ecclestone's restrictive model couldn't crack. Today, with massive crowds in Miami, Austin, and Vegas, the aborted New Jersey dream proves how dramatically timing and presentation can change everything.