Flavio Briatore has revealed Donald Trump’s involvement in an unsuccessful attempt to bring a New Jersey F1 Grand Prix to the Formula 1 calendar, with Bernie Ecclestone later entering negotiations over the proposed race. The Alpine executive adviser explained that the project emerged at a time when Formula 1 had far less influence in the United States than it enjoys today.
Formula 1 is currently experiencing one of the strongest periods of global growth in its history. Its popularity has risen particularly sharply in the United States, helped in recent years by the Netflix series Drive to Survive, and the country now hosts three races in Austin, Miami and Las Vegas. Those events have become a major part of the Formula 1 calendar, representing a remarkable change from the championship’s previous struggle to establish a lasting American presence.
However, the number of Formula 1 races in the United States could have reached four. Flavio Briatore has disclosed that Donald Trump intended to help organise a Formula 1 Grand Prix in New Jersey, bringing the idea to Bernie Ecclestone while the British businessman was still in charge of the championship’s commercial operations.
Donald Trump backed a New Jersey F1 Grand Prix
The initial proposal involved creating a street circuit through New York. Donald Trump, however, immediately argued that staging the event there would be too difficult and that New Jersey represented a more suitable and practical location.
“Of course, Donald had no idea what Formula 1 was either, but he is a great promoter,” Flavio Briatore said during an interview with The Race Business. “At the time, he promoted boxing; he promoted everything in Las Vegas.”
Despite Donald Trump’s limited knowledge of Formula 1 at the time, Flavio Briatore believed his promotional experience and connections could help establish the championship in an important but challenging market.
How Bernie Ecclestone entered the New Jersey talks
Flavio Briatore subsequently arranged a conversation between Donald Trump and Bernie Ecclestone to assess where the proposed American street race could be held.
“I arranged for Donald to speak with Bernie. I was in Donald’s office. We watched a video with Bernie to understand what the best place in New York would be to organise the race,” Flavio Briatore explained.
“But Donald immediately told us that staging it in New York would be very difficult for a million reasons, and that New Jersey was the right place. So Bernie began negotiating with two or three different people.”
The plan became one of several ambitious attempts in Formula 1 history to secure a stronger foothold in the United States. At the time, however, the championship did not enjoy the same commercial strength, mainstream recognition or level of fan interest it has developed in the country today.
Why the New Jersey Formula 1 race failed
Despite the discussions involving Flavio Briatore, Donald Trump and Bernie Ecclestone, the New Jersey F1 Grand Prix never became a reality. Flavio Briatore believes the limited status of Formula 1 in the American sporting market was one of the decisive obstacles.
“Unfortunately, we never managed to make it happen because Formula 1 was not considered anything special,” Flavio Briatore said. “At the time, people talked about NASCAR and IndyCar; they were completely different businesses. Formula 1 was not valued at all.”
The failed project stands in sharp contrast to Formula 1’s present-day position in the United States. The championship can now support three American rounds within a single season, as shown by the 2026 Formula 1 calendar, while races in Austin, Miami and Las Vegas attract considerable attention from fans, sponsors and the wider entertainment industry.
Although the New Jersey Grand Prix was never held, Flavio Briatore’s account reveals how Donald Trump became involved in one of Formula 1’s early efforts to expand its American presence—years before the championship finally achieved the popularity and commercial influence it now enjoys across the United States.
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