Formula One prides itself on engineering excellence and elite skill—but dominance can come at a cost. As Max Verstappen continues to win with relentless consistency, fan engagement has begun to slip, with falling TV audiences and souring social-media sentiment despite the brilliance of Red Bull’s machinery. In this episode, we explore why one-sided success threatens the sport’s commercial appeal, how past eras show that close title fights matter more than technical perfection, and why recent efforts to grow F1—especially in the United States—depend on uncertainty as much as star power. The story asks a hard question at the heart of modern sport: can excellence alone sustain excitement, or does racing ultimately need rivalry to thrive?

https://www.economist.com/culture/2023/10/20/max-verstappens-brilliance-is-hurting-formula-one