Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton is confident the popularity of Formula One will continue to grow in the United States.
After a five-year hiatus, the F1 world championship returned to America last season, with Hamilton claiming victory at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.
The season returns to the same venue for the penultimate race weekend, with fan attendance sure to be under the microscope to measure the longevity of the race on the F1 calendar.
From next year the United States will be host for two races, with a street race in New Jersey provisionally added to the calendar.
Hamilton has no doubts the sport can develop in a country dominated by NASCAR.
"I feel like it (Formula One) can grow (in America)," he said.
"The more I go to the States, the more I meet people who are crazy-passionate about it. I'd say more people than we probably realize love the sport.
"Obviously, most have grown up with NASCAR, with F1 new to many U.S. motorsport fans, so it could take some time.
"But its popularity will grow and it will succeed in America."
Hamilton returns to Austin looking to secure a second consecutive victory at the Circuit of the Americas. He counts last season's triumph for former team McLaren as one of the greatest of his career.
He continued: "As for Austin, the weekend was so fantastic and the city was so vibrant, so I'm really looking forward to returning.
"It ended up being one of those perfect weekends really, with my best memory that of hunting down Sebastian (Vettel), catching him and overtaking him to become the first winner of the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin.
"Now I am looking forward to seeing if I can hold on to my title. It is extra special to me as it is the first new track where I have my name tagged to it for the first win.
"That is something that will go down in F1 history."