The Formula
by Albert-László Barabási
Mentioned once across 1 show · first heard Mar 2026 on Acquired.
The general take
David Rosenthal calls "The Formula" the best business history book of Formula One, describing it as essentially three sports in one and crediting the Wall Street Journal sports editors Joshua Robinson and Jonathan Clegg for the work. The framing suggests it's a substantial, well-researched deep dive into F1's business side.
About
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER | A Sports Illustrated Best Book of the Year | An NPR Best Book UPDATED EDITION INCLUDES THE STUNNING RISE OF McLAREN In The Formula , Wall Street Journal reporters Joshua Robinson and Jonathan Clegg tell the riveting motor racing saga of how Formula 1 broke through in America. Taking you inside the paddock, The Formula details the eclectic culture of racing obsessives, glamorous settings, gearheads, engineering geniuses, dashing racers, and bitter rivalries that have made F1 the world’s fastest-growing sport. For decades, car racing in America meant NASCAR, while Formula 1, the wealthiest racing league globally, was a distant third. Today, F1 has surged to the front, powered by a passionate new American fanbase. But this success was far from inevitable.
Who said what
David Rosenthal👍 Recommends
…thanking the authors and discussing their book as a primary source
“Well, listeners, really what we're doing here today with Formula One, it's three sports in one... David Rosenthal, where do we dive in? Well, first off, we owe a huge thank you to Joshua Robinson and Jonathan Clegg, who are the sports editors over at the Wall Street Journal. And just recently published, I think the best business history book of Formula One called The Formula.”
Acquired — Formula 1at 05:30
Listener reviews
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