Michael Jordan, David Beckham and "The Rock" are among the celebrities expected to flock to Formula One's first Miami Grand Prix as the sport’s popularity in the United States surges into new realms.

After a series of failed attempts to break into the American market in the 1980's, the country looked like a lost cause for the world's most popular motor racing series, with fans preferring the familiar names of NASCAR and the domestic IndyCar open-wheel series.

Yet many in F1, including seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, believe times have changed.