Formula One world champions Red Bull took their season launch to the United States with a spray of pyrotechnics in front of a rapt Manhattan crowd as fans braved the bitter cold outside.

Where once NASCAR and IndyCar had a stranglehold on American gearheads, the splash hit Netflix docu-drama “Drive to Survive” has indoctrinated legions of new fans in the United States.

Neither icy cold nor eye-watering winds whipping along the Hudson River could deter the dozens of people who showed up outside the Classic Car Club on Friday, hoping to catch a glimpse of their favourite drivers heading for the launch.

“I’ve been following it for a while and around 2017, 2016 it wasn’t that big in the United States,” said Tyler Quinn, 21, a college student in Manhattan, who last year saved up to see the Formula One race in Canada and feared the growing fan base could make future trips prohibitively expensive.

“It’s exploded exponentially. You know, when I talk to people in school … they all know about F1, they all recognise certain things, they all ask me questions. It’s growing fast and I really am glad about that.”

Las Vegas will join Austin and Miami as the third race in the United States in the 2023 calendar as F1 looks to make further inroads into the lucrative market.

Speaking at the members-only Classic Car Club, where a garage of luxury cars is available for patrons to enjoy, Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner told Reuters that “Drive to Survive” had been a “game changer”.

NFL Quarterback Tom Brady has announced he will be retiring again

Taking to Instagram to reveal his decision, the 45-year-old only needed a moment to get his message across.

Brady is regarded as the most successful quarterback in NFL history, winning seven Super Bowls for the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The 45-year-old briefly announced he would retire last February, but was lured back for one more season.

But now, he says, enough is enough.

Campbell Johnstone hopes his admission will help reduce stigma around sexuality

Former New Zealand rugby player Campbell Johnstone has become the first All Black to come out as gay.

He hopes his public announcement will help “take away the pressure and stigma” for those struggling with their sexuality.

Johnstone says he told his friends and family “a long time ago” but kept his true self hidden from the public during his playing career.

He says he lived a “double life” because his sexuality did not fit with the image of an All Black player.

His vision of a player was someone who was “manly, strong … possibly had a wife, kids” – even blaming his sexuality when he performed poorly during a game.

The former prop played three Tests in 2005 – with his last match against the British and Irish Lions.

Between 2002 and 2012, he made 38 appearances for the Crusaders, 72 for Canterbury and 105 for the French side Biarritz.

In the interview, Johnstone says it’s “a little bit sad that we are actually having to do this”, adding he can’t believe how far and wide the news has spread. #trending #featured