F1 targeting US push, African venues interested in grand prix

Formula 1

F1 targeting US push, African venues interested in grand prix

Talks over a second US race have been ongoing

Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale

Friday 5 February 2021 07:59

Formula 1 has confirmed it is in discussions with multiple American and African venues interested in hosting future races.

At present, there is just one race in the United States, at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

F1 owners Liberty Media has long been in talks with promoters for a grand prix in Miami, with a track around the Hard Rock Stadium, however, that race has yet to come to fruition due to ongoing local opposition.

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New F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has confirmed Miami remains on the table, but there are a number of other US venues interested in hosting F1 events.

"Miami, there are discussions in place, it is true," said Domenicali, in a conference call with selected F1 media, including GPFans Global.

"But I want to tell you that our strategy in the future is to be more present in the US with more than one grand prix.

"As you know, Austin has been important in the last years of our calendar, it will also be in the future.

"We are discussing with them the renewal of our agreement. Miami is a place we are looking, I cannot say more than that. For sure there is a big interest from both parties to make it work.

"There are other possibilities in the US. Miami is the most advanced in terms of discussions. There are others that are in other areas of the country but they are not at the level that I can say 'they are there'.

"But for sure, I think in the next couple of months we will decide what will be possible in that country, whether it will be rotation."

The Vietnamese Grand Prix, slated for its F1 debut last season before Covid-19 struck the race from the calendar, has been removed altogether following political issues in the country.

Whilst confirming the Hanoi street circuit would be considered for a spot on the calendar in the future, Domenicali also suggested there may yet be an Africa-based grand prix.

"For sure, Vietnam is not on the calendar but it is still an open option," he added. "It has been an incredible investment and therefore it is still on the table of discussions for a future event, for sure. "There are other areas that have shown interest that is basically in the north of Africa, South Africa, none that I can tell you. This is something very important, having new places and old places that have a great heritage in Formula 1.

"We don't have to forget that we have lost some European races that are now showing interest to be considered again. We need to decide what is the right balance for the number of races.

"We need to see what areas we need for strategic interests, for team interests, for broadcaster interests, for media interests and decide what will be the right way to go."