Liberty 'give up on 2019 Miami GP'

Report: Liberty give up on 2019 Miami GP

Joas van Wingerden

Sunday 22 July 2018 13:43

Liberty Media has failed in its attempts to hold the Miami Grand Prix in 2019, according to reports. The Press Association has claimed that a delay in the City Commission's vote on sanctioning the race has prompted the decision to try and hold the race in 2020 and beyond instead.

A proposed circuit through downtown Miami had to be changed amid public opposition from drivers and a similar backlash from fans.

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Local residents also fought against the race, delaying the city's decision and now seemingly getting their way, for 12 months at least.

Liberty had planned to hold the race in October 2019 amid the existing United States and Mexican Grands Prix.

It was revealed this week that F1 were seeking an unprecedented agreement to hold the race for 10 years, with another decade agreed as an option.

According to the report, official confirmation is likely to follow in the week, but it represents a serious blow to Liberty's attempts to shake up F1 as the first race agreement of the post-Bernie Ecclestone era falls flat.

Proposals to change engine rules and introduce a spending cap has been met with opposition from major teams such as Ferrari and Mercedes, while technical changes under Liberty's watch like the introduction of the halo and a set of aerodynamic regulations that have made overtaking difficult have also turned fans off.