Motorsports
Formula 1 wants even more GP in the program
American F1 owners dream of increasing the number of races each season, even beyond this year’s record 23 GPs, to open up new markets – mainly in Asia and Africa.
Liberty Media, owner of the commercial rights to Formula 1, seems to want to follow in the footsteps of the American NASCAR, which has 40 race weekends a year and brings even more GPs to economically very important countries.
As sporting director Stefano Domenicali has indicated, F1 is constantly evaluating possibilities for further expansion of the program – possibilities that have multiplied significantly with growing global interest in the sport post-2021.
When the replacement of this year’s Russian GP (which was canceled after the invasion of Ukraine) is complete, this year’s 23-race Formula One program will be the biggest ever. Many sports team members have already stated that they consider this number to be the highest limit, especially considering the mental and physical strain on engineers.
Two more races are expected to be added to the program in 2023. First up is the hugely important F1 GP China, the world’s largest auto market, which was absent for three years due to pandemic conditions.
And yet, everything indicates that after Austin, Texas and Miami, a third GP will come to the USA, which will premiere in Las Vegas this year. F1 had visited the Nevada desert city in 1981-82 on a race track being built in the parking lot of Ceasar’s Palace Hotel.
But Domenicali says it is important for the sport to return to the African continent and that many other countries have already expressed interest in joining the Formula 1 programme.
“We have to keep the balance, but also look at the opportunities that arise“said the former Ferrari race director.”Very soon we will announce our growth strategy in these markets. Beyond America, beyond China, I think there is potential to return to Africa soon. There is a lot of interest there and this is definitely a geographic area that is missing from our program’s map“, completed.
The country Domenicali is most likely referring to is South Africa, which hosted F1 at the Kyalami circuit until 1993.
Sophia Jhon is a sports journalist and author. He has worked as a news editor for Sportish and is now a sport columnist for the same publication. Alberta’s professional interests lie largely in sports news, with an emphasis on English football. He has also written articles on other sporting topics.