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Formula One F1 – Bahrain Grand Prix – Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain – McLaren Chief Executive Officer Zak Brown during the press conference FIA/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES
Reuters
Formula One F1 – Bahrain Grand Prix – Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain – McLaren Chief Executive Officer Zak Brown during the press conference FIA/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES
F1 is growing rapidly throughout the world in recent years, with most countries wanting to host a Formula One race. The sport recently added Las Vegas to its calendar for the 2023 season, with some reports mentioning the sport could hold a fourth race in the country. But McLaren CEO Zak Brown revealed the sport should focus on holding three races in the USA first.
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The sport will host a record-breaking 23 races this season. With Las Vegas and Qatar joining next season, that can make this number go up to 25. However, F1 is contractually obligated to hold a maximum of 24 races.
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This conundrum has meant that the sport will need to drop some tracks from its calendar to compensate. But Brown mentioned adding another race to the United States would be too much for the sport.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown against 4 races in the USA
There have been reports that Formula One might return to Long Beach next. But adding another race in the United States would mean the sport will limit itself to other markets.
He stated that Formula One must focus on hosting three races next season and access that first.
“Let’s wait for a 4th duty, how 2 races work this year, then 3 next year. We now have three impressive races planned in the USA. We want to respect the history of the sport but there aren’t many sports that haven’t changed lately to adapt to a changing world.”
“I think a Saturday night race in Vegas was the obvious thing to do. Let’s assess that before we go any further,” said Zak.
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AUSTIN, TEXAS – OCTOBER 22: McLaren Chief Executive Officer Zak Brown talks in the Team Principals Press Conference during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of USA at Circuit of The Americas on October 22, 2021, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
It is certainly an interesting statement made by the McLaren CEO. This would certainly help keep the sport relevant in the United States, as we would be visiting the country as often as possible.
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But too many races in the same country also can be detrimental for the sport as it might lose fans from other countries. The sport should focus on expanding the reach of Formula One throughout the world and not just in America.
Written by
Edited by
Ranvijay Singh