Formula 1 announced last week that it will add a third United States grand prix to the calendar from next year, unveiling plans for a night race in Las Vegas from 2023.
The addition of the Las Vegas Grand Prix was announced ahead of this year’s Miami debut. The new races join the existing United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, and all three have multi-year contracts.
Interest from American fans has grown significantly in recent years, helped by the success of the Drive to Survive series on Netflix. However, there has not been an American driver to compete in F1 since Alexander Rossi’s appearances with Manor at the end of the 2015 season.
Speaking at the Las Vegas race presentation, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said that while getting an American driver was “important”, it also “has to be real”, and was wary of anything not be durable.
“It’s important, because of course the people make the difference,” explained Domenicali.
“They are the protagonists with whom everyone identifies, with their faces, it is something that is always a reference.”
“But it has to be real. It has to happen fast, otherwise it’s going to be a boomerang. That’s why we’re also working with the American federation, to invest in it.”
“It is clear that it is a route that is not easy to do. It will take time, but it is in our sights. And it will have a great impact.”
“That is why we are working together, respecting the roles of each one, but from the commercial point of view or from the organizer or promoter who wants to develop the business in the United States.”
Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei noted that F1 already has an American team, Haas , owned by Gene Haas , who also co-owns a NASCAR team, and is based in Kannapolis, North Carolina. ).
“I think with an event like this in Las Vegas, and with all the other things we’re doing in the States, it’s likely that we’ll have an American driver soon,” Maffei added.
Michael Andretti , an IndyCar team owner, remains interested in creating an F1 team, for which he has already committed to fielding an American driver, Colton Herta . Herta will test a McLaren car this year as part of a development deal with the team.
The last full-time American driver in F1 was Scott Speed , who raced for Toro Rosso during 2006 and the first half of 2007, before being replaced by Sebastian Vettel.
