Formula One CEO Chase Carey claims that there are enough locations around the world wishing to host a grand prix that can “fill a page”, but is aware there are numerous hurdles to go through in order to achieve his goal.
The 2018 calendar has already filled with the maximum 21 races allowed after Malaysia’s decision to leave the sport and the return of the Germany and France respectively, however, Carey is open to the idea of more races beyond next season.
“We have not really targeted a number of races. We know there’s an opportunity to add them, but we want to engage more with teams before we get into the specifics.
“On the one hand probably the area of our business which is a bit more mature today is the promoter side.
“But the breadth of interest from players, from locations that know what it takes to host an F1 race, I could fill a page with the number of locations that have asked to meet and discuss the opportunity to host an F1 race.
“I think it speaks well to our ability to continue to take advantage of the global appetite for this sport and the excitement for the event. As we make the event better and improve the sport on the track we think all those things just add fuel to each of those initiatives.”
After comments made by Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei regarding the quality of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Carey is insistent on any new races that do come to the calendar must be right for F1 in all aspects.
“We are trying to engage with as many of them as possible, and evaluate them. Both in markets like Europe, which are obviously much more historical markets, as well as opportunities in the Americas and Asia.
“We want to make sure we understand what each of those opportunities means to us as we go forward, although in many ways priority one is to make sure the 21 races that we’ll have next year as successful as possible.”
