Zak Brown favorable à l’organisation de deux courses à Austin Zak Brown in favor of organizing two races in Austin

As the Canadian, Singaporean, and Australian Grand Prix have been canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, F1 leaders wish to maintain a 23-race season. To do so, a second race in Styria and Turkey have been added to the calendar.

However, there remains a question mark regarding the holding of the Grand Prix in Japan, Mexico, and Brazil. In order to potentially replace these races, some circuits have flashed their headlights to welcome F1. Among these circuits, the one in Austin, which had already positioned itself to replace Singapore, remains open to the idea of a second race in Texas.

With the threat looming over races in South America and Japan, Austin circuit leaders hope to organize a second race in Texas and could thus take advantage of the renewed interest in the sport in the land of Uncle Sam.

Interviewed about the idea of a second race at the Circuit of the Americas, McLaren CEO Zak Brown argues that it is a good initiative given the interest that the sport generates on the other side of the Atlantic.

« If it turns out that a second double-header is necessary and the United States can host it, I am absolutely in favor. The growth figures of Formula 1 in the United States are impressive. », he told our colleagues at Motorsport.com.

I believe that [the US Grand Prix] is full. So I think we can definitely organize a second sold-out race. If we have the opportunity and the stars align, I would be very in favor of holding two races in the United States. I think we will only accelerate their momentum.

According to Brown, the growing success of Formula 1 in the United States is explained in particular by the Netflix series Drive to Survive, which has allowed many people to become interested in the sport.

“(Drive to Survive) has done an excellent job, not only in raising awareness among the public but also in creating unconditional fans,” Brown explained. “We had fans of a certain trend and we were hoping to turn them into unconditional fans. Thanks to Drive to Survive, I have seen people go from ‘I have never watched an F1 race in my life’ to ‘I will never miss a race again’.”

« An excellent thing that Liberty Media did very early on is to recognize that this wonderful sport did not let people discover what is happening in the paddock, because Drive to Survive is a little less focused on on-track action and a little more on off-track action. It’s a fascinating sport, with its politics and personalities. I think Drive to Survive has succeeded in highlighting Formula 1 worldwide, and it seems to have paid off in the United States, » he concluded.

The success of Formula 1 on the other side of the Atlantic is growing stronger and stronger, to the point that Miami will host a Grand Prix next year.