CEO Carey: More races in the US but no 'Americanisation' of Formula 1

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Chase Carey, Formula 1's new CEO, says it is not Liberty Media's intention to 'Americanise' Grand Prix racing, but the sport can be made much more popular in the US.

Earlier this year, Carey said the Formula 1 calendar was the equivalent of having 20 Super Bowl events in the year.

The media took the comment as a form of 'Americanisation' of the sport, but Carey insists he is very focused on consolidating F1's historic foundation in Europe, while also broadening its presence in the US.

We are not trying to make the sport more American, but we think there is an opportunity to grow in America," he told Motorsport Monday's Joe Saward.

"I have called the races 21 Super Bowls, but by that I mean we want to make the events bigger, broader and more attractive. I don't mean we want to make it American.

"The foundation of the sport is in Europe and one of our core objectives is to make the sport stronger and bigger there, and build on that foundation.

"F1 has a great history and a great following in Europe, but we think we can grow it.

"Equally, we think there are opportunities to grow it in many other places. The US is certainly is one of those.

"That does not mean we are Americanising the sport, it means that we think that the sport has American appeal and American opportunities that haven't been tapped."

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Carey reiterated Formula 1's future aim of adding a race in the US, a market which has never been properly exploited by the sport's previous owners, says the CEO.

"The US market today is really not that material to Formula 1, because it hasn’t been developed," he added.

"We have a great race in Austin, but realistically we don't do a whole lot.

"To some degree some of the lack of growth is because we don't have the digital vehicles or the marketing organisation to go out and connect with the US fans, but clearly adding a destination race in a destination city is one of our goals.

"I have cited New York, LA, Miami and Vegas. If we had that it would add another dimension to what we are doing in the US and would be another block in building the sport."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.