Formula 1 looking for ways to spice up the off-season

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Formula 1 CEO Chase Carey says the sport is currently investigating ways to engage with its fans twelve months a year and fill the entertainment void of the winter off-season.

The Grand Prix calendar runs from March to the end of November and currently comprises 21 race dates. With the exception of pre-season testing which precedes the official start of a season, fans aren't offered much opportunity to keep their interest flowing.

Carey pointed to the NFL Draft, a popular event that takes place during the US football league's off-season and where teams select eligible players, as a good example of how a sport sustains its fan base's interest.

"One of the ambitions we have is to figure out how we make this sport something that engages the fans 12 months a year, " explained Carey while speaking in Barcelona earlier this week.

"But it doesn't mean we will race [that long]: our season is not going to go 12 months.

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"One example would be the NFL, which is not playing right now but they just had the NFL Draft. That is a big event," he added.

"They have created events that are interesting for fans even when they are not in the season.

"So I think for us, we would like to determine – how do we create more interesting things for fans, whether it is unique competition or unique events, or things that are around the sport that continue to build interest and enable fans to engage more?"

Carey insisted he was against an extension of F1's race schedule to partially fill the off-season void.

"The 21 races that we have will always be the highest profile, but we think we can do other things that enable fans to connect with the sport," he said.

"We have a pretty full season – our season goes from March to the end of November so it is a long season, and we have to recognise that there is a lot of wear and tear on that season.

"But I would say we think it would be a good thing to find ways to engage fans in the sport.

"It may not be a competition on track, it may be other aspects of the sport, but there are some unique ideas for various forms of competition that we are engaged with and talking to various parties about."

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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.