F1 still 'actively engaged' with Miami GP promoter

Formula 1 boss Chase Carey says Liberty Media remains "actively engaged" with the Dolphins Group, the promoter for the Miami GP despite the event being put on hold by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Liberty has been working hard to put Florida's Magic City on F1's map, and the commercial rights holder had been hoping to include a race around the Miami Dolphins stadium on its 2021 calendar, despite local residents and politicians' efforts to put the brakes on the event.

But in light of the persistence of the coronavirus pandemic in the US, F1 and promoter Stephen Ross have decided to sit tight for now.

"On Miami we're still actively engaged," Carey said on a conference call earlier this week with Wall Street analysts. "And we actually did have a conversation with the Dolphins Group leadership a few weeks ago.

"I think both of us decided that when the virus issues sort of came to the forefront and with the uncertainty associated with it we were probably better off going a little slower, and trying to get to a place where we had a bit more visibility on how this is going to play out.

"We're probably as excited as ever about the opportunity in Miami. But we both felt the prudent path forward was to make sure we're confident."

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Formula 1 is keen on adding a second race in the US, but Carey underscored the need to "do it right" rather than fast.

"I think for a new race, we want to launch in the right way, and we thought the right thing was to try and go a little slower until we had a little bit better visibility, whether it's vaccines, or treatments, or tests or what have you," Carey added.

"And, ultimately, growing the sport in the US, as we said all along, it's not a 12-month proposition, it's a longer-term proposition.

"It's more important we do it right than fast. And the virus obviously represents challenges, until you have a better sense of it.

"So certainly, we're still engaged, but I think we'll continue to sort of monitor the broader environment and see when it makes sense to move to the next phase."

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