Circuit of The Americas executive chairman Bobby Epstein is crossing his fingers that fan-favorite Daniel Ricciardo will still make a splash at the upcoming US Grand Prix, even though the Aussie has departed the F1 grid.
On the back of a challenging season, Ricciardo was sadly dropped by Visa Cash App RB after the Singapore Grand Prix and has been replaced by Red Bull junior Liam Lawson for the remainder of the 2024 season.
However, given Ricciardo's undeniable popularity in North America, and particularly in Texas, Epstein believes that the eight-time Grand Prix winner's presence at COTA later this month could still draw crowds and energize the atmosphere, even if he's not behind the wheel.
“Daniel, he may be able to have just as big an impact out of the car as he has in it at our grand prix,” the promoter told the media, quoted by RACER.
“I'm not sure that necessarily people are buying tickets to come see him race if he's not in a competitive car, right? So if you're coming because he's part of the F1 community, I think he can still be part of the F1 community in a pretty meaningful way.
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“He's really, really loved in Texas, and I think he likes it here. And so I would hope that he makes himself available more to the fans than he would otherwise be if he had an obligation in the car.
“I hope he's still coming here, because we've got a lot of people who would love to shake his hand or get his autograph or take a picture. Just see him around town. We'll keep him busy.”
Although Red Bull has reportedly discussed the possibility of Ricciardo taking on an ambassadorial role within the team, there has been no formal agreement yet.
However, should Ricciardo choose to attend the US Grand Prix in an official or unofficial capacity, his presence would undoubtedly contribute to the overall excitement of the event.
While ticket sales for this year's US Grand Prix initially lagged behind recent years, Epstein believes the championship battle, with Max Verstappen having failed to secure a win in eight races, has reignited interest.
He also noted that the addition of a third US race in Las Vegas has brought more attention to the sport without significantly affecting COTA's ticket sales.
“It is probably a wash… in terms of our tenants, it brings some more attention to the sport, and then it competes for ticket sales to some extent, but not so much, because they're so uniquely different events and with the timing of that race, it's tough,” Epstein noted.
While acknowledging that the Las Vegas Grand Prix brings added competition for fan attention, Epstein praised the spectacle of the new event and the positive effect it has on Formula 1's global profile.
“I like it, because it's a spectacle. I think it builds the sport globally. Whether it builds it as much in the US as Miami…
“I think Miami does more for building the US audience because of the time that it's on, but I love the spectacle of the Vegas race, and I hope more people watch it. “I'd love for them to rebroadcast it in the middle of the afternoon.”
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