New F1 boss wants expansion in America

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Chase Carey, the new chairman of the Formula 1 Group, believes Grand Prix racing should expand in the US and cater to a market which remains largely untapped.

The recently appointed F1 executive of Liberty Media partly revealed his vision of the future for the sport in an interview with the official Formula1.com website.

Needless to say, his home country is at the forefront of Formula 1's expansion plans although Carey insisted that it was early days still when it comes to strengthening F1 geographically.

"It is too early to have a clear plan, but we clearly will have a plan to develop America, to be in the right market," Carey said.

"There is a big untapped audience in the US. I don’t want to criticise the efforts in the past, because I don’t know the efforts in the past.

"Formula One is a great premium brand and that means to me that you want to be at a location like Los Angeles, New York or Miami. Ideally in the great cities in the world!"

But Carey was also stressed that F1's current foundation would also benefit from Liberty Media's expertise in terms of promotion and enhancing the entertainment.

"The historic pillars are important and we will continue to grow those - make the events bigger from the promotion side of it, and with broadcast probably widen the core television experience to today’s needs.

"I believe that a good digital product makes the television product more rewarding. Marketing the sport, in telling the story of the stars and heroes and the incredible machines.

"Then strengthen it geographically. So there is not ‘the cash cow’, but there is growth possibility in every area."

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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.