FORMULA One’s new ruler Chase Carey has resurrected hopes of staging a spectacular grand prix on the streets of London.
Bernie Ecclestone, who on Monday night was forced to concede his four-decade reign of the sport had ended, wanted to host a race in the capital.
But despite throwing his weight behind a number of projects – which would have seen Formula One cars roar past significant landmarks such as Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and the Houses of Parliament – he failed to turn his dreams into reality.
But Carey, the sport’s new chairman and chief executive officer following Liberty Media’s £6.4 billion acquisition of the sport, wants to see races staged in a number of major cities across the world.
And the American, who has recently moved from his homeland to the capital, revealed that London would have to be considered as a possible destination.
“London is a great city, and there is no question [you think of it] when you think where are the cities you want to be in,” Carey, 62, said.
“We have Silverstone in the UK, but I recognise it is not in London.
“I don’t want to get too far into speculation on any particular city at this point, but London is obviously a great city.”
The future of the British Grand Prix was recently cast in doubt after Silverstone’s owners suggested they may activate a break clause to cease racing there beyond 2019.
Silverstone agreed a 17-year deal to stage the event from 2010, but are struggling to afford the race fee which increases on a year-by-year basis. Unlike several other circuits on the Formula One calendar, Silverstone receive no government backing.
But Carey added: “Having a race in the UK is clearly important to us. We look forward to engaging with Silverstone and talking about how we make sure that race can, and is, everything it should be.
“We think there are real opportunities to grow Silverstone beyond what it is today.”
Carey also spoke of his desire to add at least one more race to that already staged in America. He said New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Miami were all possible candidates.
He wants to introduce a ‘Superbowl’ feel to each race with greater publicity and promotion afforded to every event.
And while the American paid tribute to his predecessor, he believes Ecclestone’s iron-fisted rule and political in-fighting among the teams has stunted the sport’s growth.
“It is still a great sport, but it can be much greater, and we need to find the solutions, find the answers, and make it better than it is,” he said.
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