Formula 1 signed a five-year extension to the agreement with the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas.
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Formula 1 will host the United States GP until 2026, the sport’s right holders confirmed on Friday (February 17).
F1 signed a five-year extension to the agreement with the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. This comes just a few months after the sport returned to America in 2021; the 2020 season saw this venue skipped due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are thrilled to be announcing the extension with the Circuit of The Americas ahead of the exciting new 2022 season,” Stefano Domenicali, President & CEO of Formula 1, said.
“I want to thank the promoter for their ongoing dedication and enthusiasm for Formula 1 where together we are continuing to grow the excitement around our sport in the US following the huge success of Netflix, the work of ESPN, and the incredible season we had in 2021.
“Austin is a great city, and the track is a favourite for all the drivers, and we cannot wait to be back in October for more action and entertainment.”
“The Formula 1 United States Grand Prix has become one of the biggest and greatest events in the world,” Bobby Epstein, Founding Partner at Circuit of The Americas, said.
“We are extremely proud it has found a home in Texas – at Circuit of The Americas – and are grateful to the millions of fans who visited us over our first decade.
“We knew Austin, along with our neighbours in San Antonio and beyond, would be welcoming hosts – and they proved it!
“Thanks to everyone in the Formula 1 community for supporting our endeavours and rewarding our hard work.
“We are glad to have renewed our commitments and look forward to many more years of World Championship racing, entertainment, and fun.”
The 2021 edition of the United States GP was seen as a positive sign of the sport’s growth by many. This is because when F1 first came to COTA, it raced in front of 100,000 people.
However, the 2021 race saw 400,000 people – 4 times that amount. Many saw this as a direct result of the Netflix series, ‘Drive to Survive’, becoming popular in the country.
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F1 will race at COTA until 2026!@F1 x #USGP pic.twitter.com/9woSbM4Vky
— Circuit of The Americas (@COTA) February 18, 2022
But this isn’t the only sign of a growing appetite for F1 in the USA. There’s also the fact that, in 2022, the country will be hosting another race in the calendar.
This comes in the form of the Miami GP; and the race is set to take place on a street circuit in the beach city in Florida.
America has long been seen as a key market for the sport. But the sport has seen a decline in popularity since the farcical 2005 United States GP.
It seems the sport is now finally overcoming those days and is back to growing in popularity in the USA.
