Craw predicts F1 US return 13/11/2009 |
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New FIA Senate president Nick Craw says Formula One could return to the United States in the “near future”.
The last US Grand Prix was at Indianapolis in 2007 but Craw believes a new race may be staged on a street circuit.
"I think everybody from the commercial rights holder to the teams and the sponsors to all the drivers see the absence of a US Grand Prix as being a huge liability.
“It's the number one market in the world and everyone wants to be there and needs to be there.
“Having said that, there is only one circuit in the United States that has a grade one licence, which is what you need for Formula One, and that’s Indianapolis. And there’s probably no deal forthcoming there.
“If you’ve seen some of the Taj Mahals that have been built for the Formula One circuit these days, I don’t see any budget for that in the United States.
“I think the likelihood is much higher that we will see a temporary street circuit in and around a major metropolitan area and there are two or three right now that are looking at that possibility.
“I am reasonably optimistic that can be brought to bear in the fairly near future.”
Meanwhile, Craw confirmed that new team USF1 has paid its entry fee for next season following speculation that it would not make it to the grid at all.
The American, who is part of the FIA’s new leadership under president Jean Todt, added: “There are probably some people who would like to see the US team fall by the wayside so they could have their spot on the grid.
“In the old days we used to never count an entry as being real until the cheque had arrived and had cleared. And of course entry fees were non-refundable.
“If you want any proof as to whether US F1 is going to be there or not, they sent their entry fee in 10 days ago and the number is close to $440,000 so they are going to be there and they are going to make us proud.”
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