Steiner confident second US race will join F1 calendar

Haas team boss Günther Steiner is confident of seeing a second race in the United States join the Formula 1 calendar in the near future, believing it would only help the current event in Austin, Texas by raising the sport’s profile.

F1 returns to Austin next weekend for the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of The Americas, marking Haas’ home race. The team races under an American license, and has a base in Kannapolis, North Carolina.

F1 first visited COTA in 2012, but the sport has been pushing to try and add a second American round to the calendar in the near future.

Plans were in place for a new race in Miami to join the schedule in 2019, only for this to be postponed until 2020 at the very earliest.

Previewing Haas’ home race, team principal Steiner spoke of the importance of F1 having a significant presence in the United States before expressing his confidence a second American race would join the calendar in the future.

“I think it’s very important for Formula One to have a race in the United States. For a long time, until COTA came on the scene, there wasn’t one,” Steiner said.

“I think the fan base is growing. It’s important for Formula One, but also for us because it’s our home grand prix. We’re all looking forward to it.

“It would be fantastic to have a second Formula One race in America. I think we will get there. It takes a little bit of time, but it will happen.”

Asked if he thought a second US round would detract from the current event at COTA, Steiner said: “I think it would accentuate it. There are enough fans, we could get attention for two races.

“I think it would add to the presence of Formula 1 in the United States and not take anything away from COTA.”