Australian Grand Prix CEO Andrew Westacott admitted the appointment of a new Formula 1 head has "opened the door for Sydney to launch a fresh bid to hijack the event," according to Peter Rolfe of the HERALD SUN. Westacott conceded the $10B sale of the sport to U.S. company Liberty Media "meant the future of the race at Albert Park was back on the table." Victoria has a contract for the race locked in for the next seven years. But Westacott said that the fact F1 named Chase Carey its new CEO "meant interstate raiders such as the NSW Government were likely to swoop with fresh bids." Westacott said, "It wouldn't surprise me." Carey is "expected in Melbourne for next month's race." He has "promised global changes, and has outlined a desire to create more races" in the U.S. and transform events into week-long festivals. Westacott said that "he held no concerns for the current contract," extended by the Andrews Government. It includes "a secret hosting fee" believed to cost taxpayers more than A$50M ($38.5M) (HERALD SUN, 2/15).
