Formula 1 CEO Chase Carey said that that one priority for Liberty Media is a "second American race," to complement the existing U.S. Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, according to GMM. Carey: "We have a great partnership with the circuit in Austin. But we believe we can add a race in a 'destination city,' as I call it. I'm talking about New York, Miami, Los Angeles or Las Vegas. These are cities that are best suited to create a one-week event and attract people from all over the world. The race will remain the center of the event, but overall it will be more than just a Formula 1 weekend." Meanwhile, Carey hinted that the German Grand Prix "could move away from its traditional venues" at Hockenheim and the Nürburgring in the future. Carey said that the German market "is important for the sport." He said, "Last year, a German driver won in a German car, so it's a very important market" (GMM, 4/21).
SPAT CONTINUES: In London, Luke Brown reported F1 Managing Dir Ross Brawn admitted that he finds himself "unable to work" with former CEO Bernie Ecclestone, although he claimed that "he did not take the job on the condition that Ecclestone was moved into a non-managerial position." Ecclestone "has since claimed that Brawn would not have taken the job had he stayed on," but Brawn this week denied those claims. Brawn: "That is not true. I mean, I could not work with Bernie but I never made that a condition. It would have been very entertaining to work with Bernie" (INDEPENDENT, 4/21).
'NO BULLETS': In Dublin, Laura Harding reported Ecclestone said that his new title is like "giving a hitman a gun and no bullets." In an interview with Eddie Jordan in the final episode of the current series of Top Gear, Ecclestone was asked "what the new title means and if it is a gagging order." He said, "I don't know really ... it's a little bit like giving a hitman a gun and no bullets. But I've got enough money to buy the bullets" (IRISH INDEPENDENT, 4/23).
