F1 Chair Chase Carey said that "one priority" for Liberty Media, which now owns the series, is a "second American race" to complement the current race at Circuit of the Americas, according to AUTOWEEK. 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" (AUTOWEEK.com 4/21).
LIFE WITH BERNIE: F1 Managing Dir of Motorsports Ross Brawn said he was "unable to work" with former CEO Bernie Ecclestone. But Brawn, who previously served as Mercedes Team Principal, claimed that "he did not take the job on the condition that Ecclestone was moved into a non-managerial position." Brawn: "I could not work with Bernie but I never made that a condition. It would have been very entertaining to work with Bernie" (London INDEPENDENT, 4/21). Meanwhile, Ecclestone on yesterday's episode of the BBC's "Top Gear" show said of his new role with F1, "It's a little bit like giving a hitman a gun and no bullets. But I've got enough money to buy the bullets" (PA, 4/23).
