Internet Desk: Formula 1 has a huge market in India, feel new F1 boss Chase Carey. According to Carey, the huge potentiality in Indian market can lure the sport back to India that was dropped from the F1 calendar four years back.
Announcing a new four-year deal for Singapore, F1 CEO and chairman Carey reiterated that Asia is a “tremendously” important region for the sport and India figures in their scheme of things for the future, if not now, with the calendar already packed till next year. Liberty Media had taken complete control of F1 in January, ending Bernie Ecclestone’s 40-year reign at the helm of affairs. “India is a country that certainly has great potential and as we go forward, we will continue to study. We have so far not got a chance to engage in depth yet, it has only been a little over half a year since the complete change in ownership,” Carey said on Friday. Considering the ever growing popularity of the sport among the young generations, India should have a Grand Prix of its own, feel Carey.
“Our focus as of today is making sure that the 21 races next year is everything as it can be. But there are places around the world that present us with great opportunities for us to grow the sport overtime and certainly a country like India with the success and the growth it has had in recent years, makes it an exciting opportunity down the road.” The much hyped Indian Grand Prix was struck off from the F1 calendar after just three seasons. The last time the championships were staged in India was in 2013. The reasons cited for the striking off the F1 event was largely due to the serious financial problems faced by promoter Jaypee Group and the red tape around the event. With Asia hosting only 5 out of the 21 races in 2018, it will be extremely difficult for India to get back the marquee event with more countries showing interest. Besides India, Korea is another country that could not survive in F1 for long. “We have interest from many countries around the world for races in the future. We are pretty full schedule right now. But Asian in general is tremendously important. We have talked about the opportunity to grow the sport in Asia as well as the Americas. It is truly a unique opportunity for us to reach out to new fans around the world,” said Carey.