Liberty Media’s plans of a second Formula 1 Grand Prix in America are now on hold following opposition in Miami.
Last week, a vote which would have banned the use of the area around Hard Rock Stadium, the proposed location, was rejected by the Miami Dade County Commission.
However, local residents immediately filed a lawsuit suing F1 and the Miami Dolphins, who own the Hard Rock Stadium, primarily over concerns regarding noise, pollution and disruption to the local area.
With no end in sight to the obstacles then, Liberty has no choice but to put the Miami GP, which was already postponed once by a year, on the backburner.
“We were aware that it takes time in the USA,” Carey told Motorsport-Total.
“On the other hand, it must also be said that it is taking longer than we hoped. It’s frustrating because we’ve invested a lot of time, but there seems to be increasing complexity.
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“I think we have to come to terms with the reality that it is a time frame of more than five years. The goal now is a race over the next five to 10 years from today.
“Within this framework, 12 months [delay] is no big deal, but that doesn’t mean it’s [not] increasingly frustrating.”
With Miami proving so difficult, it does raise the question if F1 could consider another location in the US for a second race.
One possibility potentially back on the table is a return to Indianapolis after Roger Penske bought the Speedway and IndyCar last year, but Carey was being coy.
“I know the Penskes and had contact with them before they bought Indianapolis, but I have no comment on any conversations,” he said.
“We’re aware of their interest. Of course, it’s an iconic track in the world of motorsports. It’s part of the ‘Triple Crown’ with Monaco and Le Mans. That says everything about the importance of this track in motorsport.”