Miami GP now just a "political process" - F1 boss Carey

Formula 1 is in the “final stages” of getting the proposed Miami Grand Prix deal across the line despite facing a “local political arena”, according to CEO Chase Carey.

F1 owner Liberty Media hopes to expand the championship’s presence in the United States by adding a second race to the calendar in Florida in 2021.

The plans have hit a number of major stumbling blocks after facing objection from locals, forcing F1 to abandon its original location for the race in the downtown area of the city.

Earlier this week, F1 confirmed it has made further changes to its plans in a bid to win over local support after hitting snags with its revised circuit location, which is situated around the Miami Dolphins’ NFL stadium.

Speaking at the 2019 season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Carey provided an update on the situation, saying: “We’re really down to a political process. The business aspects of it are pretty well finalised.

“There’s been a local political arena with divided views that we have to work our way through. I think it will get worked through pretty quickly because they’ve obviously had a series of meetings.

“We’re optimistic but nonetheless handicapped by local politics. It will be determined in the short-term how that gets resolved.”

A meeting over the plans with the Miami-Dade county commissioners was scheduled to take place on Wednesday (January 22), with a crucial vote set to determine the stadium’s rights to hold motor racing events. 

While F1 hopes to overcome the final obstacles in the long-running saga, Carey revealed there were other alternatives in the US if the Miami race did not come off as hoped.

“We are engaged in other opportunities in the US and that's not a negative statement about Miami,” he said. 

"We are in the final stages of getting over the line or not. We have the luxury of demand that exceeds supply."