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The Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin has left the door slightly ajar for Formula 1 to conclude its season in Texas, should the conflict in Iran lead to the cancellation of Middle Eastern races.
Formula 1 management is reportedly considering Italy's Imola circuit as a potential season finale if the Qatar Grand Prix on November 29 and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 6 are called off, a scenario that appears increasingly likely.
F1 boss Stefano Domenicali stated on Wednesday that in such a scenario, the season would conclude in Europe – even if it meant racing in the snow – rather than in the United States.
However, by that time, F1 teams and cars would already be in America, as the Las Vegas Grand Prix is scheduled for November 21, a week before the Qatar race.
Speaking to the media on the same day, COTA chairman Bobby Epstein confirmed that Formula 1 had not contacted him regarding the possibility of hosting an additional race.
"That question has never been raised. I heard the rumors the same way you did!" Epstein quipped to reporters on Wednesday.
Austin is already set to host the United States Grand Prix as scheduled on October 25.
Staging a second race so close to its own Grand Prix – one of the flagship events on the F1 calendar – would present significant challenges.
When asked if COTA could accommodate a race on such short notice, he responded: "We'd have to see. I wouldn't want our track to get another race without us having sold out the grandstands. The same goes for the performers at the traditional trackside concert."
"I think that's part of what makes it so special. And I don't think logistically something like that could be organized on such short notice immediately after our US Grand Prix."
"I wouldn't want people to have to choose between two races. I'm very happy with our mega weekend as it is. And that's how it should always be. I don't want it to be less than that."
Epstein then seemed to signal that he would be willing to reconsider if Formula 1 required COTA's assistance.
"But I would say... If it would help F1, we are ready to do it. We want to do everything we can to help them succeed, and we understand that sometimes, as we saw during COVID, circumstances dictate that you do things a little differently than you might otherwise consider ideal."
If the final two races are canceled, it is understood that the season's concluding round is slated for the weekend of December 6.
Formula 1 only needs to reschedule one of these two events, having successfully moved the Bahrain Grand Prix to Malaysia on October 4.
The original F1 calendar was supposed to feature 24 races, but the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix have already been canceled.
According to Formula 1's commercial agreement with the 11 teams and global broadcasters, the season schedule cannot drop below 22 races.
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