USGP can be 'Super Bowl' example for Liberty

Circuit of The Americas chairman Bobby Epstein believes the United States Grand Prix can provide an example of the Super Bowl-style event Liberty Media wants each F1 race to be.

The USGP has been held at COTA since 2012, with Austin embracing the race by putting on numerous events downtown during race week. An F1 fan fest has been complemented by shows run by the likes of Red Bull and fan forums in past years, helping promote the race away from the circuit. Following poor weather in 2015, last year saw the race organizers respond by securing Taylor Swift to play at COTA the night before the grand prix – her only concert of the year.

With new F1 chief executive and chairman Chase Carey wanting the sport to move toward weeklong events in city destinations, Epstein believes Austin is well-placed to deliver.

"Everyone who came to last year's event would probably tell those who weren't here that they missed something," Epstein told RACER. "The fact that Mexico is one week apart is actually really great for a big eight- or nine-day F1 experience. You can get the Tex-Mex experience all in a week. You can take a week off work and with two weekends you can spend time in two great destinations. So I think that part of the Mexico back-to-back is a great thing."

Mexico was originally two weeks after the USGP on the first draft of the 2017 calendar before being moved to form a back-to-back as it has been for the past two years. While Epstein says it would be better to keep the two races far apart on the schedule due to their geographic proximity, he admits the back-to-back timing is better for fans than having a small gap.

"I think one week apart is maybe even better [than two] because you can make that Formula 1 experience, the dream scenario. So from those two it's better they are one week apart, but the first choice would have been five months apart.

"If Mexico had been paired with Montreal in June I think that would have been better.

"[But] we have to appreciate how difficult the logistics of moving all this cargo around the world can be. I think our opinion has been heard and I think we have been able to express it."