Guenther Steiner defends controversial decision

2023 will be the first-ever time 24 Formula 1 races will be held in a single season.

Haas team principal, Guenther Steiner, is pleased that there will be three races in the United States next season.

The US Grand Prix returned in 2012 after a five-year absence, with the last race in 2007 being held in Indianapolis back in 2007.

That was won by Sir Lewis Hamilton, as was the inaugural grand prix in Texas, which has since held another eight races.

This year, Austin was joined by Miami, which hosted a race around the Miami Dolphins’ Hard Rock Stadium in May, and that was won by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

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Next season, a third US event will be added in Vegas, which is set to be a Saturday night race along the strip.

That will be the penultimate round of the year, and will take place after Miami and Texas, which are slated for May and October, respectively.

The surge in American races has been brought about by the immensely popular Drive to Survive docuseries on Netflix, which has been attracting a new global fanbase.

A host of venues have shown a keen interest in being part of the schedule amid the emergence of the dramatized show, and the result is a 24-race calendar in 2023.

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That will see the teams travel over three thousand kilometres over the course of the season, and that is not taking flying home between races into account.

Fans have expressed concerns over the environment, as well as the health and wellbeing of team members, who will have some arduous treks on their hands.

However, Steiner indicates that this is worth it for the show.

“I think obviously 24 races is a lot of races, but the demand is there,” he explained, speaking to Formula1.com.

“The fans want to see what we are doing, which is the biggest compliment they can give us, and we need to work hard to make them happy.

“Three races in America, I think it comes at the right time. The sport is already popular and it’s getting even more so as we speak in America. More races are good.”

The three US races are not grouped geographically, which the 57-year-old sees as a positive thing for the individual identities of the weekends.

“Each of these races has got their own little thing that stands out, they’re not a copycat of each other. I think it’s very good,” added Steiner.

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“America is a very big country, and they will not get in the way of each other, two of the races I already know are very good and I think Las Vegas will put a good show on.”

Next year’s Vegas Grand Prix will be the third time F1 has visited the Nevada city, after the two Caesars Palace Grand Prix in 1981 and 1982.

Alan Jones and Michele Alboreto were the respective winners.