Could Formula 1 Come to Los Angeles?

F1 is quite happy with this kind of reach in places not historically associated with the sport. There has been the same kind of boost in the Middle East and Asia, but the Grand Prix in the US have attracted the stars and celebrities that the sport has traditionally seen at races in Europe. 

Americans now get to enjoy three Grand Prix on home soil, with Austin, Miami, and Las Vegas the hosts. There is a history when it comes to F1 and Southern California, though. As more and more US fans start watching the races and backing their favorites at the best Formula 1 betting sites, might we expect to see a Grand Prix in Los Angeles in the near future?

F1 Racing in the US

Although the level of interest has never been higher, there is a remarkably long history of Formula 1 racing in the US. There have been three Grand Prix on the calendar since 2023, but the association goes back much further. Twelve US locations have hosted F1 World Championship races, dating back to the 1950s.

These days, we are more used to seeing American Grand Prix in places that look more like some of the other tracks across the world, existing circuits are more suited to IndyCar and other forms of motorsports. California and Florida have enjoyed the most F1 in the past, but that isn’t to say that Los Angeles might not get another go in the near future.

Formula 1 in LA

The first F1 event in Los Angeles was in 1960, when the Riverside International Raceway hosted the United States Grand Prix. Riverside had been purpose-built for road racing, but the race did not attract public support or financial success, even though the drivers reportedly enjoyed the circuit.

The United States Grand Prix soon left Riverside, and the next F1 event in LA was at the Ontario Motor Speedway in 1971. This was a non-championship F1-Formula 5000 hybrid that only existed for one year. The most memorable and successful F1 race series was the United States Grand Prix West, which was held at the Long Beach Street Circuit between 1976 and 1983. 

Styled to be an American version of the Monte Carlo Grand Prix, it drew fans but was hindered by a number of incidents and the fact that it was deemed too expensive to run. Since then, IndyCar has raced the streets of Long Beach, although there has been F1 interest in the recent past.

Where Would an LA Circuit Be?

It would make sense for Long Beach to welcome back Formula 1 if Southern California was given the chance to host a Grand Prix again. The street circuit could be used, with bespoke modifications for F1, rather than for IndyCar. The historic links to Long Beach would also provide F1 a story for the fans to enjoy.

There has also been talk of a downtown circuit, using the streets of Los Angeles in the same way that Miami and Las Vegas incorporate the Grand Prix into their cities. The attractions of such a circuit are obvious, with F1 being able to use the instantly recognizable Los Angeles downtown backdrop to its advantage. Any race in LA would also undoubtedly attract the celebrity fans that both the Miami and Las Vegas Grand Prix enjoy currently.

Rival City Bids

Although LA would seem to be ideally suited to hosting F1 races, there are a number of other locations that might rival any bid. With a race already taking place in Las Vegas each year, F1 might want to consider spreading the events more evenly around the country. New York, Chicago, Indiana, and even Nashville have all been mentioned in the past.

F1 would dearly love for a New York Grand Prix to be viable, but the location of the circuit would pose a problem, as there would be a desire to have the Manhattan skyline as a backdrop. Indiana makes sense, as a nod to the motorsports’ history of the US, and there have been races in the 2000s. Chicago’s streets could possibly provide an option, especially now the NASCAR races have left the city, while Nashville has experience of F1 events in the past, even if an actual Grand Prix has not been hosted in Tennessee.

The Future of F1 is in the US

Liberty Media, who owns the commercial rights of the FIA Formula One World Championship are certainly interested in bringing more Grand Prix races to the US. Just like other sports, such as soccer, the American market is regarded as one that could grow, and F1 believes that there is a lot of potential here.

There might be an issue of having too many races in a single season in the US, and the current contract locks in events in Miami, Las Vegas, and Austin. There are definite plans for expansion in the next decade or so, however, with Los Angeles a prime candidate. There would be rival cities bidding for the rights to host races, but LA would seem to be perfect for F1’s plans to become even nigger in the US. Los Angeles has a unique motorsports culture, and every fan would surely love to see the very best drivers and iconic teams racing around our city’s streets.