Formula 1 will not host a race in Miami next year as the sport’s commercial owners postpone the city’s addition to the calendar.
A meeting of the Miami City Commission was initially scheduled to take place this week in order to discuss the prospect of hosting a grand prix, though that has been pushed back to September.
Miami had been tipped to join the schedule next year, though the local delays have forced F1’s bosses to focus instead on 2020.
“In the last few months we have worked diligently alongside our promoter Stephen Ross of RSE Ventures, the City of Miami and Miami Dade County, to realise our ambition to bring a Formula 1 Grand Prix to Miami,” said Sean Bratches, F1’s commercial boss.
“Whilst our preference would have been to race in Miami in 2019, there was always a point by which delivering the best possible wheel-to-wheel racing experience for our fans, drivers and teams wouldn’t be possible in the time available.
“We have now reached that point as far as racing in Miami in 2019 is concerned.”
“However, we are taking a long-term view and as a result, we have decided, in consultation with the Miami authorities, to postpone sign-off until later in the summer, with the aim of running the first Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix in the 2020 season.
“We are committed to expansion in the US and to Miami in particular and we will be bringing our fantastic sport to this iconic city in October with the Formula 1 fan festival, where we look forward to engaging and exciting fans.”
With no other new venues likely to be added to the calendar, and Germany likely to again be skipped next year, the 2019 season looks set to feature just 20 events.
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