Plans for Miami race put on hold

Plans to host a Formula One race in Miami next year are believed to have have been scrapped.

Liberty Media, F1’s American owners, stated their intention to take the sport to downtown Miami in October of 2019 earlier this year.

But after Miami chiefs recently delayed a crucial vote until September, having been scheduled to take place on July 26, it is believed that F1 has decided to put the race on hold for at least 12 months.

Official confirmation of the delay is expected next week.

Liberty, the American conglomerate which purchased the sport for £6.4 billion in January last year, is hopeful that the Miami race will still be given the green light for 2020, but doubts will be raised following the setback.

The proposed layout for the street circuit has already been changed, while some Miami residents have expressed their opposition due to the disruption the race will cause.

Liberty has made no secret of their desire to stage more races in America, with New York and Las Vegas also under consideration, and a deal to stage an event in Miami would have been the first struck in the postBernie Ecclestone era.

This week’s race at Hockenheim is the 11th of a recordequalling 21-race calendar, but its current deal is due to expire at the end of the season.

And the failure to cement a grand prix in Miami means the number of F1 races could drop to 20 next year.