New York to host an F1 race ?

Although Liberty Media F1 boss Chase Carey refuses to say anything specific about his plans for expanding Formula 1 in the United States of America, it is very clear that the city that best fits the bill as a global destination city is New York, with its iconic skyline and picturesque setting. Bernie Ecclestone first began trying to create a race in New York in the early 1980s when Flushing Meadow in Queens was chosen as the venue. A race was planned for the autumn of 1983 but this had to be called off when the threat of last-minute injunctions proved to be too risky even for Ecclestone to take the gamble. The rival CART series then stole his glory by running a race in the parking lots of the Meadowlands stadium in New Jersey.

It was never a huge success but ran until 1992 when CART tried to host a race on the streets around the World Trade Center. The race was supported by the mayor, was promoted by IMG and was to be sponsored by Marlboro.

 In the end it didn't happen because of tobacco advertising. After this the focus switched to trying to find a parkland circuit, similar in concept to Albert Park in Melbourne, or Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. These are far more sustainable because they avoid closing down large sections of the downtown area and do not cut major traffic arteries. They are largely self-contained so as to cause minimum disruption.

Ecclestone continued to look at different projects and came close a second time with plans for a race in Port Imperial, on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River. This failed because of lack of funding. The key for Liberty is believed to be the backdrop of the skyscrapers of Manhattan and so projects such as Floyd Bennett Field, a former air base near Coney Island, can be discounted.

With Formula E having set up a makeshift track on the Brooklyn waterfront, Formula 1 needs an even better venue and there are a couple of potential sites which fit the bill: Liberty State Park and Governors Island.

Liberty State Park would be a perfect location with everything F1 would need, great views of the city skyline and a light rail link from the city and ferry access from Manhattan.

Governors Island has a lot of potential as it is a 172-acre island currently being completely redeveloped after it suffered serious damage during Hurricane Sandy in 2012. This is now undulating parkland located only 800 yards from Manhattan, and even closer to Brooklyn. This would be accessible only by ferry, but would be right next door to downtown.