Lewis Hamilton has said he supports more accessible races after the Covid-19 pandemic proved it’s more about the fans than the tracks themselves.
Some of the most historic races in Formula One often take place at permanent venues far on the outskirts of cities across Europe and beyond.
Liberty Media have made it clear – with the latest additions to the calendar – that their main interest is now bringing racing to the masses in highly populated areas across the globe.
The Jeddah and Miami street circuits have proved successful as thousands of fans turned up to fill the stands, and the seven-time world champion says it makes sense to maximise the impact of a race by having it in areas that are easily accessed by fans.
Speaking on the back of the inaugural Miami GP, Hamilton said: “I’m a bit old school.
“So of course, I love the history, particularly in certain circuits, but the older I get, the more I realise it’s about the people.
“We could go to the middle of nowhere that has very few people, not great accommodation, not great community and for us, as individuals, driving on a track that’s historic is cool – but it’s about the people.
“And the people really do make it. We’ve experienced with the pandemic, no one being in there and that’s just no atmosphere.
“It was like a test day. It was not enjoyable. And now we’re seeing hundreds of thousands of people turn up to the race, energised, excited, keen to learn more.”
He went on to say: “I think the fans are at the heart of what this sport is about, they create it.
“I think, being in cities where we can really engage in communities and actually also have an impact.
“I love the Nurburgring, for example, but there’s not a diverse community there. We’re not actually impacting the place there.
“In Miami we can do something. I met a bunch of kids from diverse backgrounds, who now want to get into engineering and STEM subjects and so, it’s way cooler for me.”
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