Szafnauer: Four GPs in the United States would be appropriate

Race number four would work too if the opportunity ever arose reckons Szafnauer, who I spoke to in the paddock under the shadows of the Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins. Hosting F1 for a third year in the south Florida city.

Asked about the prospect of a quartet of races Stateside, 59-year-old Szafnauer said: "Yeah, I've always personally said that. If we have races, it's a lot easier if they're actually destination events. Like Las Vegas is a destination, Miami's a destination, Austin, for me, I love the city.

"So to me, yes, I think four is, is an appropriate number for a country that has, you know, over 300-million people and a country where Formula 1 is getting more and more popular, in a country where everyone loves sports. So yeah, we can have four. Then for me, New York would be a destination.

"I have a soft spot for Detroit. So I would say yes, but it's not about me. It's about the fans. Is it considered a destination?" said Szafanuer of the prospect of F1 racing in his hometown.

Regarding his future, after Alpine F1 Team's curious management strategy had Szafnauer packing his desk before he had time to impact the French team, he revealed: "My gardening leave is over in mid-August.

"I can work for another team from September onwards but, you know, there's ten F1 teams and ten F1 team principals. So I'll see if I can help anybody with their program. I'm starting to talk to people now" revealed the American.

This led to Szafnaer's thoughts on fellow American Logan Sargeant, under fire for his below-par performances at Williams, arguably the first in line of the current drivers to lose his job. Some predict he could be replaced at Imola by Mercedes's highly-hyped protege Kimi Antonelli

But Szafanuer backs Williams keeping the faith in the local lad and backs Sargeant's case: "I would definitely keep him on for the rest of this year just to see if there's improvement and what kind of trajectory he's on. I wouldn't change him now."

As for a parting shot, what is Otmar's fondest F1 memory? For that, Szafnauer rewound to 2020: "For me, it's all about winning. Probably one of my best moments was being team principal at Racing Point when Sergio Perez went from dead to winning the race in Bahrain. So that has to be a standout." (Interview by Nasir Hameed in Miami)