Will there be a Chicago Grand Prix?

It has been stated that a contract has been signed that would bring a race to Chicago as early as 2026, which would make it four Grand Prix weekends in the United States - Miami, Las Vegas and Austin - which could require alternation between the venues.

Such rumours have been on the go for many months now, and this week’s speculation is the closest the plans have come to reality. It follows reports on a social media outlet that there had been a round of negotiations between the Chicago city authorities and Formula One organisers that entered a higher level of event planning.

Reports indicated that further actions could be taken including the building of a brand new four-billion dollar stadium, and that the Chicago Grand Prix would be a night race. Early indications are that it would take place before the Canadian Grand Prix and that a formal announcement will be made in the coming months.

While such reports are encouraging, it could still be some time before you can go to a betting resource like thegruelingtruth.com and find sportsbooks who actually feature odds for the Chicago Grand Prix. This is because there have been complete denials by all parties that such a contract signing had taken place. As such, it looks like Formula One fans may have to wait a little longer to enjoy a fourth Grand Prix in the US.

Formula One has been enjoying a period of sustained growth and presence in the US sporting scene. The nation now hosts no less than three races with the main United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas being joined by other races in Miami and Las Vegas.

While the Las Vegas Grand Prix had plenty of critics, it managed to produce a sporting spectacle and won over many doubters. This added plenty of fuel to the fire that there would be another race introduced to the US in the coming months. When it was revealed that Formula One had lodged a trademark for the Chicago Grand Prix, the rumour mill truly went into overdrive.

This is despite the fact that Formula One also trademarked the name, New York Grand Prix, a few years ago even though nothing ever came of that. However, it’s worth noting that a Chicago politician did say that discussions had taken place between Formula One and the city’s authorities earlier this year, although the 10-year minimum deal had proven to be a major obstacle in stopping talks from progressing any further.

Formula One race organisers are reportedly keen on Chicago primarily due to the city’s location in the northeast of the country, while the other race locations of Austin, Las Vegas and Miami provide a reasonably decent geographical spread.

But it looks like the arrival of NASCAR in Chicago may have halted the expansion of Formula One in the city, as officials say that it simply isn’t possible to host both racing events. This is especially true given the increased logistical challenges that hosting a Formula One race involves.

Despite these setbacks, it seems clear that Formula One is going from strength to strength in the US. Thanks to what is being called the Netflix effect, Americans are starting to understand the appeal of Formula One racing.

The nation has the demographics and vast resources required to attract the motor racing organisation. So while the Chicago Grand Prix might be postponed, it isn’t necessarily always going to be this way.