Formula One bosses have hinted at a future Grand Prix in Chicago by registering a handful of interesting trademarks ahead of the new season. Three races are held in the United States at present, with Las Vegas returning to the calendar last year following a 40-year absence.
Miami was added to the schedule in 2022, while the United States Grand Prix in Texas has been held every year since 2012 with the exception of 2020. It seems that F1 bosses could be exploring the possibility of adding a fourth US race, with recent trademark applications hinting at a future event in Chicago.
Filings for ‘Grand Prix of Chicago’ and related names by Formula One Licensing BV at the United States Patent and Trademark Office suggest that a race in the city might be under consideration. These applications could simply be protective measures, but they have also raised questions over whether Chicago will emerge as a new venue for the racing calendar.
F1 bosses have been expanding the sport’s presence in the US over the last few years in a bid to capitalise on the unprecedented success of Netflix docuseries Drive to Survive. The potential consideration of Chicago as a new venue falls in line with F1’s increasing interest in street circuits, as shown by the introduction of events in Las Vegas and Madrid.
