P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Sprint race switch has not boosted US GP F1 ticket sales, says COTA
The Austin event was selected as one of the six events to run the sprint format in 2023, with qualifying, a standalone sprint day, and the main grand prix taking place over a three-day period. However, the sprint race format did not attract a larger audience for Saturday, according to Circuit of the Americas chairman Epstein. He stated that it remains to be seen whether fans are embracing the sprint race or if it is more controversial. While the dominance of Red Bull and Max Verstappen may have impacted overall ticket sales, Epstein does not believe it to be the primary factor. He mentioned that Sunday sales remained strong, suggesting that the sprint race may have influenced the lower Saturday attendance. As for the future, Epstein stated that Austin would work with F1 to decide whether to have a sprint race again in 2024.
Source: motorsport
