Bobby Epstein: We're trying to make the weekend more interesting.

      The head of the Austin circuit, Bobby Epstein, said last year that holding a weekend with a Saturday sprint does not boost ticket sales, but now believes this format allows fans to see more action...

      Bobby Epstein: "A weekend with a Saturday sprint is more interesting for fans than a regular one. It doesn't directly affect ticket sales, but we value anything that increases spectator satisfaction. By buying a ticket, they get more for the same money; for the same reason we always try to provide as much entertainment as possible over the course of the weekend. We do a lot of things that don't necessarily increase sales but make the weekend experience more memorable.

      I wouldn't say that we compete with the other American rounds — we're more like good friends than rivals, each of us has our own character. The Mexican round has much more impact on our sales. It's good that the Miami race takes place in the spring, opening the Formula 1 season in the US. Our round is in the fall, so Miami and we almost promote each other, even though we're quite far apart. As for the race in Vegas — we have a different audience. Each of the three American rounds has proven its uniqueness.

      Our contract runs until 2026. We are negotiating an extension with Formula 1 and are optimistic. I have no doubt that Formula 1 also wants to extend the contract with us. We want that too. We have a good starting point and no reason to rush. When the time comes, we'll sign everything."