In Austin, they reported a record demand for tickets.

      The head of the US Grand Prix, Bobby Epstein, stated that he sees no signs of declining fan interest in Formula 1 due to the 2026 regulations. Moreover, ticket sales for the October event in Austin continue to grow, and Epstein explained why, in his opinion, the Formula 1 race in Texas remains so popular.

      Bobby Epstein: “We are not limited by the size of the sports venue, so we can continue to develop everything we offer to spectators directly at the racetrack.

      We can expand the program, add new entertainment and activities for racetrack visitors. Because of this, a fan can bring a friend along, who also starts to become interested in what’s happening, and this process continues. It’s much harder to do this at a regular stadium.

      Over the next two years, the roads around the racetrack will be upgraded, additional lanes will be added, and because of this, we will be able to accommodate 15,000 to 30,000 more people per day. We really want this to happen because there is demand for tickets. Our event already attracts more spectators in one weekend than any other sporting event in the US, and we would be happy to further increase this advantage.

      The new regulations have not affected ticket sales this year. On the contrary, we are heading towards record figures. We see huge demand and can very well surpass the previous record. It is primarily through ticket sales that one can judge the reaction of fans.

      I think many of our visitors are fans not only of Formula 1 itself but also of our event. Part of the criticism is probably just the expected noise that inevitably arises in a year of significant regulatory change. Such noise will always be there, but over time, everything will calm down. I think most fans understand this.

      From a promoter's perspective, if I suddenly saw a sharp drop in ticket sales, then I would indeed start to sound the alarm and figure out what was happening. But right now, we see huge interest in our event, so I am not too worried about the specifics of the regulations that directly affect the competition on the track.

      Most spectators want to see competition on the track. For the long-term well-being of the sport, it is important that what happens does not turn into something strange or artificial. I think Formula 1 and the FIA understand this and will continue to make the necessary changes to maintain fair sporting competition.”