With NASCAR’s Success in Chicago, Is Formula 1 Trying to Imitate Their Street Course Plans?

When NASCAR announced its plans to take the action out of the oval and onto the streets of Chicago, it wasn’t only the stock car racing community that was immediately attracted to the big spectacle. After all, the growth of F1 in America is at an all-time high. For a while now, the pinnacle of motorsport has also long been trying to establish more street circuits in America.

With the growing popularity of Formula 1 worldwide, their push for more street circuits has certainly turned heads in Miami and Vegas. But now, NASCAR’s success in Chicago could very well have swayed members of F1 management to make some interesting licensing moves. And while many drivers have long spoken against the expansion of street circuits, could Chicago soon host more than one grand race in its streets?

Has Formula 1 decided to take a page out of stock car racing books?

Only a few years ago, F1’s popularity burst onto the American scene, quickly surpassing even NASCAR in terms of viewership. And soon enough, not one, but two American street circuits made their way into an already jam-packed calendar. Not only did this showcase just how valuable the US was for F1 to grow the sport but also expanded their business model. And now that the Vegas GP has successfully cleared the controversial storm it was in, F1’s plans for another street circuit might be well underway.

F1 insider Vincenzo Landino revealed on X that he stumbled upon Formula One Licensing’s latest venture. Sharing with the community, Landino stated, that Formula One Licensing has applied for trademarks for: “Chicago Grand Prix, Formula 1 Chicago Grand Prix, Grand Prix of Chicago and Formula 1 Grand Prix of Chicago. Reminder anybody can apply for a trademark. Ironic that NASCAR is running a race in Chicago.”

While this could simply be a premeditated decision by F1 to secure the naming rights, if they do decide to visit Chicago, it definitely creates a layer of excitement. After all, the Grant Park 165’s success last year only goes to show how influential an event in Chicago’s iconic streets could be for F1’s popularity campaign in the United States.

Currently, Formula 1 is throwing all it’s got toward focusing on a future with street circuits making it the norm. From the Vegas GP to the latest announcement of Madrid hosting a street race in 2026, it seems like American cities can expect their streets to soon be home to not only road cars but also race cars. Ironic, isn’t it?

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But even though the prospect of an F1 street race in Chicago might seem enticing to the marketing team behind the scenes, the NASCAR community couldn’t help but draw parallels to last year’s Cup Series street race.

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So now that we’ve had not one but two successful U.S. street races in F1’s calendar, the prospect of a third one may not be too far away. This means that if the licensing news is of any weight, then we may soon see a Grand Prix hosted in Chicago’s historic streets. Kicking things off, fans were immediately of the impression that NASCAR’s grand plan with Grant Park 165 had lent certain ideas to Formula 1.

One user shared that, “F1 copying NASCAR, how it should be 🤭” while another also chimed in, “F1 stealing NASCAR’s swag.” Others were also quick to remark, “It’s a road race. NASCAR being there running a style of race F1 runs but F1 having a trademark for “Grand Prix” is just a little ironic, no?”. On the other hand, some were just happy to be close to the racing action, “Holy sh*t finally a US race within 1000 miles of me…???“

Some were also of the notion that F1 should aim at adding more track-focused races as users shared, “I adore Chicago but…. God I hate these street circuits lol” and “I know a perfectly good race track in the Midwest United States that would make for a spectacular F1 course – Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.” At that thought, who wouldn’t mind an F1 race at Road America? After all, the GT3s sure create quite a spectacle.

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Whether we do get a Chicago Formula 1 Grand Prix soon or not, one thing’s for sure. Sooner or later, more than just a few cities will be home to bustling street circuits.