F1’s new future in America moved up a gear this week.
We reported on Tuesday that reigning and back-to-back world champion Sebastian Vettel will appear on David Letterman’s iconic New York talkshow next week.
It now emerges that, while in the famous city, the Red Bull driver will race around the street layout of the 2013 grand prix of America amid the Manhattan skyline, in a road car supplied by team sponsor Infiniti.
Vettel will then attend a press conference with race promoter Leo Hindery, after organisers were forced to deny Bernie Ecclestone’s claims the New Jersey race is in doubt.
There have also been developments this week in Austin, Texas, the scene of November’s scheduled return of the US grand prix on a bespoke circuit.
Organisers on Tuesday revealed ticket prices and said they will go on sale this Sunday, the day of North America’s other formula one race in Canada.
"In the final analysis," said a spokesman, "we wanted to make this event affordable to F1 fans around the country."
Also on Tuesday, a local county judge finally issued a ’mass gathering permit’ for the US grand prix.