Carey: "Formula 1 is like the World Cup"

With the FIFA World Cup starting later today, F1 Chief, Chase Carey has compared the competition to the sport.

Carey was speaking about the similarities between the sport and the world's most famous football competition, at the FIA Sport Conference.

"I think we want a balance of races around the world," Carey admitted.

"We're a global sport, we really are unique. There are sports which are followed around the world, Premier League has a following around the world but its competition is in the UK - we compete around the world with driver and heroes from around the world.

"We're, in many ways, like the World Cup, a unique competition. And we do it nine months a year and every year, not just two to four weeks every four years.

"We want to have a balance of events around the world, make sure we continue to build on the foundation, which is Europe for us.

"We don't want to have growth being (that) we're not recognising the importance of that foundation. So take advantage of being able to grow it in America and Asia, while continuing to build on the foundation in Europe."

Carey also talked about F1's plans of allowing more countries to host GP events.

"First, we want to make sure it's great for a race," Carey said.

"We'll build all the things all around it (but) it starts with having a track that can provide a great race."