US F1 GP moved for Justin Timberlake

Formula One's new owners have taken the unprecedented step of changing the sport's schedule to accommodate a Justin Timberlake concert at October's United States Grand Prix.

Pop star Timberlake is due to perform at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas on the evening of Saturday, October 21, and following a request by promoters, qualifying on that day will be moved back by two hours.

Organisers hope the move will encourage fans to stay and watch the concert which now follows the conclusion of qualifying.

It means the one-hour session that determines the starting grid positions will now take place at 4pm local time.

Liberty Media, the American conglomerate which took control of the sport at the start of the year, hopes its flexibility with the timetable will encourage other promoters to stage grands prix in the United States.

Venues in New York, Las Vegas and Miami are all under consideration to host races in the future.

"At the request of the promoter of the US Grand Prix, the time of the qualifying session has been moved to 4pm in order to closer connect the Justin Timberlake concert and Formula One qualifying that takes place at the circuit on Saturday October 21st.

"The intention is to provide a better and more inclusive fan experience across the Grand Prix weekend and in so doing help promoters reach out to a more diverse cross-section of fans.

"This will be therefore a unique opportunity for music fans to experience and share in the excitement and drama of a Formula One qualifying session."