Hail22 wrote:..Its had its day and if the FIA are adamant to bring in horrible V6 pot turbos, then maybe its time to let go of the "Highly risky" Monaco to exchange with the French GP since its only 5 extra hours north from Monaco its a logical compromise...
There were racing fans before you and me, for decades, and Monaco was and still is in the top of list of races that must me held in order to keep from becoming soulless. French GP (no matter which circuit), Spa, Monza, Silverstone, Monaco. There should also be German GP at old Hockenheim, but they've first destroyed it with logic you also stick too, and later it was abandoned as boring track with no personality, charm... name isn't enough. Spa is crippled too. Without bus-stop chicane, with tarmac runoff areas instead of grass, without vintage houses they've demolished during redesign, Spa is also nothing but an old name with couple of historical corners.
I'd also like to see Argentina getting GP back, Mexico, US got it but uncertain as it is in recent history, Portugal should get it back, San Marino, Austria.
Another thing, I don't know where you write from, but I'd guess US or Canada. 5 hours away is not the same in Europe as it is in northern America. The whole idea of replacing Monaco with French GP which was removed from calendar in order to fit some middle east or Asian circuit would be again self destructive for F1. F1 Should have French GP since France is the cradle of motorsport, Monaco which is independent should keep its own tradition.
Disposing Monaco to find space for any other venue would be like throwing out Mona Lisa painting from Louvre in order to make space for Lady Gaga poster.
Using Monaco as small change in big monetary transactions such as F1 calendar, is really disrespect of F1 traditional jewels. We have enough of confection for that purpose - Valencia, Singapore, Bahrain, Shanghai, Sepang, Korea, Abu Dhabi, India...
I do not wish any injuries or fatalities, but sooner or later they will happen even on most secure circuits, because accidents are completely unpredictable. If something drops of car like spring that hit Massa, it can cause injury or fatality no matter how secure circuit is designed. Same goes when car gets airborne, or for pileups, when cars jump on each other, get in flames or whatever.
Regarding incident with unwelded manhole in Monaco, I can reply with this. Chinese circuit, a brand new circuit, second GP ever held on it, and yet drain grill caused incident just as manhole cover did in vintage Monaco.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEHuiukKOdQ[/youtube]
As long as there are humans there will be human factor causing incidents.
http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/1016 ... -shanghai/
Drain cover problems were known at Shanghai
18 October 2005
The Shanghai International Circuit knew about the problems with the drain cover in Turn 10, which made Montoya to retire in the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday. Montoya ran over the kerbs when the drain came lose cut his tyre and damaging his McLaren. In June though the same sort of incident happened in a V8-Supercar race.
The Australian V8-Supercars visited the circuit earlier this year in June when driver Mark Winterbottom hit the kerbs and drain. The drain came loss and ripped the bottom of his car in two pieces and even damaged the driver's seat a bit. Fortunately at the time Winterbottom came out of the car unhurt. "It wasn't until the next morning before I realised I was pretty lucky. The car got very damaged though," he said.
In 2004 when the DTM series visited Shanghai for a race through the streets of Shanghai there was the same sort of problem. Worksmen had to weld the manhole covers after an incident with Bernd Mayländer.
Maybe the Chinese organisation will be able to fix the track for next season…