New GPs suggested, but which current ones will be dropped?

[forty-two]

We're expecting Austin to be added, and now there's talk of a return to South Africa, but which of the existing races are likely to be dropped?

I imagine that you guys will know which races' contracts are about to expire (Turkey? but who else?)

Cheers


42

[ringo]

Where are the statistics junkies?

Esp do you have data on the circuit contract duration?

That should give an indication

[Jersey Tom]

Does it have to be the same schedule every year? Hell, mix it up.

[forty-two]

Does it have to be the same schedule every year? Hell, mix it up.

Good idea, but some, if not all races will be a bit limited on this. I remember years ago, they moved the British GP's date and the place was a washout. I can't remember the date they moved it to, but the place was like a bog as a result of seasonal heavy rainfall.

Similarly, races in the Middle east would be limited to being NOT in the peak of summer as it would simply be too hot, although to be honest I wouldn't miss the likes of Abu Dhabi or Bahrain from the calendar but that's a different topic.

[ESPImperium]

Right you called, so here goes;

I have always said that there should be 4 weeks testing at the end of January and whole of February, I also think there should be a common week where the teams go to a common venue or arena like the O2 in London and they launch their cars in public. Say 3 a day over 4 days each launch 3 hours apart starting at 9am GMT for instance. Also id limit race drivers to 7 days testing before the season starts as well.

As I like to go by weeks of the year, id go like this;

Week 01: Free
Week 02: Free
Week 03: Common Launch
Week 04: Test 1 = Valencia Ricardo Tormo (3 Days, single car)
Week 05: Test 2 = Jerez (4 days, single car)
Week 06: Test 3 = Motoland Aragon (4 Days, single car)
Week 07: Free
Week 08: Test 4 = Barcelona (4 Days, two cars) [FIA also do a pre season Scrutineering test here for protests to be made before season starts]
Week 09: Free
Week 10: Race 1 = Abu Dhabi - Yas Marina Circuit (Contract till 2012 with a further 3 years option after that)
Week 11: Free
Week 12: Race 2 = Australia - Albert Park (Contract open till 2015, however this may be dumped or the GP may go to another permanent facility that is yet to be built)
Week 13: Race 3 = Malaysia -Sepang (Contract till 2015, and beyond then it is dependant on track upgrades like a new pit building)
Week 14: Free
Week 15: Race 4 = Chinese - Shanghai (Contract open till 2015, however there is the likelihood that after that it will be moved to a track around the 2008 Olympic Park in Beijing)
Week 16: Free
Week 17: Race 5 = Turkish GP - Istanbul (Contract up at the end of 2011, the contract for 2012 is $30m a year with a 8% accumulator every year there after on the previous years figure)
Week 18: Free
Week 19: Race 6 = Spanish GP - Barcelona (Contract open till 2016, Valencia Street is open till 2014 and rumour has it that one will go next year)
Week 20: Race 7 = Monaco (Contract open till 2020, and after this years GP there is to be track alterations in 2012 on classic layout. However there is a long term team having a look at a new layout for 2021 where it could have a popper couple of straights and pit facility on reclaimed land in the principality)
Week 21: Free
Week 22: Race 8 = Canada - Montreal (Contract open till 2012, however long term the track needs a popper pit facility and there could be a rest year in 2013 or 2014 to make sure a new pit facility can be built)
Week 23: Race 9 = USA North East - Watkins Glen ***NEW GP***
Week 24: Free
Week 25: Race 10 = USA South West - Texas (Contract from 2012 till 2018)
Week 26: Race 11 = Mexico ***NEW GP***
Week 27: Free
Week 28: Race 12 = British GP - Silverstone (Contract open till 2027 and has now fulfilled all its contractual obligations on a new pit facility and change of circuit layout)
Week 29: Free
Week 30: Race 13 = German GP - Hockenhiem/Nurburgring (Contract open till 2016 on current alternate basis, however Hockenhiem is at threat due to a new pit facility being required and the request for a new change in layout back to the old one being also looked at, however Nurburgring is struggling financially)
Week 31: Race 14 = Hungarian GP - Hungaroring (Contract open till 2016, however there has been a request for a new pit facility and a possible extension of the track layout)
Week 32: Holiday
Week 33: Holiday
Week 34: Holiday
Week 36: Race 15 = European GP - Floating track (Where there is a second track in a country that can take F1, place it in that track, for say $35m a race when a track can only hold the race once every 3 to 5 years for instance)
Week 37: Free
Week 38: Race 16 = Belgium - Spa (contract open till 2013 I believe, however the track is struggling and the rumours of the Belgian sharing with the French GP at either a new track or at Paul Ricard from 2014 onward)
Week 39: Race 17 = Italy - Monza (Contract open till 2014 I believe, however there has been a request for a new pit facility as the current one that was upgraded in 1998/1999 is now feeling dated)
Week 40: Free
Week 41: Race 18 = Singapore - Marina Bay (Contract open till 2012, however a long term deal is being worked upon until 2030, however there is a change in circuit layout being looked at in at least 2 areas of the track)
Week 42: Free
Week 43: Race 19 = Korea - KIC (Contract open until 2016 with a 3 year option after that, however there has already been changes to the track, especially around the last corner and the unsafe pit entry)
Week 44: Race 20 = Japan - Suzuka (Contract open until 2014, however a long term deal is on the cards)
Week 45: Free
Week 46: Race 21 = India - Buddha Circuit ( Contract open until 2018 with a 3 year option after that)
Week 47: Free
Week 48: Race 22 = Brazil - Interlagos (contract open until 2014, however there is now pressure from a new Argentinean track that is yet to built, as week from Rio. There is a request for the track to be altered for both safety purposes and usability reasons as well, the pit facility needs drastically updated as it was 1994 they were built and 2001 where they were refurbished, also the chance of the new pit facility to be built on the Reta Oposta where the straight may be lengthened is also being looked at)
Week 49: Test 5 - Young Guys Test at last GP track (2 days, 2 car per team)
Week 50: Free
Week 51: Free
Week 52: Free

There's not much id change, but id add id add in more. However there would be a mandated FP1 for young guys to get car time, and this must be done at ideally 16 GPs a year, with the first GP and last GP, Monaco and any new tracks, or a track that has a high Safety Car rate, maybes Singapore as well.

Id also make races either to be either 300km or 400km races, make say 8 every year a 400km F1 endurance to spice things up.

[Traction]

Someone has aloooooooot of tspare ime on their hands

[hollus]

Diario AS in Spain reported last week that Bernie only wants one race per country and that Barcelona will go while Valencia keeps the job. They reported it as fact. The next day they reported that Barcelona was in contacts with Valencia looking for some sort of agreement, maybe running in alternate years like Nurburgring and Hockenheim used to do.

[forty-two]

Wow, ESP, as always you came up with the info... and then some!

I don't have a problem with two GPs being held in a single country in any one season, but it's a bit rich for that country to always be Spain, I guess Santander money talks eh? I like the idea of a floating European GP though, that could bring some real treats.

I for one find the majority of new street circuits to make for pretty dull racing (Valencia, Singapore et-cetera). I think that only big towns with big streets should really be considered for future race venues. New York could be spectacular, as could London if they planned them right.

But to bring this rambling comment back on topic, which circuit do we think would actually be dropped in favour of a South African GP?

[ESPImperium]

You asked for a reply, and it took about 20 mins to get the figures with my vision for a year in F1, that is a workable plan to me, as ive also tried to keep races local to one another to reduce the Co2 imprint this way as well. True thinking green for the sport!!!

The thing is about the Euro GP, how about tracks such as Portamao, Imola and Brno and probably others that F1 could go to and really be fun to watch on.

As for my Race 5, that could be replaced in the next 5 years by an African GP in either South Arica, Mauritius or more likely to be in Angola due to the money waiting to come into F1 from Sonagol.

[markhenry115]

why you cancel the races, please don't do that, How many money will spend there !

[raymondu999]

I thought Turkey wasn't even due to be on in 2012. Though a lot of people are saying that Turkey is the 1st reserve in case Bahrain backs out. Could be rather late for that though...