The 2017 Formula 1 calendar development threadFormula 1

[prisonermonkeys]

Chase Carey says that he could "fill a page" with a list of venues interested in hosting a Grand Prix:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/129419/huge-interest-from-new-f1-venues--liberty

 

[jake2013guy]

The real question is where? I can't see them going to places like Watkins Glen and Zandvoort.
However, there are a few Grade 1 circuits (PDF file) that aren't on the calendar now. Especially ones in places we don't have F1 races. Buriram is one of those and brings F1 to Thailand which adds to the Asian market he speaks of. Although, there are others like Korea and New Dehli but that's it.

I'm surprised Indy GP is still on that list. Whether they'd want to return, I have no idea. Although with a focus on the American market and it being a Grade 1 circuit, it's definitely a possibility.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

The real question is where?

I imagine that there's a few cities in there wanting street circuits.

 

[jake2013guy]

I imagine that there's a few cities in there wanting street circuits.

True.

 

[Jimlaad43]

#UzbekistaniGrandPrix

 

[Liquid]

I wouldn't mind a Czech Grand Prix at Brno.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I wouldn't mind a Czech Grand Prix at Brno.

The MotoGP riders would. They regularly complain that the high levels of downforce generated by Formula One cars cause deformations in the surface that they call "micro-ripples" and which unsettle the bikes, particularly at speed. Brno is one of three circuits - the others being Assen and Mugello - that are so synonymous with motorcycle racing that the sport would fight any attempt by Formula One to hold a race there.

 

[BrainsBush]

Very strong rumor Zandvoort is really coming back to the F1 GP calender. This weekend the so called 'racing days' and Max just set the all time new record 1:19:511 on brand new tarmac. Our prince Bernard Jr is the CEO op Circuit Zandvoort so politics and money is not the issue anymore. Only concern is the location....Zandvoort and traffic. So this weekend a life test again with over 100,000 visitors. For international orientated visitors it would be a great combi with hotels in Amsterdam area.

2020 F1 Zandvoort!!

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Only concern is the location

It would need a serious overhaul. It's not up to standard.

 

[Jimlaad43]

It's been relaid, but that's about it. The runoff needs improving and lengthening, the pits and paddock would have to be bigger, and I don't think the current layout would be very good for F1 racing. Maybe editing the section after Scheivlak would need to be done. Up until the exit of Scheivlak is absolutely fine though, they cannot change that part of the track.

 

[TenEightyOne]

Very strong rumor Zandvoort is really coming back to the F1 GP calender. This weekend the so called 'racing days' and Max just set the all time new record 1:19:511 on brand new tarmac. Our prince Bernard Jr is the CEO op Circuit Zandvoort so politics and money is not the issue anymore. Only concern is the location....Zandvoort and traffic. So this weekend a life test again with over 100,000 visitors. For international orientated visitors it would be a great combi with hotels in Amsterdam area.

2020 F1 Zandvoort!!

It could be his home track! It's very close to Belgium

That would be a great track to have on the calendar, but @Jimlaad43 is right, it would need quite a bit of work.

 

[BrainsBush]

Fully agree. Zandvoort is absolutely not ready for F1 racing (yet!). Still a battle between Zandvoort and brand new race park Almere (on the other side of Amsterdam). Time will tell when and which and if a Dutch GP will be a fact. Just have high hopes. But on the other hand I also have some doubts about a GP in the Netherlands. Other countries are willing to pay much more $$ to FIA. And at the end money rules. Zandvoort is racing history and a new injection would really be great for the race enthusiast, but if Virgin Media has the same opinion?

Oooh and also TT Assen has started to investigate if a F1 GP is possible?!

 

[Jimlaad43]

Oooh and also TT Assen has started to investigate if a F1 GP is possible?!

MotoGP will do as much as they can to veto that

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I was watchimg Rally Portugal over the weekend, and it opened with a proper super-special stage (not a point-and-squirt street stage). It was built on a rallycross course in a natural ampitheatre, so spectators could see about 95% of the circuit from the grandstands.

I have always wondered if Formula 1 could follow this model - have a circuit made of two three-kilometre rings with a cross-over so spectators can see everything. It would also be good for an exhibition event on Sunday morning with drivers going head to head in a knockout format.

TT Assen has started to investigate if a F1 GP is possible?!

MotoGP will fight it tooth and nail. Assen (and Mugello and the Saschenring) are the spiritual homes of MotoGP, and the riders hate sharing a circuit with Formula 1. The massive amounts of downforce generated by the cars cause ripples to form in the surface, and the bikes are susceptible to becoming unstable as they cross them.

 

[daan]

The MotoGP riders would. They regularly complain that the high levels of downforce generated by Formula One cars cause deformations in the surface that they call "micro-ripples" and which unsettle the bikes, particularly at speed. Brno is one of three circuits - the others being Assen and Mugello - that are so synonymous with motorcycle racing that the sport would fight any attempt by Formula One to hold a race there.

MotoGP will fight it tooth and nail. Assen (and Mugello and the Saschenring) are the spiritual homes of MotoGP, and the riders hate sharing a circuit with Formula 1. The massive amounts of downforce generated by the cars cause ripples to form in the surface, and the bikes are susceptible to becoming unstable as they cross them.

Are you just making up more tracks every time you say this?

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Are you just making up more tracks every time you say this?

No. I was thinking of Brno when I said Saschenring.

 

[BrainsBush]

After the very crowded and successful Racing Days @CircuitZandvoort CEO Prince Bernard Jr van Oranje Nassau has a meeting with Ross Brawn and Liberty Media in Monaco this weekend. Interesting developing story. One minor detail our Royal Prince said: "we don't have the money". Gossip mode off now, but still high hopes for 2020

 

[prisonermonkeys]

The biggest problem with Zandvoort is that when it was shortened, it became a great circuit for touring cars, but is too cramped for something like Formula 1.

The best thing to do would be to shorten the existing circuit by linking Turn 9 up to the penultimate corner and then adding an extension to the first corner that starts at the corner entry and rejoins at the exit.

 

[BrainsBush]

The biggest problem with Zandvoort is that when it was shortened, it became a great circuit for touring cars, but is too cramped for something like Formula 1.

The best thing to do would be to shorten the existing circuit by linking Turn 9 up to the penultimate corner and then adding an extension to the first corner that starts at the corner entry and rejoins at the exit.

👍 Are you part of the track development team? This is exactly what they sketched on the drawing board. Or is it just logical thinking 💡

 

[Jimlaad43]

👍 Are you part of the track development team? This is exactly what they sketched on the drawing board. Or is it just logical thinking 💡

Do you have a photo of it?

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Or is it just logical thinking

This. The current layout wouldn't be great; it's too cramped for the drivers to really do anything. It would probably just be single-file, and really should be cut. Satellite maps show that reviving the original circuit is impossible because of the development that has happened in the region. However, those same maps show that there is a wealth of land north and east of the circuit. Since the first half of the lap is great, the most logical solution would be to cut Tarzanbocht entirely and build a new loop (and shortening the back half of the lap would free up some more length for a new extension).

This is exactly what they sketched on the drawing board.

Any images of what has been proposed?

One minor detail our Royal Prince said: "we don't have the money".

Chase Carey has said that Liberty are willing to ask for less (he didn't say how much less) than Ecclestone to try and open up new venues and markets.

 

[BrainsBush]

Just one of the concepts and it could have been thrown in the bin already? Reliability is so so...
I wish I had a photo of the future track.
And don't forget that Racetrack Almere and TT Assen are still in the running for a future F1.
TT Assen CEO Arjan Bos submitted a request for a F1 license last month.

 

[Jimlaad43]

That's terrible. The bridge is a silly idea, the removal of the hairpin on the back of the paddock is the removal of a classic corner that signifies Zandvoort - whether it is good or not.
But the worst thing is turning the best corner on the track - Scheivlak - into a triple chicane. Why is that a proposal? If only one corner has to survive a redesign, that is the corner that must stay.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

The bridge is a silly idea

Silly? That's generous.

Suzuka can do it because the Denger Curves are so slow. There's little risk of a car somersaulting and striking the overpass. But this one would be practically flat. They would have to artificially raise the terrain for the overpass, which would limit access.

 

[BrainsBush]

That's terrible. The bridge is a silly idea, the removal of the hairpin on the back of the paddock is the removal of a classic corner that signifies Zandvoort - whether it is good or not.
But the worst thing is turning the best corner on the track - Scheivlak - into a triple chicane. Why is that a proposal? If only one corner has to survive a redesign, that is the corner that must stay.

Terrible indeed. It would be fun if it is not a bridge but an equal crossing Innovation 3.0

It is just one of the multi concepts and 99% will never reach the final stage

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Racetrack Almere

Do you have any images of this one?

 

[BrainsBush]

Do you have any images of this one?

http://www.raceparkalmere.nl/en/the-circuit

Nice to know that Kunos Simulazione already digitized this track for test and simulation purposes. So who knows a DLC in future for AC?

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Eh, it looks like it was designed to include the longest possible circuit in the space available. I've never seen a decent circuit that was designed that way.

 

[Northstar]

I like the banked left into a downhill right, but the rest seems forgettable.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

At this point, I think the Dutch would be better off building a circuit from scratch. Bringing Zandvoort up to standard would require a resurfacing, redevelopment of the pits, and reconfiguration (and there's only so much that could be done with the back half); effectively building a new circuit. It can be done, of course, but given the extent of the work, it would be better to start with a blank canvas.

Meanwhile, Toto Wolff says that Formula 1 should not be racing in supermarket car parks:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/129778/f1-must-stop-racing-on-upermarket-car-parks