The Formula 1 calendar development threadFormula 1

[peter_vod69]

And do you honestly think that, in the event Venezuela were to get a Grand Prix, the government would completely ignore crime as an issue? Of course not. Countries get Grands Prix to boost their international profile; the last thing anyone in Venezuela wants is their brand-new race besmirched by sprialling crime rates. No doubt they'd have fancy architecture around the circuit that would double as accomodation to keep the tourists close to the circuit and safe, for one. Boosted police numbers is another no-brainer.

Yes I honestly think that. I also believe in flying pigs, unicorns and HRT's future world championship.

I just don't think that Venezuela fits, not with as busy a schedule as there exists currently in F1, and not with five other races in North/South America (potentially), and especially not with such high crime rates. I mean come on, what could Bernie possibly stand to gain from such a risky venture, especially when he could make the same coin a lot more safely elsewhere?

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Because there is nowhere else. Asia is saturated. Europe has demonstrated that they can't hold onto races (and their economy is horrible). Africa is out of the question. Most of Latin America can't afford a race. If Bernie wanted to expand the calendar again, where else could he go?

 

[Tired Tyres]

Why would he want to expand? There are too many races as it is now. Losing a few won't hurt.

What needs to happen is that the cost of hosting a Formula 1 event must be reduced considerably so that is possible for an organiser to actually make money.

Perhaps that's what the CVC float will establish.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

What needs to happen is that the cost of hosting a Formula 1 event must be reduced considerably so that is possible for an organiser to actually make money.

Fun fact: the federal government has set aside $618 million for a 14km strect of highway near my hometown. That would be enough to guarantee a race at $50 million per year for over a decade. Taken on its own, $50 million sounds like a lot. But with government money aiding it, it's not really that much.

And the terms of contracts for circuits are geared towards making a profit. FOM takes 10% of any profit the circuit makes, so it is in the interest of circuits to make money back. Most of the time, their losses come down to a complete lack of advertising.

 

[Sureboss]

Quite, $50 million per year is Eric Pickles pie budget.

 

[ZohsixGT5]

If Bernie wanted to expand the calendar again, where else could he go?

Antarctica 2013, or the moon. Whichever pays the most.

 

[Tom]

Latest pictures.

http://circuitoftheamericas.com/articles/march-track-progress

 

[Liquid]

Is F1 2012 going to be released before the race in Austin, do you think?

 

[Tom]

Is F1 2012 going to be released before the race in Austin, do you think?

Most likely, but the track is due for completion in August so they'll at least have enough time to implement some of the features.

 

[GTPorsche]

F1 2012 is scheduled for September, so I'd take a pretty good guess and say that it will since September arrives before November.

 

[GTPorsche]

Not sure how reliable this is...

http://www.gpnow.com/formula1/10654/formula-1-going-to-thailand/

Thailand?

 

[Northstar]

Apparently an announcement on the return of the French GP may happen tomorrow.

French PM Could Announce GP Return On Friday: French prime minister Francois Fillon will on Friday travel to the Paul Ricard circuit in Le Castellet. According to Le Parisien newspaper in an exclusive report, he could announce the deal is finally done to revive the French Grand Prix for 2013. A source said Fillon will provide an update and indicate that France is "ready" to host F1 again for the first time since 2008 at Magny Cours. It has been widely reported for some time that negotiations are taking place to annually alternate formula one races between France at Paul Ricard and Belgium's legendary Spa Francorchamps circuit. Friday's media report said Spa is "probably" the circuit that will alternate with France "but it could possibly be another". It is claimed that Bernie Ecclestone originally demanded a EUR 29 million race fee, but eventually the deal was done for 20m.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Proposal for a new circuit in Avalon, outside Melbourne:

Organisers are talking up the idea of replacing Albert Park.

 

[Liquid]

Questions:

Why is Albert Park under threat? Because of a public order?
No possibility of F1 going back to Adelaide?

That track doesn't look so bad. Can't judge the elevation, but the layout looks a bit like Estoril on drugs. Not keen on the penultimate corner though.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Why is Albert Park under threat? Because of a public order?

It's not. There's a post-race tradition here in Australia where some aspiring politician uses the race to get fifteen minutes of fame (although it didn't actually happen this year). Someone basically comes out and announces that the contract with Bernie is a bad deal, and that they will be the one to get a better arrangement for the city of Melbourne when it comes time for negotiations. It's mostly just a quick grab for a headline in the face of an upcoming election.

No possibility of F1 going back to Adelaide?

It's far too tiny, and far too cramped. It's also the home of one of V8 Supercars' marquee events, and they would be unlikely to give that event up for the Grand Prix.

 

[Sam48]

Proposal for a new circuit in Avalon, outside Melbourne...

Organisers are talking up the idea of replacing Albert Park.

Another cookie cutter flat track resembling the usually. When will someone make a circuit that conforms to the land below, rather than bulldozing a lot and putting an artificial track on it? Such a mentality gave us much more memorable and more exciting tracks.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

When will someone make a circuit that conforms to the land below, rather than bulldozing a lot and putting an artificial track on it?

It does conform to the land. The proposal is alongside Avalon Airport, so the area is already very flat.

But it's not going to happen. Ron Walker has already shot the idea down, and the Avalon project has been in development hell for years.

 

[Liquid]

Fair enough pm, thanks for the answers.

I like Adelaide as a track, but I guess Formula One has moved on. TV rights holders have killed things like the BTCC and (maybe in the past I'm not sure) V8s being the support races for their respective Grands Prix.

---

On topic with tracks, but possibly old news:

Russian GP could be pushed back from 2014 to 2015 because the IOC don't want Grand Prix preperations interfering with Olympic preperations.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

On topic with tracks, but possibly old news:

Russian GP could be pushed back from 2014 to 2015 because the IOC don't want Grand Prix preperations interfering with Olympic preperations.

Yeah, it is kind of old. This came up a few months ago, but nothing has been made of it since.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Formula 2 Codasur at (part of) the proposed Mar del Plata circuit:



They run in the opposite direction to the proposed circuit, and they don't use the breakwall or the naval base. But they do go through the roundabout, which doesn't actually look as bad as first thought; especially as the road drops away so steeply in the next corner. It would still be better without the roundabout, of course.

 

[Wardez]

Found a neat picture of paddock construction for the second US GP in New Jersey:

http://yfrog.com/z/h7s4mjykj

 

[Prince.M5]

I knew it's shaping up pretty nicely. I wonder why Bernie hesitated that the circuit may not be completed by 2013. It's still heck of a long way to go before the race itself!

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Probably because he was asked by a reporter "Is there a chance that the circuit will not be ready for 2013?", to which he replied "Yes, the circuit might not be ready for 2013, in which case we will hold it in 2014", and the reporter only printed his answer rather than the question. It's called a leading question - a question that really just asks someone to repeat a predetermined statement.

 

[Prince.M5]

Probably because he was asked by a reporter "Is there a chance that the circuit will not be ready for 2013?", to which he replied "Yes, the circuit might not be ready for 2013, in which case we will hold it in 2014", and the reporter only printed his answer rather than the question. It's called a leading question - a question that really just asks someone to repeat a predetermined statement.

Ah yes, got it mate!

Still, I think this race will go on and I want it to go on. The circuit looks pretty interesting and pretty high-speed.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Still, I think this race will go on and I want it to go on.

I see no reason why it won't beyond a reporter who thinks a headline reading BERNIE ECCLESTONE SAYS NEW JERSEY RACE MIGHT NOT HAPPEN will sell more papers than BERNIE ECCLESTONE HAPPY WITH NEW JERSEY PROGRESS.

 

[Prince.M5]

...BERNIE ECCLESTONE SAYS NEW JERSEY RACE MIGHT NOT HAPPEN will sell more papers than BERNIE ECCLESTONE HAPPY WITH NEW JERSEY PROGRESS.

The dirty game of media . Actually, it's not really a problem and I can understand why Bernie might hesitate because by then, he could go on and look for other races to replace it (in case). In the mean time, it's just the media playing a profit game.

So, since we've seen the image of pit building shaping up pretty nicely the race will go on - as of now at least.

 

[hawkeye122]

The French GP thing... they aren't serious, are they? Didn't the ELMS just get done complaining about the lack of seating? I know F1 probably gets more money from the Television broadcasters... but still... come on.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Yes, Paul Ricard is serious. But as part of the deal, temporary seating will be constructed for the event.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Not sure how reliable this is...

http://www.gpnow.com/formula1/10654/formula-1-going-to-thailand/

Thailand?

I wouldn't go reading too much into that. Thailand has come up before. Nothing has ever come of it. After all, just look at this one - the Dominican Republic is (supposedly) considering a bid.

 

[Ardius]

I feel sorry for anyone who plans on attending Paul Ricard - even if they did build new stands, the spectators are so far away from the track because of the acres of run-off!
We really should be going back to Magny-Cours. At least that was a more interesting layout. Both tracks are in the middle of nowhere and don't generally produce great racing but at least Magny-Cours isn't a car park of tarmac.