The Formula 1 calendar development threadFormula 1

[prisonermonkeys]

There was - overnight rain that had dried up before the race began, but it had removed the existing rubber from parts of the circuit.

But that's not the point. The point I was trying to make is that you were putting words in my mouth by "fixing" my post, which I really don't appreciate. I didn't say that, I have never said that, and I never will say that. And yet, you modified my post to make it appear that I had said it. I don't mind if people do it for the sake of a gag, but you misattributed a quote to me to make it look like I agreed with you.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

L'equipe is reporting that Spa and Paul Ricard will alternate from 2013.

 

[PeterJB]

That is stupid. They're completely separate Grands Prix, so have both! It's not like they're sharing a track. Scrap Bahrain and replace it with France, aa proper Grand Prix.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

That's not possible under the current contract agreements with Bahrain and Spa.

Everybody blames Bernie for the loss of these races, but there's a much bigger issue going on with Spa - why can't they make money? They get sponsorship and they get government grants (I believe Silverstone is the only circuit on the calendar that does not), and they get all manner of financial initiatives, and yet there's a constant cloud looming over the circuit and the future of the event. Has nobody stopped to ask why the programs and incentives that work for other circuits don't work for Spa?

 

[homeforsummer]

Has nobody stopped to ask why the programs and incentives that work for other circuits don't work for Spa?

I wonder if the upkeep of the circuit and land surrounding the circuit ends up eating away a lot of their budget? It's just a hunch, but in terms of square footage it must be the biggest circuit on the calendar by a huge margin.

I'm also not sure about spectator numbers - it's a large circuit and the spectator areas are more widely dispersed as a result of that, but I don't get much of an impression that Spa is either too spectator friendly (in terms of facilities rather than viewing), or that it attracts as many people as say, Silverstone or Barcelona do either.

 

[Pupik]

From a spectator point of view, a 43-lap race doesn't sound like much of a bargain. The weather is typically rainy during the summer. And there's also the 24 hour sports-car and 1000 km events which vie for the local spectator's euro. Just a hunch.

Still, seeing arguably the best drivers in the world on one the world's best circuits ought to be interesting enough.

 

[homeforsummer]

I didn't think about the weather, actually. If you live in Europe then France aside you probably already have your own Grand Prix to go to so you've no real reason to get rained on at Spa. Unless you're British, since Spa is several hundred quid cheaper even considering travelling there. But then as a Brit you go abroad to avoid the rain, not seek it out

Speaking personally though, along with Monaco and Abu Dhabi, Spa is the GP I'd most like to visit. Spa is the perfect example of the "old" F1, Abu Dhabi the "new" F1, and Monaco is just unique.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

From a spectator point of view, a 43-lap race doesn't sound like much of a bargain.

According to Wikipedia, Paul Ricard's longest configuration is 5.809km long, which is actually shorter than the current Silverstone configuration (which is 5.901km). Since a Grand Prix is contested over three hundred kilometres, the French Grand Prix would run for fity-two laps. And that's assuming the race takes place on the longest layout.

The weather is typically rainy during the summer.

So don't hold it during the summer. Run it during the late spring or early autumn. You could run Barcelona-Paul Ricard, Monaco-Paul Ricard or Valencia-Paul Ricard. In fact, because they're all so close together, you could probably do Barcelona-Paul Ricard-Monaco over three weeks.

And there's also the 24 hour sports-car and 1000 km events which vie for the local spectator's euro. Just a hunch.

Task Force France - my name for them - believe the popularity of Formula 1 in France will increase with a local driver. And between Romain Grosjean wrapping up the GP2 title at Spa this weekend, Jules Bianchi and Charles Pic being championship contenders in the series, and Jean-Eric Vergne getting a Toro Rosso testing role, we could reasonably see four Frenchmen in the sport by the time the French Grand Prix joins the calendar. Which means France would have more drivers representing them than any other nation except Germany (who currently have five).

 

[Pupik]

According to Wikipedia...(snip)

I was talking about Spa.

I think that region of France is typically dry most of the year, unlike the Ardennes.

 

[YellowG1]

Here's the official schedule. Turkey, not surprisingly, is out.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/94148

2012 Formula 1 calendar

18/03 AUS Australia
25/03 MYS Malaysia
15/04 CHN China
22/04 BAH Bahrain
13/05 ESP Spain
27/05 MCO Monaco
10/06 CAN Canada
24/06 EUR Europe
08/07 GBR Great Britain
22/07 DEU Germany
29/07 HUN Hungary
02/09 BEL Belgium
09/09 ITA Italy
23/09 SGP Singapore
07/10 JPN Japan
14/10 KOR Korea
28/10 IND India
04/11 ARE Abu Dhabi
18/11 USA United States
25/11 BRA Brazil

 

[Seismica]

I hope when making agreements in the future, Bernie will think about the show for the fans. It's well known that Valencia and Bahrain are bore-fests whereas Turkey was one of the most exciting races on the calendar. I know this one was unavoidable as the circuit just wasn't attracting enough spectators, but there are plenty of circuits around Europe which could fill the slots. We still don't know if India, Korea and the US GP will provide good racing (Korea because the race was effectively waterlogged there due to the new tarmac having no drainage). We could have half the GPs on the calendar with no overtaking.

 

[Northstar]

but there are plenty of circuits around Europe which could fill the slots.

Two problems.

1) There may be plenty of circuits, but very few want to host F1 and even fewer have the finances.

2) F1 is an international sport, you need the races outside Europe in order for it to continue being one.

 

[astrosdude91]

I'm fairly contempt with the calender. Australia and Brazil seem like the ideal opener and closer. Now the US GP will be the penultimate round. So when I go I might get to see a championship won. Not sure why they decided to stick an extra week in between Spain and Monaco, I always thought they worked well as back to back races.

 

[Seismica]

Not sure why they decided to stick an extra week in between Spain and Monaco, I always thought they worked well as back to back races.

It's because Monaco starts on the Thursday and the teams complained about the Logistics of getting everything there in 3 days.

There is also the possibility of in-season testing at Catalunya, which could be another reason for the gap.

 

[F1 fan]

It's because Monaco starts on the Thursday and the teams complained about the Logistics of getting everything there in 3 days.

Actually, the teams can have their freight in Monaco less than 24 hours after the Grand Prix at Catalunya.

 

[Seismica]

Actually, the teams can have their freight in Monaco less than 24 hours after the Grand Prix at Catalunya.

After I wrote that, I did question it. The second reason I stated is more likely

 

[YellowG1]

I just wish they could bring Imola back.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Why? It's just chicanes.

 

[Prince.M5]

Good to see that the Malaysian GP is being forward a little to March. However, it is a little shame to see the Turkish GP being left out...

 

[Hollidog]

Pretty disappointed to see one of my favorite tracks in Instanbul Park being left out and the most boring race of the year, Valencia, being left in. As well as Bahrain. I agree with what was said above, I wish Bernie would think about what the global fans want, not what his bank account wants.

 

[Ardius]

Why? It's just chicanes.

Just chicanes??? By that I guess you also think that Silverstone, Montreal, Monaco and Monza are also "just chicanes"?

The only reason not to go to Imola is money and space on the calendar. The track itself is fantastic and was one of the best, it didn't always provide great racing but it was one of the "drivers" tracks. Qualifying was usually a highlight.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Just chicanes???

Imola has seventeen corners.

Eleven of these are chicanes - the three corners that make up Tamburello, the two at Villeneuve, another two at Acque Minerale, two more at the Variante Alta and finally, two at the Variante Bassa. That's 64% of the corners that form some kind of chicane. The Bassa might have been removed, but that's still nine corners of the fifteen that make up chicanes - 60% of the turns.

 

[Ardius]

Yes, and Montreal is 80% chicanes and Monza is 50%. So what? Chicanes don't stop it from being a great track and there is more to Imola than "just chicanes" - half the track is the run from Tosa to Variante Alta, which is an awesome flowing section of track! Not to mention Rivazza too.

 

[Pupik]

Imola's Acque Minerale hasn't had a chicane since 1994.

 

[homeforsummer]

Yes, and Montreal is 80% chicanes and Monza is 50%. So what? Chicanes don't stop it from being a great track and there is more to Imola than "just chicanes" - half the track is the run from Tosa to Variante Alta, which is an awesome flowing section of track! Not to mention Rivazza too.

Quite. It's not just the corners that make a circuit, it's the topography. I'm happy to watch Imola's chicanes for all the rises and falls.

Incidentally, we've already seen at circuits this year which were always poor for racing that the new rules have changed that around. Valencia has literally been the only circuit this year with very little overtaking. Which is a pity because I love the concept of Valencia, it just has poor execution.

While we're talking old circuits, I miss the old Hockenheim layout

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Thailand is now considering a Grand Prix bid, with a Bangkok street circuit suggested as a likely location.

 

[niky]

So, do we have fights between protesters and the military as the sideshow, or transvestite "working women" manning the corners?

Kidding aside, Thailand has great atmosphere... but I don't know if the streets of Bangkok are as suitable for racing as the streets of Malaysia or Singapore.

They could do a Manila circuit, as some of our newer streets in the reclamation area are very wide and there's a first-class Resort/Casino/Play area near there... but I doubt the ticket sales would merit coming here. (same doubts for Thailand... but then, the thriving tourist industry there makes a good business case for it.)

 

[iceman81]

I think Turkish GP is gone forever.
Coz Turkish government DOES NOT want to pay the 26million dollars.
So Bernie and the F1's company said; "OK if you don't want to pay that price we won't make a race in Turkey".
And if the Turkish government wants to make a race in 2013 or later, Bernie and his company will ask for over 26million $ or doubled prize which the government will not pay any more.

Me as a Turkish motorsport fan it's a really shame for writing this to here.
There are not enough really F1 and motorsport spectators.
I have been all of the TR gps in Turkey.
Our media was usually disinterested.

F1 was always too much above for Turkey unfortunately with this government too.
There is nothing to talk anymore for Turkish GP.

 

[Jimlaad43]

If people are constantly raving about racing and overtaking at circuits being bad, get rid of Monza (GASP).
I know, but the DRS wont affect the racing much, and most of the straights begin or end with a fast corner e.g parabolica, ascari chicane.
These are aero dependent (even though there isn't much aero on the cars), so the cars can't get close. Ascari chicane also starts very fast,
so the braking distance isn't very long. De la roggia is the only slow corner, long straight, slow corner combo. Curva grande does make it hard
though, because you cannot take a faster line than the racing line around it. I have made my point.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Interesting little article from Joe Saward: apparently, the Singaporeans aren’t happy with their Grand Prix because it’s too disruptive, so they’re considering moving it out to the new Kallang Sports Hub just outside the city centre. It’s an interesting article because they’re apparently studying alternate routes themselves – nobody has been commissioned to do the work.