The Formula 1 calendar development threadFormula 1

[Pupik]

View attachment 533144

 

[Dennisch]

I'll stop now.

 

[Robin]

There's actually a kind of genius in the madness, though - by running in a car park, they could literally do anything; they're not restricted to existing streets. They completely mangled it by trying to fit as much as possible into the smallest available space, but if a modern circuit cut through a car park or two to include some interesting corners, it could work very well indeed.

There is plenty of scope to make something interesting when you have a flat canvas like a car park to work with, just put the bollards where you want!

They should use the Fontainebleau resort site, plenty of empty undeveloped land there and then maybe they could finally finish the damn thing off!

 

[GTPorsche]

Plenty of land near Nellis AFB as well, and making a new track would be a better idea than a street circuit. They'll be in Vegas without getting in the way of Vegas.

 

[Tired Tyres]

You guys falling for the usual Bernie tactic of announcing something like this to get interest off the bad news (qualifying)?

 

[GTPorsche]

The Vegas thing came out before the recent qualifying shenanigans.

 

[TenEightyOne]

Plenty of land near Nellis AFB as well, and making a new track would be a better idea than a street circuit. They'll be in Vegas without getting in the way of Vegas.

No straights at Nellis apart from... hang on... that could be quite cool if they leave it live!

 

[GTPorsche]

No straights at Nellis apart from... hang on... that could be quite cool if they leave it live!

It would get quite Spirited.

 

[Pupik]

You guys falling for the usual Bernie tactic of announcing something like this to get interest off the bad news (qualifying)?

I was going to complain, but I wasn't fast enough, so I was

 

[Jimlaad43]

Seems the A1 Ring may be getting modifications to follow the old layout.

Obviously it's unclear at this stage just how much they are re-adding, or if it would be used for F1.

Where did you find that info?

 

[twitcher]

Seems the A1 Ring may be getting modifications to follow the old layout.

Obviously it's unclear at this stage just how much they are re-adding, or if it would be used for F1.

Any confirmation that this is real and wasn't perhaps an April Fools joke??

 

[Samus]

Not April Fools, first image was shared in March.

http://www.racingcircuits.info/pro/news/2016/04/03/is-red-bull-ring-being-restored-to-full-glory/

 

[twitcher]

That looks pretty good. Hopefully it will be finished in time for the GP this year. Also hope there's some high speed Esses after that first chicane, and hopefully they don't butcher Tiroch Kurve - really hope it stays as a sweeper of some sort. I'm guessing there will be another chicane where the extension meets back up with the current circuit.

 

[Samus]

That looks pretty good. Hopefully it will be finished in time for the GP this year. Also hope there's some high speed Esses after that first chicane, and hopefully they don't butcher Tiroch Kurve - really hope it stays as a sweeper of some sort. I'm guessing there will be another chicane where the extension meets back up with the current circuit.

If this is for the F1 I highly doubt it'll be ready for this year, construction doesn't seem very far along and once it is done the FIA have to schedule a visit to homologate it, which takes a while.

 

[TenEightyOne]

If this is for the F1 I highly doubt it'll be ready for this year, construction doesn't seem very far along and once it is done the FIA have to schedule a visit to homologate it, which takes a while.

There may already be a construction close date and an FIA visit date. The new plans will likely have already been submitted to the FIA otherwise the rebuild could be wasted money. With the will in place there's no reason why this couldn't be ready, imo.

 

[GTPorsche]

While I would see it definitely being used for F1, could this also be them taking a chance at getting a WEC race? The longer track would definitely suit endurance racing more than the current layout does.

 

[Samus]

While I would see it definitely being used for F1, could this also be them taking a chance at getting a WEC race? The longer track would definitely suit endurance racing more than the current layout does.

It could also be for Moto GP, they're going back there this year.

I still think it would more likely be next year though. The other thing with adding new bits to a track is you need to sell tickets in it, plus do something about those who bought tickets in the huge grandstand along the second straight which wouldn't see anything.

 

[GTPorsche]

It could also be for Moto GP, they're going back there this year.

I still think it would more likely be next year though. The other thing with adding new bits to a track is you need to sell tickets in it, plus do something about those who bought tickets in the huge grandstand along the second straight which wouldn't see anything.

I thought about that as well, but that first chicane seems pretty tight to be good for bikes.

 

[twitcher]

While I would see it definitely being used for F1, could this also be them taking a chance at getting a WEC race? The longer track would definitely suit endurance racing more than the current layout does.

I had a similar thought about WEC. Even for something like BES races the current layout might be a little cramped.

 

[Jimlaad43]

Seems the A1 Ring may be getting modifications to follow the old layout.

Obviously it's unclear at this stage just how much they are re-adding, or if it would be used for F1.

Has anyone found any more information on this anywhere?

 

[Ingram]

Found this clip while reading up on that Red Bull Ring news. An interesting little rant from Murray half way through - it seems F1 switching to dull, featureless circuits isn't just a recent complaint...

 

[TenEightyOne]

Found this clip while reading up on that Red Bull Ring news. An interesting little rant from Murray half way through - it seems F1 switching to dull, featureless circuits isn't just a recent complaint...

It's from a 1992 DVD video called "Lap of the Gods", some great footage. And yes, it's an old complaint... although looking at the runoffs and standard armco it's hard to imagine tracks in that format ever appearing again.

 

[ukfan758]

It's from a 1992 DVD video called "Lap of the Gods", some great footage. And yes, it's an old complaint... although looking at the runoffs and standard armco it's hard to imagine tracks in that format ever appearing again.

I can't believe that even back then they allowed the runoff area to have a slope (starts around 2 minute mark). Could that act as a ramp and launch the car out of the circuit ?

 

[Jimlaad43]

I can't believe that even back then they allowed the runoff area to have a slope (starts around 2 minute mark). Could act as a ramp and launch the car out of the circuit ?

 

[Furinkazen]

Bernie Ecclestone I love you.

 

[ukfan758]

Bernie Ecclestone I love you.

The very first thing I did after reading that title was checked the date, well I'll be damned . It's not April 1st! But knowing Bernie, take it with a truck load of salt.

 

[jake2013guy]

Bernie Ecclestone I love you.

Might not be enough salt to take this as.

 

[twitcher]

Bernie Ecclestone I love you.

At this stage of the game, it's hard to take anything that man says as serious. I wouldn't be suprised to hear him say that F1 needs a round or two on the moon by 2025.

That said, a few additional races in the US could be cool if they're done correctly. A Vegas street race at night would be great (provided the circuit is half way decent). A race North if LA, south of San Fran would be good, but not at the expense of butchering Leguna Seca.

Watkins Glen is a natural choice, and Charlie Whiting has already given it a nod of approval. Still, I would hate to see that track bulldozed to meet FIA Grade 1 standards.

Road America, with minimal safety and facility upgrades would be fantastic, but it's a little bit in the middle of no where.

Somewhere in Florida, Georgia, or Alabama would could work, as I think there is a pretty strong interest in road racing in that part of the country. Again though, hands off Road Atlanta and/or Sebring, unless upgrades are done with the utmost care.

As far as street circuits, NYC, Washington DC, and Miami are the 3 cities which jump to mind. NYC would be a logistical nightmare though, and would more than likely be a mediocre circuit. Miami would be flat as a pancake.

Finally, would 6 races in the US help or hinder Indycar? My gut tells me it would be not so good for Indycar.

 

[ukfan758]

At this stage of the game, it's hard to take anything that man says as serious. I wouldn't be suprised to hear him say that F1 needs a round or two on the moon by 2025.

That said, a few additional races in the US could be cool if they're done correctly. A Vegas street race at night would be great (provided the circuit is half way decent). A race North if LA, south of San Fran would be good, but not at the expense of butchering Leguna Seca.

Watkins Glen is a natural choice, and Charlie Whiting has already given it a nod of approval. Still, I would hate to see that track bulldozed to meet FIA Grade 1 standards.

Road America, with minimal safety and facility upgrades would be fantastic, but it's a little bit in the middle of no where.

Somewhere in Florida, Georgia, or Alabama would could work, as I think there is a pretty strong interest in road racing in that part of the country. Again though, hands off Road Atlanta and/or Sebring, unless upgrades are done with the utmost care.

As far as street circuits, NYC, Washington DC, and Miami are the 3 cities which jump to mind. NYC would be a logistical nightmare though, and would more than likely be a mediocre circuit. Miami would be flat as a pancake.

Finally, would 6 races in the US help or hinder Indycar? My gut tells me it would be not so good for Indycar.

There's also IMS, with the improved circuit layout and a chicane in the old final corner. But I think the George family doesn't want to pay the massive fees.

I don't really see F1 hurting Indycar, I think it would benefit both by exposing open wheel racing to more Americans.

 

[Samus]

At this stage of the game, it's hard to take anything that man says as serious. I wouldn't be suprised to hear him say that F1 needs a round or two on the moon by 2025.

That said, a few additional races in the US could be cool if they're done correctly. A Vegas street race at night would be great (provided the circuit is half way decent). A race North if LA, south of San Fran would be good, but not at the expense of butchering Leguna Seca.

Watkins Glen is a natural choice, and Charlie Whiting has already given it a nod of approval. Still, I would hate to see that track bulldozed to meet FIA Grade 1 standards.

Road America, with minimal safety and facility upgrades would be fantastic, but it's a little bit in the middle of no where.

Somewhere in Florida, Georgia, or Alabama would could work, as I think there is a pretty strong interest in road racing in that part of the country. Again though, hands off Road Atlanta and/or Sebring, unless upgrades are done with the utmost care.

As far as street circuits, NYC, Washington DC, and Miami are the 3 cities which jump to mind. NYC would be a logistical nightmare though, and would more than likely be a mediocre circuit. Miami would be flat as a pancake.

Finally, would 6 races in the US help or hinder Indycar? My gut tells me it would be not so good for Indycar.

This is the problem, currently only two US tracks are Grade 1, COTA and IMS. The rest vary from being not far off to not being close. So you have two options, brand new Tilkedromes or butchering classic circuits just to accommodate F1. Neither prospect seems like a good one to me.