The Formula 1 Calendar ThreadFormula 1

[Jimlaad43]

Monza gets a contract extension to 2031

Formula 1 to race in Monza until 2031

Formula 1 has today announced that the Italian Grand Prix will remain on the calendar until 2031 inclusive as part of a new six-year extension to the existing agreement, which runs through 2025.

www.formula1.com

 

[Veinz]

Monza is just one of those tracks that should always be on the calendar. Can’t say the same about Imola.

 

[Jimlaad43]

Can’t say the same about Imola.

The 2020 season was fantastic because it opened our eyes to some previously ignored or dropped circuits into modern F1. All of the tracks added were absolutely fantastic and managed to answer many "Make your own fantasy ideal F1 calendar questions". Unfortunately for Imola, it was the worst for racing of the bunch and despite it being a fantastic driving circuit with plenty of history, most fans would have liked many of the others to have stayed on the calendar.

If it's worth it to anyone, here's my order for the 2020 additional races in terms of which I'd have liked to stay on the calendar.

Nurburgring
Istanbul Park
Portimao
Mugello
Sakhir Outer
Imola

Plus, add to that, Imola is in a country that has a Grand Prix already. The race was never branded as it's historic San Marino Grand Prix name, but became the poster boy for Formula 1's further distancing itself from National Grand Prix names as the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. As of 2024, we have 6 non-National Grands Prix, which is crazy when you compare it to the 1997 season which had three duplicate races which they renamed after San Marino, Luxembourg and Europe.

A final issue with Imola is 1994. As much as the weekend was a disaster and tragedy, a lot of fans in the last few years are turning against the constant Senna tributes. Many circuits this year randomly painted a few kerbs to commemorate him, McLaren ran an awkward yellow and green livery for Monaco and there have been a lot of old car demos. Realistically Imola and Interlagos were the only places this was realistically not just jumping on a bandwagon. The big issue is that new fans joining the sport in from the Netflix generation don't know who Senna is and were probably born many years after his death.
Me, I'm 29 and have been watching F1 since like 2001 and properly following since 2005. I was born the year after Senna died, so the proportion of fans following the sport who saw him race is getting a lot smaller. Honestly, it's nice to see the history of a champion celebrated, because the history of the sport is what makes Formula 1 special, but just focusing on one champion who died in living memory just gatekeeps the serious amounts of other worthy champions and moments in the past, and also other champions who died in similarly tragic accidents. The sport will improve if we can move on and not have "being at Imola" as an excuse to bring it up once again every year.

Sorry I didn't mean to turn this into a Senna legacy rant again, but it just happened.

 

[Har1MAS1415]

Monza is just one of those tracks that should always be on the calendar. Can’t say the same about Imola.

Monza and Monaco.

Bit biased about the latter (there I said it) as I've always loved it regardless.

 

[Liquid]

Istanbul
Portimao

These two definitely should be on the calendar. The other thing that the 2020 season showed is that with all these other tracks suddenly being okay to host a Grand Prix, out of desperation, sure, it just really highlighted the amount of gatekeeping Liberty Media does with regards to the calendar and what their bank balance focus is with new races, no matter what spin they might tell us.

Sakhir Outer

Would be excellent for sprint races. I hate sprint races but if you're going to have them, have them on tracks that have different configurations. That would at least spice it up positively in terms of a racing spectacle.

 

[Har1MAS1415]

The 2020 season was fantastic because it opened our eyes to some previously ignored or dropped circuits into modern F1. All of the tracks added were absolutely fantastic and managed to answer many "Make your own fantasy ideal F1 calendar questions". Unfortunately for Imola, it was the worst for racing of the bunch and despite it being a fantastic driving circuit with plenty of history, most fans would have liked many of the others to have stayed on the calendar.

If it's worth it to anyone, here's my order for the 2020 additional races in terms of which I'd have liked to stay on the calendar.

Nurburgring
Istanbul Park
Portimao
Mugello
Sakhir Outer
Imola

Plus, add to that, Imola is in a country that has a Grand Prix already. The race was never branded as it's historic San Marino Grand Prix name, but became the poster boy for Formula 1's further distancing itself from National Grand Prix names as the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. As of 2024, we have 6 non-National Grands Prix, which is crazy when you compare it to the 1997 season which had three duplicate races which they renamed after San Marino, Luxembourg and Europe.

A final issue with Imola is 1994. As much as the weekend was a disaster and tragedy, a lot of fans in the last few years are turning against the constant Senna tributes. Many circuits this year randomly painted a few kerbs to commemorate him, McLaren ran an awkward yellow and green livery for Monaco and there have been a lot of old car demos. Realistically Imola and Interlagos were the only places this was realistically not just jumping on a bandwagon. The big issue is that new fans joining the sport in from the Netflix generation don't know who Senna is and were probably born many years after his death.
Me, I'm 29 and have been watching F1 since like 2001 and properly following since 2005. I was born the year after Senna died, so the proportion of fans following the sport who saw him race is getting a lot smaller. Honestly, it's nice to see the history of a champion celebrated, because the history of the sport is what makes Formula 1 special, but just focusing on one champion who died in living memory just gatekeeps the serious amounts of other worthy champions and moments in the past, and also other champions who died in similarly tragic accidents. The sport will improve if we can move on and not have "being at Imola" as an excuse to bring it up once again every year.

Sorry I didn't mean to turn this into a Senna legacy rant again, but it just happened.

These two definitely should be on the calendar. The other thing that the 2020 season showed is that with all these other tracks suddenly being okay to host a Grand Prix, out of desperation, sure, it just really highlighted the amount of gatekeeping Liberty Media does with regards to the calendar and what their bank balance focus is with new races, no matter what spin they might tell us.


Would be excellent for sprint races. I hate sprint races but if you're going to have them, have them on tracks that have different configurations. That would at least spice it up positively in terms of a racing spectacle.

I agree on all those accounts.

 

[toastet]

Not sure about Portimao, both races were more on the boring side with the the exception that 2020 had light rain at the start for some laps but after that was over and the field was sorted out mostly it was as boring as the other one in 2021. Portimao is in that category with Imola and Mugello for amazing tracks but bad for racing in F1.

 

[MagpieRacer]

Not sure about Portimao, both races were more on the boring side with the the exception that 2020 had light rain at the start for some laps but after that was over and the field was sorted out mostly it was as boring as the other one in 2021. Portimao is in that category with Imola and Mugello for amazing tracks but bad for racing in F1.

Agreed with Mugello, was dramatic but only because of crashes. But I'd take Portimao over Catalunya any day.

 

[Jimlaad43]

 

[PaMu1337]

Zandvoort will host its last race in 2026
(Source in Dutch)

Grand Prix in Zandvoort verdwijnt na 2026 van Formule 1-kalender

De Grand Prix van Nederland verdwijnt na 2026 van de Formule 1-kalender. De organisatie van de race heeft zelf besloten nog twee edities te organiseren en vervolgens afscheid te nemen van de koningsklasse van de autosport.

www.nu.nl

Makes me curious if Assen is gonna do another bid to replace it.

 

[Jimlaad43]

Zandvoort was a fascinating experiment.
For many years, it has been near the top of many people's list for "Tracks you'd like to see F1 race at", but as a former GP circuit, it felt like one F1 had evolved away from. Take Brands Hatch, Zolder or Dijon as other examples of 80's F1 circuits that aren't too much different nowadays. The changes Zandvoort needed to make to go from Grade 2 to 1 were quite extreme in some ways, but that was basically just the two banked corners to deal with runoff issues in those two zones, plus an expanded Paddock and what turned out to be the tiniest Pitlane of them all were all problems. However, the character of the circuit as a brutally fast sweeping flowing layout with proper gravel traps was kept and it is a true joy to watch Pole Laps around this track.

However, as expected, the racing just hasn't quite been up to it. Overtaking is tough - but not impossible - but necessary in DRS zones. Crashes are often pretty destructive due to the closeness of walls in some places, but that isn't unique to Zandvoort. The circuit is in a better place for the upgrades though as the runoff has needed a bit of a refresh for a while.

Zandvoort has had its moments. 2023 was utter chaos thanks to the weather, and we must be thankful a new race was planned somewhere with a finicky Oceanic climate, rather than a desert with no rain and forced to race at night for there to ever be useful track temps.

Sad to see it go. Zandvoort was a new track which did the right thing - focused on filling a market for fans who wanted to see the sport IRL. Full grandstands everywhere (despite the prices) fully supporting a local superstar. This modern Zandvoort's F1 time should be remembered fondly, and I hope it losing its spot directly helps keep Spa on the calendar forevermore.

F1 should really give cheap lifetime contracts to the circuits which hosted races in the very first Formula 1 season in 1950. Yes, even Monaco and Indianapolis. The fact we still have 4 of the 7 original circuits still on the calendar and still producing the best races of the year is something special that management would be stupid to throw away. History is the thing Formula 1 has over most other major championships that keep going through major rebrands. If anyone wants to help scrape together funds to make a modern version of Reims-Gueux (even if it's a bit smaller in the fields next door) to facilitate this, then I'm in!

 

[Fezzik]

F1 to race in Shanghai until 2030 with new extension

Formula 1 has announced a five-year extension with the Chinese Grand Prix that will see the Shanghai International Circuit remain on the calendar through the 2030 season.

www.formula1.com

Not a favourite for me, but it's a proper track and we need to keep those.

 

[Grand Prix]

Zandvoort was a fascinating experiment.
For many years, it has been near the top of many people's list for "Tracks you'd like to see F1 race at", but as a former GP circuit, it felt like one F1 had evolved away from. Take Brands Hatch, Zolder or Dijon as other examples of 80's F1 circuits that aren't too much different nowadays. The changes Zandvoort needed to make to go from Grade 2 to 1 were quite extreme in some ways, but that was basically just the two banked corners to deal with runoff issues in those two zones, plus an expanded Paddock and what turned out to be the tiniest Pitlane of them all were all problems. However, the character of the circuit as a brutally fast sweeping flowing layout with proper gravel traps was kept and it is a true joy to watch Pole Laps around this track.

However, as expected, the racing just hasn't quite been up to it. Overtaking is tough - but not impossible - but necessary in DRS zones. Crashes are often pretty destructive due to the closeness of walls in some places, but that isn't unique to Zandvoort. The circuit is in a better place for the upgrades though as the runoff has needed a bit of a refresh for a while.

Zandvoort has had its moments. 2023 was utter chaos thanks to the weather, and we must be thankful a new race was planned somewhere with a finicky Oceanic climate, rather than a desert with no rain and forced to race at night for there to ever be useful track temps.

Sad to see it go. Zandvoort was a new track which did the right thing - focused on filling a market for fans who wanted to see the sport IRL. Full grandstands everywhere (despite the prices) fully supporting a local superstar. This modern Zandvoort's F1 time should be remembered fondly, and I hope it losing its spot directly helps keep Spa on the calendar forevermore.

F1 should really give cheap lifetime contracts to the circuits which hosted races in the very first Formula 1 season in 1950. Yes, even Monaco and Indianapolis. The fact we still have 4 of the 7 original circuits still on the calendar and still producing the best races of the year is something special that management would be stupid to throw away. History is the thing Formula 1 has over most other major championships that keep going through major rebrands. If anyone wants to help scrape together funds to make a modern version of Reims-Gueux (even if it's a bit smaller in the fields next door) to facilitate this, then I'm in!
View attachment 1410236

Reims is an inspired choice for the French GP, it would have more character than what Paul Ricard has turned into. Most of it is still there surprisingly, including the famous grandstands and pit building. They would have to remove some roundabouts though, and needs repaving, runoffs and barriers.

The locals there were proud to have the fastest road circuit in Europe, faster than even Spa and Monza. For 1952 they chopped down some trees to bypass the town of Guex, raising the average speed even more.

The 1953 event had been called the race of the 20th Century - it saw a 60 laps long battle between Mike Hawthorn and Juan Manuel Fangio. The 4 leading cars finished less than 5 seconds apart. Slipstreaming galore.

Was it a simple layout? Yes. Did the fact that Reims essentially only had long straights and hairpins lead to spectacular racing? Of course it did, that was what people wanted from it, and that is why they raced there. Not every track needs to have 20 complex and technical corners.



The drone footage of the missing bit of road leading to Muizon corner (3:40 in the video) is incredible to me. It's as if the track itself refuses to die.

 

[ScottPuss20]

Reims is an inspired choice for the French GP, it would have more character than what Paul Ricard has turned into. Most of it is still there surprisingly, including the famous grandstands and pit building. They would have to remove some roundabouts though, and needs repaving, runoffs and barriers.

The locals there were proud to have the fastest road circuit in Europe, faster than even Spa and Monza. For 1952 they chopped down some trees to bypass the town of Guex, raising the average speed even more.

The 1953 event had been called the race of the 20th Century - it saw a 60 laps long battle between Mike Hawthorn and Juan Manuel Fangio. The 4 leading cars finished less than 5 seconds apart. Slipstreaming galore.

Was it a simple layout? Yes. Did the fact that Reims essentially only had long straights and hairpins lead to spectacular racing? Of course it did, that was what people wanted from it, and that is why they raced there. Not every track needs to have 20 complex and technical corners.



The drone footage of the missing bit of road leading to Muizon corner (3:40 in the video) is incredible to me. It's as if the track itself refuses to die.

I would love to drive on this track in Gran Turismo. Probably won't happen though.

 

[Fezzik]

I would love to drive on this track in Gran Turismo. Probably won't happen though.

Assetto Corsa is the place to go