Comments on: Are The European Grands Prix Expendable?

By: Oliver White

Oliver White — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:04:57 +0000

Ooh yes, Road America, I’ve heard some good things about that place. There’s little doubt in my mind that the United States have some great circuits, and I doubt it would take much work to bring them up to FIA standard, if indeed they’re not already.

By: Fernando

Fernando — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:05:07 +0000

I think that your calendar is great, but why don´t use the Road America track in the United States. That track is known as the Spa Francorchamps of the US. And by the way, if you can choose the old Hockenhein (wich I do too), what about the old Interlagos?
Fernando Voigt
Ponta Grossa – Pr
Brasil.

By: Oliver White

Oliver White — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:16:53 +0000

I did um-and-ah over Hungary. The circuit has produced some corkers in the past, but maybe it is just my generation, but I see it as an “soulless dust bowl” with only a few great races to give it its credibility. Now you’ve mentioned it actually, Sakhir and Hungaroring are probably 50:50 in my mind. The idea behind Hungary at the time was great, but times have moved on.

By: Keith Collantine

Keith Collantine — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 08:41:07 +0000

No Hungary, Ollie?

I’d drop Bahrain by the way. It’s a rubbish track in a soulless dust bowl.

By: Alex, formula1 Singapore

Alex, formula1 Singapore — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 08:18:12 +0000

All those new circus are for good, new change, new horizon. But it’s true 20 Grand Prix it’s enough for one season so what we should do ? Best to do, I guest it’s to mix different one and the year after include the one we didn’t see. Or either extend the season but that will not be the best to do.

Europeans does have a lot of circus but we can’t lose.

Official should find a good solution to not losing some great circus.

By: Oliver White

Oliver White — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:59:06 +0000

Oooh, I like your idea for the French venue. Completely forgot about Le Mans. Infineon would be great as well.

By: francois

francois — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:52:34 +0000

Here’s what I’m thinking – some of the ideas are perhaps not going to happen but anyway…

15/03 – Abu Dhabi GP/Yas Island 1
22/03 -Bahrain GP/Sakhir 2
5/4 -Malaysia GP/Sepang 3
19/4 – Brazil GP/Interlagos 4
3/5 – San Marino GP /Imola (15th Anniversary of Senna’s death) 5
10/5 – Monaco GP/Monaco 6
31/5 – European GP/Jerez 7
7/6 – Spanish GP/Valencia 8
21/6 – Turkish GP/ Istanbul Park 9
5/7 – Canadian GP/Ile Notre-Dame 10
12/7 – US GP /Infineon Raceway 11
26/7 – British GP/Silverstone 12
2/8 – German GP/Old Hockenheim 13
16/8 – French GP/Circuit De La Sarthe (and the full Mulsanne Straight) 14
30/8 – Belgian GP/Spa Franchorchamps 15
6/9 – Italian GP/Monza 16
20/9 – Singapore GP/Singapore 17
4/10 – Indian GP/? 18
25/10 – Japanese GP/Suzuka 19
8/11 – Australian GP/Adelaide 20

By: Oliver White

Oliver White — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:55:13 +0000

@bill: That is an interesting point bill. It does seem odd that the organiser says one thing and then does another. I’m not so sure Bernie is as clever as some make him out to be, especially when he makes decisions regarding the calendar and races to include. And especially when he has something to work from – the AMD/FIA Survey that many of us filled in a couple of years ago.

@Kathryn: Fair enough. I never really know what term to use, even for myself; United Kingdom, Great Britain, British Isles…

By: Kathryn S

Kathryn S — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:46:15 +0000

Oliver,

I realize this is a bit nit picky, but the schedule shows three American Grand Prix…one in Canada, one in Brazil and the one in the United States. I identify myself as an American as the term United Statesian is not currently in use, but as a courtesy to my fellow North, Central and South American compatriots, I prefer to say I am from the US.

Someday I will post a comment about racing here…that day has not yet arrived ; )

By: bill

bill — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:58:20 +0000

I have a question – if Bernie cares so much about European fans (assuming Britons are a high % of that audience) so much that he is forcing Asian races to be during European prime-time, how could he get rid of both UK and French races? It seems to me the PR backlash for dumping both those venues would result in killing ratings. Maybe ratings wouldn’t drop instantly, but for sure it would be when F1, to use a US term, “jumped the shark”.

Answer – Bernie is smarter than that, but as a fan, I really tire of hearing Bernie’s paper tiger threat every 18 months. When is the last time Bernie was public about RACING rather than politics?