2012 GP of Mexico

[Cauchy]

Apparently Charlie Whiting has inspected the track, and the track officials say there are just some minor changes that need to be made to it.
http://www.record.com.mx/tmf/2011-06-07/gusta-el-hermanos-rodriguez-para-albergar-gp-de-f1

They have already released the 2012 schedule which contains 21 GPs. They would put it the weekend after the GP of USA. No official word from the fia, as of yet.

 

[Ardius]

If its not on the provisional calendar, its not happening. While the current calendar can change, I really, really doubt we are going to get more than 20 races. 21 is crazy.
Russia is in 2014. Where can Mexico possibly fit in? It would require dropping at least 2 races. Maybe it will appear in future seasons, but its extremely unlikely to appear next year as all 20 races have contracts and Turkey is mooted to be dropped - though it possibly might not be.

I imagine people would like to see Bahrain and Valencia dropped, but at the moment they are contracted for future seasons.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Yeah, the calendar is pretty much booked out for now. I wouldn't be surprised if this is just a knee-jerk reaction to Sergio Perez getting a seat with Sauber. As Ardius pointed out, there's already a queue of races building up. And with the 2012 calendar having already been released, it's very unlikely that Mexico would be added to it at this point. Especially considering they have to trim out one of the existing races just to accomodate America. The earliest they could get is 2013, but to be perfectly honest, I doubt Formula 1 would go back to Hermanos Rodriguez. It's much more likely that a new circuit would be built.

 

[taggles]

I think it could end up depending on money and contracts of other GP's. Suzuka is apparently signed on until 2012 (but they'll probably renew).

The earliest they could get is 2013, but to be perfectly honest, I doubt Formula 1 would go back to Hermanos Rodriguez.

Anyways, what ever happened to the South African proposal for 2013?

 

[F1 fan]

Anyways, what ever happened to the South African proposal for 2013?

It was exactly that. A proposal. There was no agreement.

Edit:
Jean Todt confirms 20 races only for 2012. One of the 21 on the provisional calendar for 2012 will have to be dropped. It's highly unlikely that we'll return to Mexico in the next few years.

 

[TenEightyOne]

Apparently Charlie Whiting has inspected the track, and the track officials say there are just some minor changes that need to be made to it...they have already released the 2012 schedule which contains 21 GPs. They would put it the weekend after the GP of USA. No official word from the fia, as of yet.

As Ardius said, if it's not on the provisional calendar then Mexico have very little chance (realistically no chance) of hosting in 2012.

11/03 BHR Bahrain
18/03 AUS Australia
01/04 MYS Malaysia
08/04 CHN China
22/04 KOR Korea
06/05 TUR Turkey *
20/05 ESP Spain
27/05 MCO Monaco
10/06 CAN Canada
17/06 USA United States
01/07 ESP Valencia, Spain
15/07 GBR Great Britain
29/07 DEU Germany
05/08 HUN Hungary
02/09 BEL Belgium
09/09 ITA Italy
30/09 SGP Singapore
14/10 JPN Japan
28/10 IND India
11/11 ARE Abu Dhabi
25/11 BRA Brazil

If the US GP at Austin doesn't go ahead then maybe Mexico would step in, I just don't see it. The FIA inspection probably happened so that the circuit organisers could see what would need to be done to host F1 races on the back of Perez's successful WDC bid in 2012

 

[F1 fan]

If the US GP at Austin doesn't go ahead then maybe Mexico would step in, I just don't see it. The FIA inspection probably happened so that the circuit organisers could see what would need to be done to host F1 races on the back of Perez's successful WDC bid in 2012

I think they will prepare a bid sometime in the future. Regardless of their chances, there's nothing stopping them making a bid. I think they were dipping their toes in the water to see what changes were needed before a decision(whether they will bid for a grand prix) is made.

 

[IceMan PJN]

If the US GP at Austin doesn't go ahead then maybe Mexico would step in, I just don't see it.

Unlike USF1, I actually have faith in Circuit of the Americas. I expect it to be completed on time and host the United States Grand Prix next season.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

If the US GP at Austin doesn't go ahead then maybe Mexico would step in, I just don't see it. The FIA inspection probably happened so that the circuit organisers could see what would need to be done to host F1 races on the back of Perez's successful WDC bid in 2012

I very much doubt that will happen at all. Lessons were learned from Korea, and the entire Austin project is being overseen by Hermann Tilke and Tilke GmbH - and they've got a reputation for delivering projects on time. I think you're grasping at straws by suggesting Mexico could stand in if Austin doesn't make it.

 

[Tornado]

I think it would be awesome if F1 returned to Hermanos Rodríguez, but I honestly don't see it happening. And if it doesn't happen at Hermanos Rodríguez, I can't see it happening at all.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I think the biggest barrier to entry for Mexico is the corruption. There's a lot of it south of the border. I know corruption is a problem in India and Russia, but Mexico has problems they don't: the cartels. It costs tens of millions of dollars to host a Grand Prix, and anyone dealing in that kind of money is bound to attract unwanted attention because everyone will want a piece of the action. The last thing we need is for the world champions of brutal violence to get a sniff of it.

 

[Dotini]

I think the biggest barrier to entry for Mexico is the corruption. There's a lot of it south of the border. I know corruption is a problem in India and Russia, but Mexico has problems they don't: the cartels. It costs tens of millions of dollars to host a Grand Prix, and anyone dealing in that kind of money is bound to attract unwanted attention because everyone will want a piece of the action. The last thing we need is for the world champions of brutal violence to get a sniff of it.

At the 1958 Cuban Grand Prix (for sports cars), reigning Formula 1 World Champion Juan Manuel Fangio was kidnapped and held for ransom!
http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/story/23608.html

 

[prisonermonkeys]

That's not really what I meant. I'm thinking more of the corrpution that might happen in the actual building/rebuilding of a venue and/or the organisation of the event.

 

[fissionproject]

At the 1958 Cuban Grand Prix (for sports cars), reigning Formula 1 World Champion Juan Manuel Fangio was kidnapped and held for ransom!
http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/story/23608.html

wow that was a read. wtf!

 

[mPWRD]

That's not really what I meant. I'm thinking more of the corruption that might happen in the actual building/rebuilding of a venue and/or the organisation of the event.

In that case, you would probably have more trouble in India, China or Russia, where the corruption mainly lies in the government and politicians. Having a race in Mexico brings up the danger of violence, not unlike what happened with Fangio in Cuba.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

China isn't so much of a problem, because it's been running since 2004. And the Indian and Russian Grands Prix are being run through private companies rather than government contracts. There was a big uproar when the Commonwealth Games venues in New Delhi started falling apart, with people claiming the same thing would happen at Buddh International (then known as Jaypee Group). But the Indian Grand Prix is being done under the direction of Tilke GmbH rather than on the lowest bidder. Likewise, the Russian Grand Prix is being overseen by Tilke and is on the site of the 2014 Winter Olympics Village, so there's a lot of public scrutiny.

 

[TenEightyOne]

I think you're grasping at straws by suggesting Mexico could stand in if Austin doesn't make it.

Absolutely, hence the italicisation, for the Mexico GP to even have a sniff in 2012 (which I don't believe it would) it would need another GP to fail. Don't make the mistake of confusing a circuit's readiness with the Texan authority's readiness

I think the biggest barrier to entry for Mexico is the corruption.

You have to define corruption more accurately. Processes that seem foreign to people from the centralised Western economies are de rigeur in many places - often 'goodwill' payments can exceed the total value of the core deal.

This is especially true in the Middle East (look up Eurofighter scandal for some very good examples).

Having personally done business in Italy I can tell you that things really aren't much different there either. The economy operates almost entirely outside the view of the tax-man in some areas so accounting for your trip can be quite difficult. You could be honorable and say "I won't pay bribes!" but the hard truth is that such idealism will simply put you out of business, not them.

I understand your point about Mexico but I don't see it being any more of a problem than the Middle East or Brazil.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

You have to define corruption more accurately. Processes that seem foreign to people from the centralised Western economies are de rigeur in many places - often 'goodwill' payments can exceed the total value of the core deal.

I'm not talking about "transaction fees" - I'm talking about officials taking kickbacks from contractors to accept their offers for development/redevelopment contracts.

 

[Furinkazen]

I would see Hungary and possibly the German round going. Valencia has too much money floating around it. Fact is F1 will always go where there is money...

 

[Ardius]

Hungary should stay, its effectively the Polish/Finnish/Russian/Eastern European round for a lot of fans and we normally see big crowds there.
It also has an ability to throw up interesting races every now and again.

(Plus I love driving it in F1 video games ).

 

[prisonermonkeys]

It also has an ability to throw up interesting races every now and again.

Ability? More like a reputation - the past eight races have seen seven different winners. It's the race that is statistically the most likely to produce an unexpected result, and more drivers have taken their first win there than anywhere else. Plus, the winners have a tendency to have a poor race there the next year.

 

[TenEightyOne]

I'm not talking about "transaction fees" - I'm talking about officials taking kickbacks from contractors to accept their offers for development/redevelopment contracts.

Yes, I know. That's exactly the type of thing I was referring to.

I'm guessing you're in the US from the location you provide, maybe that's an unusual transaction there?

Here's an English joke for you - it's only funny because it's true.

Three builders go to Downing Street to meet a civil servant so that they can quote for a new serving hatch in the state rooms.

Bob quotes £1500, Dave quotes £1000. Steve takes the civil servant to one side and says "Three thousand quid".

"Three thousand?" says the civil servant.

"Yep, three grand. A grand for me, a grand for you and we get Dave to do the work".

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I'm guessing you're in the US from the location you provide, maybe that's an unusual transaction there?

Australia.

In Mexico, there's a difference between paying off a postal worker to make sure your mail goes through - which is a commonly-accepted practice there - and taking bribes in exchange for contracts.

 

[F1 fan]

(Plus I love driving it in F1 video games ).

Apart from f1 2010.

 

[Crashbroke23]

To me, the Turkish Grand Prix seems to be a bigger target for being replaced, as they are trying to extend the contract into 2012 (that's why there is a * beside it after all). It seems like the more logical victim. As with F1, you got to make money. Races like Hungary makes lots of money because of how many people from around Hungary (other countries) go to watch the race, even if it's the Hungaroring. I like the track in Mexico, but i think the amount of races is getting too high; Quality over Quantity.

(And go to Potrero de los Funes Circuit for an Argentine GP instead, because it's just better.)

 

[astrosdude91]

I'd rather see a GP2 race there than an F1 race.

Which gives me an idea. GP2 Americas. There are some fantastic circuits here, and GP2 Asia is a bit of a joke. Why not?

 

[F1 fan]

Yes, I know. That's exactly the type of thing I was referring to.

I'm guessing you're in the US from the location you provide, maybe that's an unusual transaction there?

Here's an English joke for you - it's only funny because it's true.

Three builders go to Downing Street to meet a civil servant so that they can quote for a new serving hatch in the state rooms.

Bob quotes £1500, Dave quotes £1000. Steve takes the civil servant to one side and says "Three thousand quid".

"Three thousand?" says the civil servant.

"Yep, three grand. A grand for me, a grand for you and we get Dave to do the work".

If I'm not mistaken, the joke originated from Only Fools and Horses?

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Why not?

Costs. The reason why GP2 Asia doesn't work is because it's so damn expensive to fly everyone and everything everywhere. It probably costs the GP2 Asia teams as much as it does to run the GP2 proper championship, despite the fact that GP2 Asia only has about a third of the number of events. And the whole point of GP2 Asia is to encourage teams to find drivers outside the traditional motorsport nations of Western Europe and the Americas.