Australian Grand Prix in Doubt Post-2010

The winding infield section would be boring and the realities of trying to build an overpass suitable for F1 cars in such a small area would be basically impossible as well. I'd say you'd need at least 5-10m of elevation, which means the lead up area would have to be a few hundred metres to have a safe gradient.

It's another stupid pipe dream design like the Sydney Olympic Park track.
 
i agree. we do need to find the most challenging tracks ever to put into formula 1. the tracks these days are just ridiculouse. i heard a rumour that Here in calgary there was a paln to build a Formula 1 track but if anyone can confirm that this is a rumour or if its true that would be great. i think le mans and the nordschliefe should be viable tracks in formula 1
 
Not to be picky, but I really think that if the Nurburgring (Nordschleife) re-paved some sections, Formula 1 would be perfectly safe to race there at its' current state of development. Remember, the last race there had equipment with open-face helmets and fabric protection. Besides that, there's now enough downforce that losing control on the track would be of little worry.

Perhaps the strait would be the one drivers and manufacturers have to worry about. That's almost a minute and a half of redline on an already intensely stressed engine—so it's probably more for the benefit of manufacturers to avoid the track to reduced and immediately potentially costly race.

However, it would still be a good track to serve as the ultimate definition of driving prowess, which is a track we need for argument and boasting's sake anyway.
 
Year.Zero
Perhaps the strait would be the one drivers and manufacturers have to worry about. That's almost a minute and a half of redline on an already intensely stressed engine—so it's probably more for the benefit of manufacturers to avoid the track to reduced and immediately potentially costly race.
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Also the spectators. Who the hell pays 100$ to see F1 cars pass his view just 15 times?

And the cars. How the hell are you going to qualify, with out- and in-laps taking as much as a fifth of the race? And fuel-loads? And what about safety-cars?
 
Another point that comes to mind being - how the hell do you overtake on a track so narrow. We have trouble seeing overtaking on 16m+ wide courses, the Nordschleife would be a single-file procession with pretty scenery.
 
Overtaking is born from drivers making errors, which are plenty common on the Nordschleife.
 
Blake
Overtaking is born from drivers making errors, which are plenty common on the Nordschleife.
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Problem is, errors on such a narrow track would have be major in order to allow overtaking. The track is already one 3 road-cars wide at some sections, so more than two-and-a-bit F1 cars wouldn't pass there at once.

So, assuming there's an error, it's either not significant to allow an overtake with a kamikaze move, or forcing the other driver to stay on the side, or, it ends with a driver off the track.

And lest we forget the bumpiness - which may not prevent cars from driving there at all, as Heidfeld proved this year - but will still make the cars very unstable, especially around the fast sections in the Flugplatz-Aremberg sectors, and the later ones between the two Karussels.
 
New Developments:
Melbourne Formula One future in doubt: Ecclestone
4 hours ago

SYDNEY (AFP) — Organisers say the Australian Formula One Grand Prix will not bow to pressure from F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone and switch to a night race, reports said Monday.

Ecclestone said in weekend reports Melbourne was in danger of losing the event it has staged since 1996 when its contract comes up for renewal after 2010 with more lucrative host cities being touted.

Part of Ecclestone's pressure on local organisers and the Victorian state government is his reported demand for the race to be staged at night and made suitable for European television audiences.

Singapore will stage the first-ever Formula One night race on September 28 on a circuit of public roads.

But Australian Grand Prix Corporation chairman Ron Walker said there will be no night race in Melbourne amid mounting financial losses.

The Victorian government lost almost 35 million dollars (31.6 million USD) on the 2007 race and is budgeting for a blowout of more than 40 million dollars (36 million USD) for the season-opening race at Albert Park on March 16.

State Premier John Brumby has already cast doubt on the future of the race, saying it could become too expensive for taxpayers.

"If the Victorian Government can't negotiate an economical settlement of this (new) contract, then there won't be a race," Walker told The Australian newspaper on Monday.

"When it comes to paying too much money for an event the Victorian Government just won't wear it.

"Everybody would like to keep the F1 race, but if it's not viable, it's not viable, and the government has to be responsible to its constituents. There will not be a night race."

Walker said his corporation had already reached a compromise with F1's world governing body by pushing back the starting time of next month's race 90 minutes.

"(But) to spend $60 million on lighting in Albert Park is just not on. If it's all about money, then clearly Melbourne will lose the race," he said. "There comes a time when you can't afford to pay these huge amounts of money for these events."

Walker said the possibility of a night race has been discussed with Ecclestone "a number of times and he knows we will not be doing a night race."

"Bernie is a great guy but also a very shrewd businessman. He's fired his first shot in negotiations."

Victoria's Major Events and Tourism Minister Tim Holding said the GP would stay in Melbourne provided it continued to represent value for money and was in the state's best interests.
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But if Victoria doesn't want it ...
Iemma keen to host Formula One
Posted 45 minutes ago

New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma has repeated his interest in Sydney bidding for the Formula One Grand Prix.

Melbourne's right to host the race is up for renewal in 2010 and Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has reportedly warned the city could lose its contract unless sponsorship and television audiences improve.

Mr Iemma says he would like the race for his state, if the price is right.

"If it comes up at 2010 and is in fact not going to stay in Melbourne, [then] for the right price and the right deal, Sydney is the right city," he said.
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I'm pretty sure if they could somehow organise it around the rocks and across the harbour bridge it would be the most awesome track ever (but this will never happen anyway), I'd definitely go to see it!
 
Everyone knows Adelaide is/was the right city for F1, but it wont happen.
 
I think they'd want it purely to spire the Victorians after the premier called them "backwards" or some such ...
 
I love street circuits and this would suit me fine, Monaco is still the best because of this and now with Singapore is going to be even better... an AUS street circuit would be great!

I still want back Macau! is there any reason why the GP doesn't take place there anymore? Its not like they don't have the fancy hotels to put people up (its turning into Vegas at the moment!).

Robin
 
Robin.
I still want back Macau! is there any reason why the GP doesn't take place there anymore? Its not like they don't have the fancy hotels to put people up (its turning into Vegas at the moment!).

Robin
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Too damn narrow. In places it's barely big enough to squeeze a bike through.
 
Do you race?
Robin.
I love street circuits and this would suit me fine, Monaco is still the best because of this and now with Singapore is going to be even better... an AUS street circuit would be great!

I still want back Macau! is there any reason why the GP doesn't take place there anymore? Its not like they don't have the fancy hotels to put people up (its turning into Vegas at the moment!).

Robin
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Too damn narrow. In places it's barely big enough to squeeze a bike through.
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I've seen some screenshots of the Macau track in RACE 2007 and I can attest to what Dyr? is saying. That one turn before one of the hair pins is just wide enough for one car to squeeze through!:eek:

Do you race?
Robin.
Separates the men from the boys! :sly:
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And the wheels from the car.
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Indeed!
 
Robin.
I still want back Macau! is there any reason why the GP doesn't take place there anymore?
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Uh, F1 has never raced there… The Macau Grand Prix is for F3 cars…
 
Well, Morris Iemma - the NSW Premier - has gone on the record to say that Sydney could host a night race if Melbourne lets its contract expire. His venue of choice is Eastern Creek.

Not without a serious upgrade to the circuit first, Morris. The track would need to be re-surfaced and probably widened, the pits would probably need to be expanded and I daresay spectator facitilies could do with an improvement. Then you can think about lighting the place up.

A street circuit would probably be much more appropriate - a proper one, mind you, like Singapore, Valencia or Monaco - because it would be much easier and cheaper to light. While you could indeed stick lights around Albert Park or Eastern Creek, you'd need a hell of a lot more than if you were illuminating a concrete canyon. The lights would be closer to the circuit (but still behind the barriers, of course), and you wouldn't need to illuminate the run-off areas the way you would at the aforementioned venues (and the shadows would wreak havoc with everyone).
 
Eastern Creek, hah. The sound of a GP in that area of Sydney is kind of off-putting.

I reckon a street circuit at the Sydney Olympic Park would be awesome. A design was layed out for the V8 Supercars, if it were extended just a bit it'd be decent.
 
Ah good ol' Bernie, still thinks UK and Europe are the only places allowed to see the F1 at a respectable time of day... Hasn't anyone run that little gerbil over yet? I wouldn't mind if the race were to move to say..Sydney or Adelaide, but specifically for a night race? We don't even know if the Singapore night race is going to work or run without serious problems. Bernie should take a breather once in a while, the drivers might live longer then.
 
Update!
F1 to stay in Melbourne until 2015
09:50 AEST Sun Jun 15 2008

Melbourne is set to retain its Formula One Grand Prix until 2015.

A deal is expected to be signed off with Grand Prix bosses within days, extending Melbourne's contract by five years, News Limited reports.

A verbal agreement has been reached and a senior government source confirmed the race would stay in Melbourne, saying an announcement was "imminent".

"We haven't signed the deal but we're going to quite soon," the source said.

Melbourne has been in danger of losing the Grand Prix after the race racked up losses of up to $160 million in the past 12 years amid speculation organisers were seeking a more lucrative host offshore.

The new deal is expected to include a later timeslot - around 5pm - to accommodate European television audiences.

But the government has again ruled out a night race.

F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone had pushed for a night timeslot to save the Melbourne race, threatening to take the event to India, Russia or Korea if local organisers refused.

Tourism and Major Events Minister Tim Holding said the timeslot was non-negotiable.

"We have ruled out a night race and that is not negotiable," he said.

"This is a good event for the state. It's one we want to keep and we'll be working hard to ensure that it does remain here in Melbourne in the years ahead."
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Apparently the race will be there untill 2013 and will be starting at 1700 local time. So all the Europeans dont have to get up in the wee hours to watch it.


Hopefully that will keep the little big man happy

Oh yeah, there will never be an F1 race in Australia anywhere but Melbourne. No Melbourne GP = no Australian GP
 
Excellent news! I was really getting worried about the loss of the Australian GP. I had one of the best weekends there in 2005… fantastic venue.
 
I don't know what to say about this....
  • Good - certainly
  • Entertaining - yeah....
  • Profitable - not sure....

I just don't understand about the whole contract. Didn't Bernie threatened to change venues if they don't do a night race? Also, I thought Melbourne weren't going to host the race because of a major loss in revenue as well..... But yeah, if their pushing it to 5pm, they might as well push it till 7pm. :p
 

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