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prisonermonkeys
Just saw an interesting story on the BBC that could spell death for the British, Spanish, Italian and Belgian Grands Prix.

But fear not - the races could survive; they would just be under different names. If Scotland achieves independence later this year, what happens to the British Grand Prix? Does it stay British, or does it become the English Grand Prix? Likewise Spain - if Catalonia becomes independent, then does the Spanish Grand Prix become the Catalonian Grand Prix?

Similarly, though less likely, there are independence movements in Italy's Padania region (a confederation of northern states), which includes Monza; and Belgium's Flemish-speaking region, which would leave Spa in Wallonia.
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If Scotland leaves the UK it would still be part of Britain mate.

After watching that Mexico presentation all I can say is every time I see run off tarmac on a race track I lose just a little bit more interest in watching motor racing.
 
Tired Tyres
After watching that Mexico presentation all I can say is every time I see run off tarmac on a race track I lose just a little bit more interest in watching motor racing.
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What would you prefer? Gravel traps?

Sure, they sound nice, but think back to the Massa-Magnussen tangle at the first corner in the German Grand Prix - if the run-off area outside the first corner had have been gravel, then Massa would have almost certainly flipped end over end, and what started out as clumsy contact would have resulted in a serious accident. As Martin Brundle said today when Magnussen got caught out by a wet patch, what would have been a career- (if not life-) threatening accident is now little more than a nuisance. And I don't think that is a trade-off anyone is willing to make.

Mexico could at least do what COTA did and paint their run-off.
 
I've posted a couple of times that there should be 2-4 metres of real grass followed by 2-4 metres of sand/gravel and then all the run off tarmac you want after than.
 
Tired Tyres
If Scotland leaves the UK it would still be part of Britain mate.

After watching that Mexico presentation all I can say is every time I see run off tarmac on a race track I lose just a little bit more interest in watching motor racing.
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prisonermonkeys
I imagine most Scots would disagree with that sentiment.
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Britain is the region rather than the recognised union-country, Scotland will always be sited there. They just want to leave the Royal Union, and why wouldn't they? :)

The islands themselves are the British Isles. There are three countries there (four if Cornwall get their way, they won't).

I consider myself English and British because I personally don't recognise the Union in the first place, so to me Scotland are already independent (and a bloody lovely place it is too, I love Glasgae) :)
 
I've been looking at pictures of Baku - particularly the waterfront - online, and I have to say, it's completely bizarre, but in a good way. There's a mish-mash of architectural styles, ranging from a twelfth-century fortress, through to a prosperous pre-Soviet baroque style, to the equal parts utilitarianism and ostentatiousness of Soviet officialdom, and finally modern oil-money designs - but unlike, say, Dubai, the buildings aren't competing with each other. It seems a lot more complimentary, and I have noticed that a lot of the nearby Black Sea resorts like Batumi and Varna think along the same lines. And the circuit is going to go through the middle of it all, so at the very least, the European Grand Prix is going to be one of the most visually appealing on the calendar.
 
I don't get how it can be named the European Grand Prix if Azerbaijan isn't even in Europe.
 
And they have competed in and hosted Eurovision, and will host the first Pan-European Games. They are also looking to join the EU.

Perhaps most importantly, the term "Caucasian" is derived from the nearby Caucasus Mountains.
 
There's an idiot over at F1 Fanatic who is trying to make out that this "good deal fir Victoria" is the first sign that event promoters are fighting back against Bernie.

The joke's on him, because shortly after announcing this deal, Dennis Napthine sang happy birthday to horses. It's hardly the mark of a man capable of somehow forcing Ecclestone into a corner.
 
If it is a better deal than before, then they have done quite well. I remember reading somewhere that Melbourne was one of the only races on the calendar who got to keep any portion of the Paddock Club (and a few other VIP-ish areas) ticket sales.
 
Monza's Parabolica has had its gravel trap removed and replaced with tarmac run-off. However, it's believed that this is more for benefit of the upcoming World Superbike Round than the Grand Prix.

Interlagos is also getting an upgrade; the pits will be torn down and rebuilt following this year's race so that there is more space available to the teams. However, the original plan of relocating the pits to Reta Oposta has been abandoned.
 
Like cars and bikes, riders dig in if they hit gravel. Which tends to make them ragdoll, and at speed, it's very easy to break something. On the other hand, they tend to slide across tarmac.
 
prisonermonkeys
Interlagos is also getting an upgrade; the pits will be torn down and rebuilt following this year's race so that there is more space available to the teams. However, the original plan of relocating the pits to Reta Oposta has been abandoned.
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Source?
 
Martin Brundle has opined that the tarmac run-off at the Parabolica won't neuter the corner at all, as the nature of the corner means any mistake will be costly.
 
Charlie Whiting has inspected the Sochi Autodrom and given the FIA's seal of approval - it could host a race tomorrow, so he sounds very impressed.
 
So, somehow the Russians have managed something that few others have.

Get an F1 track to race ready condition with time to spare.

Wow.
 

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