The Formula 1 calendar development threadFormula 1

[NW48]

http://m.speedcafe.com/2015/03/21/fia-cancels-f1-german-gp/

The FIA has formally cancelled the German Grand Prix as Hockenheim and the Nurburgring could not come to terms with Bernie and company.

*Yes I realise that it is has been posted already in this thread already that Hockenheim and Nurburgring pulled out, but the event had not been cancelled yet, until now.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

The 2016 season will not start until April, with FOM cutting down on the gaps between races to ensure a regularly-paced calendar and a larger off-season break to try and cut down on costs as teams won't be to-ing and fro-ing between Europe and Asia.

 

[05XR8]

Gonna be cooooooold. Good thing the time has moved up from late afternoon.
http://m.speedcafe.com/2015/04/29/ω/

 

[TenEightyOne]

BBC: Silverstone boss queries F1 entertainment value.

Allen said Ecclestone had "put out the hand of friendship that he would like to help Silverstone and that we should get together and come up with some ideas, but that meeting has not taken place yet".

He admitted that Silverstone would struggle to keep the grand prix profitable as the current 17-year staging contract, signed in 2009, runs its course because of price escalators built in each year.

 

[Barra333]

Gonna be cooooooold. Good thing the time has moved up from late afternoon.
http://m.speedcafe.com/2015/04/29/ω/

I know Melbourne's weather can change quickly, but the date in that article (3 April) is only 2 weeks later than it was this year (15 Mar).

 

[Jimlaad43]

Rather than filling the gaps with places like France, Germany and Turkey, the FIA have decided to make the season shorter.

 

[Tired Tyres]

Good. They can make it even shorter by cutting back to no more than 16 races as well as far as I'm concerned.

 

[GTPorsche]

20 races spanning the course of 8 months is excessive, especially for travel costs. In fact, 20 races is too much for F1.

 

[Pupik]

I don't mind the cut-back, to be honest. 20 seems a tad long of a season where costs are already national-space-programme insane.

 

[m8h3r]

If it means we can get 20+ cars on the grid I'd accept it. If it still drops down to like 16 cars with 15 races then what's the point in running.

 

[GTPorsche]

Less races = less travel = easier for smaller teams to cope with.

Edit: That's just a small part of the financial strain though.

 

[TenEightyOne]

I don't mind the cut-back, to be honest. 20 seems a tad long of a season where costs are already national-space-programme insane.

But if part of the race-holder's fee goes to the teams then arguably it costs them less per race as more races are added. The staff costs are per race, of course, but the initial tool-up-and-build cost more per race if you only present at 15 events rather than 20. In theory I guess the teams stand to make more money if they present at more races.

 

[Pupik]

In theory I guess the teams stand to make more money if they present at more races.

But also more spares, parts, development costs, hotel/food/personal expenses, et al. If the adage "make a small fortune in racing by starting with a large fortune" holds true, regardless of the number of events, indicating diminishing returns for performing more racing. If there's actually this much difficulty in getting qualified Grade 1 venues to come forward, then they've hit the sweet spot of 16-18 races already.

Of course, there's the chance Azerbaijan might replace Spa, so what does it really matter to the purists?

 

[GTPorsche]

Not to mention Silverstone, Monza and Germany's tracks are looking to be out of the championship with the way things are going.

 

[IforceV8]

April 3 - Australia (Albert Park)
April 10 - China (Shanghai)
April 24 - Bahrain (Sakhir)
May 1 - Russia (Sochi)
May 15 - Spain (Barcelona)
May 29 - Monaco (Monte Carlo)
June 12 - Canada (Montreal)
June 26 - Britain (Silverstone)
July 3 - Austria (Red Bull Ring)
July 17 - Europe (Baku)
July 31 - Germany (Hockenheim)
August 7 - Hungary (Hungaroring)
August 28 - Belgium (Spa)
September 4 - Italy (Monza)
September 18 - Singapore (Marina Bay)
September 25 - Malaysia (Sepang)
October 9 - Japan (Suzuka)
October 23 - USA (COTA)
October 30 - Mexico (Mexico City)
November 13 - Brazil (Interlagos)
November 27 - Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina)

From this article http://www.racer.com/f1/item/116100-baku-gp-set-to-get-july-calendar-slot

 

[GTPorsche]

April 3 - Australia (Albert Park)
April 10 - China (Shanghai)
April 24 - Bahrain (Sakhir)
May 8 - Spain (Barcelona)
May 22 - Monaco (Monte Carlo)
June 5 - Canada (Montreal)
June 19 - Britain (Silverstone)
June 26 - Austria (Red Bull Ring)
July 10 - Germany (Hockenheim)
July 27 - Hungary (Hungaroring)
August 21 - Belgium (Spa)
September 4 - Italy (Monza)
September 18 - Malaysia (Sepang)
October 2 - Japan (Suzuka)
October 16 - USA (COTA)
October 23 - Mexico (Mexico City)
November 6 - Brazil (Interlagos)

And with that, the calendar is down to 17 and an even shorter timeframe by 3 weeks.

 

[Pupik]

Well, at least it's Singapore and Yas Marina...two uninspired designs which are only famous for being held at night or evening hours.

Take away Baku and Russia, and it looks like 2000 at a quick glance.

 

[GTPorsche]

I was/am on the fence for having Bahrain and/or Shanghai removed from my version of the calendar as well, but ultimately left them both on. Leaning more towards removing Shanghai since Bahrain has put on interesting races for the last few years where Shanghai has been completely forgettable.

 

[MrF1]

what happened to India making a return to the calender

 

[Cap'n Jack]

what happened to India making a return to the calender

Taxes. This article explains it well.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

And with that, the calendar is down to 17 and an even shorter timeframe by 3 weeks.

The desire to cut costs by trimming down the calendar isn't so overwhelming that they're going to remove races.

 

[GTPorsche]

The desire to cut costs by trimming down the calendar isn't so overwhelming that they're going to remove races.

It's only a hypothetical, Mr. Super Serious Internet User.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I know it's a hypothetical.

It's just not a very good one.

 

[Lizard]

April 3 - Australia (Albert Park)
April 10 - China (Shanghai)
April 24 - Bahrain (Sakhir)
May 8 - Spain (Barcelona)
May 22 - Monaco (Monte Carlo)
June 5 - Canada (Montreal)
June 19 - Britain (Silverstone)
June 26 - Austria (Red Bull Ring)
July 10 - Germany (Hockenheim)
July 27 - Hungary (Hungaroring)
August 21 - Belgium (Spa)
September 4 - Italy (Monza)
September 18 - Malaysia (Sepang)
October 2 - Japan (Suzuka)
October 16 - USA (COTA)
October 23 - Mexico (Mexico City)
November 6 - Brazil (Interlagos)

And with that, the calendar is down to 17 and an even shorter timeframe by 3 weeks.

You keep Monaco but ditch Singapore. Why?

 

[GTPorsche]

You keep Monaco but ditch Singapore. Why?

It's the crown jewel of F1. The only way that race leaves the calendar is if F1 dies or Monaco falls into the sea.

 

[Lizard]

It's the crown jewel of F1. The only way that race leaves the calendar is if F1 dies or Monaco falls into the sea.

It just confuses me because Monaco and Singapore have the same entertainment value. Great locations and a lot of crashes.
Personally I see Singapore as the Asian Monaco.

 

[05XR8]

Cross off Hungary and keep Singapore.

 

[Wiegert]

Cross off Hungary and keep Singapore.

The novelty of Singapore wore off five years ago. And while Hungary may not be as highly acclaimed as some of the other perennial Grand Prix, it's remains to be a somewhat curious fixture on the current calendar. Plus it lacks most of the sterility of the modern day Tilkedrome which I find refreshing.

Basically, I'd rather not see an often entertaining European GP that attracts a large contingent from Central and Eastern Europe get substituted for a largely mind-numbing and lengthy night race that's hardly been a favourite among fans since its inception.

 

[niky]

The novelty of Singapore wore off five years ago.

For Europeans, maybe. It's still the party of the season for F1 fans in Asia, and helps keep interest in the region strong.

-

That said... I do wish they'd find another way to lay out the track.

 

[Com Fox]

I personally will miss Yas Marina circuit but the Abu Dhabi GP isn't very well organized as a legit event.

I'll probably be in the minority when I say this but Monaco should either be improved for today's standards or get kicked out entirely. F1 is really the only reason why this track exists and sadly it'll stay that way due to popularity over in Europe.