The Perfect Season Calendar

[prisonermonkeys]

Okay, so the latest Tilke circuit in Jeonam hasn't been received too well. And the non-Tilke proposal for Flins-Mureaux has gotten a similarly-frosty reception. So here's where you get to do a little bit of role-playing: you are now Eccle Berniestone, a Max Mosely-like character, and it is up to you to decide next season's calendar in order to produce the most entertainment value for fans. However, before you begin, just try and keep the following in mind:

1) Don't have more than twenty rounds. Even Bernie admits that might be too much.
2) If it's a circuit that you don't think many people will recognise, link to it.
3) Be realistic. As brilliant as it is, the Nururgring-Nordschleife is simplytoo long or Formula One.
4) You can take poetic licence and assume you have the money to swing a few circuits and upgrade in terms of pits and grandstands.
5) Be reasonable. There's a reason why the likes of Laguna Seca doesn't appear on the calendar: the Corkscrew isn't considered to be safe enough as it doesn't meet FIA standards on criteria like gradient and camber.

Other than that, go nuts.

 

[mafia_boy]

I would start off in a East to West fashion for my whole season, start in Eastern hemisphere and finish in the Western Hemisphere.

So here's my choices:
R1: Albert Park, Melbourne
R2: Twin Ring Motegi OR Suzuka, Japan
R3: Sepang, Malaysia
R4: Shanghai, China
R5: Singapore, Singapore
R6: Bahrain, Bahrain
R7: Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
R8: Monaco, Monaco
R9: Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
R10: Nurburgring (GP Circuit), Germany
R11: Budapest, Hungary
R12: Monza, Italy
R13: Valencia, Spain
R14: Silverstone, England
R15: Catalunya, Spain
R16: Indianaoplis, U.S.A.
R17: Interlagos, Brazil

See, starts on the East, and ends up in the Western hemisphere. And we don't have any stinking Abu Dhabi's finishing the season, Interlagos has and in my opinion will always be the finish of the season so my line-up of races doesn't change that!!

 

[PeterJB]

AUSTRALIA - Adelaide Street Circuit

MALAYSIA - Sepang International Circuit

SINGAPORE - Singapore Street Circuit

JAPAN - Fuji Speedway

CHINA - Shanghai International Circuit

ABU DHABI - Yas Marina Circuit

BAHRAIN - Bahrain International Circuit

GERMANY - Eurospeedway Lauzits

ITALY - Autodromo Internazionale Monza

BELGIUM - Spa-Francorchamps

AUSTRIA - A1 Ring

BRITAIN - Brands Hatch

MONACO - Circuit de Monaco

FRANCE - Circuit de la Sarthe

SPAIN - Circuit de Catalunya

PORTUGAL - Autodromo do Estoril

EUROPE - Silverstone International Circuit

USA - Sears Point Raceway

CANADA - Circuit de Gilles Villeneuve

BRAZIL - Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace

Are we allowed to invent Grands Prix? Because if so then I might edit mine a bit.

 

[Roo]

*snip*

Firstly, you've got Monaco twice. Secondly, AVUS, Mount Panorama, Castle Combe and Le Mans all fall foul of Do you race?'s rules 3 and 5.

As for my list:

1. Australia - Albert Park
2. Pacific GP - Fuji
3. China - Shanghai (to keep the teams happy)
4. Abu Dhabi - Yas Marina circuit (token Middle Eastern round)
5. Spain - Valencia Street Circuit
6. Portugal - Autódromo Internacional do Algarve
7. Monaco - Monte Carlo
8. Canada - Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal
9. USA - Indianapolis (having fixed the awful turns 8, 9 and 10) or Road America (if it's safe enough)
10. France - Reims (lots of work to do but possible)
11. Great Britain - Silverstone
12. Germany - old Hockenheim (surely it could be made safe enough? Might have to lose a few trees)
13. Italy - Monza
14. Belgium - Spa Francorchamps
15. Singapore - Marina Bay Street Circuit
16. Japan - Suzuka
17. Brazil - Interlagos
18. Argentina - Potrero de los Funes circuit

Races I'd have liked to see, if the list was more fantastical and safety was no issue:

Great Britain - Brooklands oval
Macau (but the actual track action would be rubbish)
Germany - AVUS

 

[Metar]

Argentina - Potrero de los Funes circuit

Actually, this track got first-grade safety ratings, and the only thing keeping it from achieving the full A Rating (capable of hosting F1 rounds) are the grandstands - or lack thereof - and the basic pits. It's shorter than Spa-Francorchamps, too. It'd definitely be a star on my calendar, too - it was the first thing that popped into my mind when I read the first post.

 

[Roo]

Actually, this track got first-grade safety ratings, and the only thing keeping it from achieving the full A Rating (capable of hosting F1 rounds) are the grandstands - or lack thereof - and the basic pits. It's shorter than Spa-Francorchamps, too. It'd definitely be a star on my calendar, too - it was the first thing that popped into my mind when I read the first post.

Really? Excellent! Time for an edit.

 

[Peter]

Spa in march would be the greatest challenge ever, imagine how cold it would be.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

AUSTRALIA - Mount Panorama Circuit

Bathurst is just like Laguna Seca: it will never happen because it's too dangerous.

 

[Hyst]

Can we use only circuits that exist today?

 

[Mad94d]

Bathurst is just like Laguna Seca: it will never happen because it's too dangerous.

Yeah, It's a great track. But the F1 cars would just bottom out everywhere going over the top of the mountain, way too dangerous.

 

[mPWRD]

This looks fun...

R1: Australian GP (Albert Park)
R2: Singapore GP (Marina Bay)
R3: Malaysian GP (Sepang)
R4: Japanese GP (Suzuka)
R5: Korean GP (Jeolla)
R6: Chinese GP (Shanghai)
R7: Indian GP (Delhi)
R8: Middle East GP (Yas Marina)
R9: Bahrain GP (Bahrain Circuit)
R10: Turkish GP (Istanbul Park)
R11: Italian GP (Monza)
R12: British GP (Donnington Park)
R13: Belgian GP (Spa)
R14: German GP (Nurburgring)
R15: European GP (Eurospeedway Lausitz)
R16: Monaco GP (Monaco)
R16: Spanish GP (Catalunya)
R17: Brazilian GP (Interlagos)
R18: Canadian GP (Mont Tremblant)
R19: United States GP (Sebring)

Around the world in an orderly fashion. Would probably hit each country during spring or fall, therefore less risk of getting owned by the weather. Minimize travel times, probably a break between Spain and Brazil.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

This is mine:

Brazilian Grand Prix - Interlagos
Argentine Grand Prix - Potrero de los Fuentes
United States Grand Prix - Miller Motorsports Park
Canadian Grand Prix - Mont-Tremblant
Atlantic Grand Prix - Flushing Meadows (night)

British Grand Prix - Donington Park
Portugese Grand Prix - Algarve
French Grand Prix - Charade
Spanish Grand Prix - Ciudad del Motor de Aragón
Monaco/Mediterranean Grand Prix - Monte Carlo (night?)

Belgian Grand Prix - Spa-Francorchamps
Italian Grand Prix - Imola (with chicanes reprofiled)
Czech Grand Prix - Most
Russian Grand Prix - Novopodrezkovo (undeveloped)
European Grand Prix - Red Bull Ring

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Yas Marina
Qatar Grand Prix - Losail (night)
Korean Grand Prix - Jeonam (night)
Singapore Grand Prix - Marina Bay (night)
Japanese Grand Prix - Suzuka

Actually, this track got first-grade safety ratings, and the only thing keeping it from achieving the full A Rating (capable of hosting F1 rounds) are the grandstands - or lack thereof - and the basic pits. It's shorter than Spa-Francorchamps, too.

Do you think they'd be willing to swing it an upgrade to make the calendar in the uture? I certainly hope so, because it's one of the most interesting new circuits in the world. There's the suggestion that an Argentine Grand Prix might take place some time in the future, though the idea is a street circuit in Mar del Plata and the new report is in Spanish only, so I have to go by what Wikipedia says.

 

[Tornado]

R19: United States GP (Infineon)

I don't know for sure, but I think Infineon would be out for the same reason as Bathurst and Laguna Seca. Those first few turns wouldn't be friendly to the bottom of F1 cars.

 

[Hyst]

Does anyone know where I can find a list of FIA-approved tracks, circuits approved for F1 testing/racing? Thanks in advance.

 

[Keef]

5) Be reasonable. There's a reason why the likes of Laguna Seca doesn't appear on the calendar: the Corkscrew isn't considered to be safe enough as it doesn't meet FIA standards on criteria like gradient and camber.

Is that true? So basically, Formula One isn't allowed to race on any tracks that actually have interesting, unique, and difficult characteristics...

Anyway, I would like to see Formula One racing (again) at Indianapolis, and considering other tracks in the States, including Road America, Road Atlanta, and Virginia International Raceway (VIR).

Road America supports ALMS races:



And so does Road Atlanta:



VIR doesn't host any of the big-dog races, but it's easily one of the best tracks in North America. The Full Course is quite long and entertaining:

 

[[FPV]Rusty]

I don't know for sure, but I think Infineon would be out for the same reason as Bathurst and Laguna Seca. Those first few turns wouldn't be friendly to the bottom of F1 cars.

I think Infineon would be borderline for camber and gradient. They can race at Spa, so I think they could probably race on Infineon.

 

[mPWRD]

I don't know for sure, but I think Infineon would be out for the same reason as Bathurst and Laguna Seca. Those first few turns wouldn't be friendly to the bottom of F1 cars.

Looking back at it, yeah. Sebring would be better... I kinda thought that Infineon would be a better place to end the season. Napa Valley, vineyards, would be perfect for Bernie and his cohorts.

 

[Keef]

I don't think Sebring would be all that great for brittle F1 cars. The ALMS cars are made to handle heavy abuse for those endurance races. Most of their tracks are quite a bit rougher than any of the well-manicured F1 tracks, and Sebring is probably even bumpier than their city courses.

But it would be interesting. I still think the best place by far for F1 to gather the people they want is at Indy. Daytona also has top-notch facilities and tons of fan space, as does Homestead-Miami Speedway. Homestead's roadcourse is pretty straightforward, but then again all these new F1 tracks are bland as German chocolate.

Obviously some other grandstands would need to be built to see the rest of the track well. And it's not even 2.5 miles, so laps would go by real quick.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Does anyone know where I can find a list of FIA-approved tracks, circuits approved for F1 testing/racing? Thanks in advance.

The only ones I know of are Paul Ricard, Jerez, Algarve and Imola. The first three are where mst testing seems to take palce - that, and Catlunya - while Imola was awarted "1T" (a status that allows Formula One in a testing capacity) after they reprofiled the section from Rivazza to Tamburello to eliminate the Variante Bassa chicane.

Is that true? So basically, Formula One isn't allowed to race on any tracks that actually have interesting, unique, and difficult characteristics...

Yes, it's true. A lot of people blame Hermann Tilke for uninspired circuit design, but really he's doing the best he can with what he has available. He doesn't just show up with a design already in mind: he prefers to see the site first because while the site might look good on paper, in reality, the geography dictates a hell of a lot. And once he's considered that, he has to keep in mind FIA regulations about minimum and maximum circuit length and width, impositions on the severity of the gradient and camber of the corners, rules that dictate the minimum speed drivers whih have to be able to take the first corner (relative to the distance of the straight preceding it), the maximum allowable length of a straight, the size of run-off areas and pit facilities and so on. Just about every single variable is accounted for in the regulations, and he has to keep those in mind while working within the constraintsof the land set aside for him. The remodelling of Hockenheim is the perfect example: he was never going to be able to do much with it. Believe it or not, Tilke has stated that inclines are the key to making a circuit challenging for the drivers and teams because the cars actually get lighter while travelling uphill (I don't really understand it; physics was never my subject), but he can't exactly go about building artificial hills, can he?

The reason why circuits like Laguna Seca, Infineon and Bathurst will never be a part of the calendar is because once a Formula One car gets airborne, the aerodynamics count for very little, and the driver is little more than a passenger until such time as it returns to earth ... and it may be too late to do anything by then. Corners like the Corkscrew, the Dipper and the first few bends of Infineon would be likely to pitch cars into the air very frequently.

 

[mPWRD]

I don't think Sebring would be all that great for brittle F1 cars. The ALMS cars are made to handle heavy abuse for those endurance races. Most of their tracks are quite a bit rougher than any of the well-manicured F1 tracks, and Sebring is probably even bumpier than their city courses.

Well, if they get turn 17 ironed out, it should be good. I've seen what goes into making a street course firsthand, and it's pretty painstaking (San Jose for the Champ Car race, if you're wondering). But Sebring is a well-known racing circuit as it is, and would be a good representative for the US GP.

But it would be interesting. I still think the best place by far for F1 to gather the people they want is at Indy. Daytona also has top-notch facilities and tons of fan space, as does Homestead-Miami Speedway. Homestead's roadcourse is pretty straightforward, but then again all these new F1 tracks are bland as German chocolate.

That way, Daytona Road would be good too. It's a bit more challenging than Homestead/Miami, but it would require the teams to set up for both tight turns and long banked ovals... and like Napa Valley, it's a nice place to end the season ... but they would have to completely change the NASCAR-style pit lane... that would take a lot of time and money...

 

[Vaxen]

The reason why circuits like Laguna Seca, Infineon and Bathurst will never be a part of the calendar is because once a Formula One car gets airborne, the aerodynamics count for very little, and the driver is little more than a passenger until such time as it returns to earth ... and it may be too late to do anything by then. Corners like the Corkscrew, the Dipper and the first few bends of Infineon would be likely to pitch cars into the air very frequently.

Laguna Seca was a fixture of CART for years, and Infineon is still on the IRL calendar. The open wheel cars from these two series are similar to F1 cars, though a bit heavier (when both F1 and CART ran at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in 2006, F1 was about 5-6 seconds per lap faster).

Cars pitching into the air was never even close to being an issue.

This doesn't mean that F1 regulations wouldn't prohibit use of these circuits, but it's likely that they could race safely at these circuits even so.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

Okay, here's my ideal Formula One season calendar.

• Australian Grand Prix - Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit
• Bahrain Grand Prix - Bahrain International Circuit
• Malaysian Grand Prix - Sepang International Circuit
• Singapore Grand Prix - Marina Bay Street Circuit
• Monaco Grand Prix - Circuit de Monaco
• Portuguese Grand Prix - Autódromo Internacional do Algarve
• Turkish Grand Prix - Istanbul Park
• British Grand Prix - Donington Park
• French Grand Prix - Magny-Cours Circuit
• Canadian Grand Prix - Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
• United States Grand Prix - Miller Motorsports Park
• Spanish Grand Prix - Valencia Street Circuit
• Belgian Grand Prix - Spa-Francorchamps
• Italian Grand Prix - Autodromo Nazionale Monza
• German Grand Prix - Nürburgring
• Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai International Circuit
• Korean Grand Prix - Korean International Circuit
• Brazilian Grand Prix - Autódromo José Carlos Pace
• Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Yas Marina Circuit
• Japanese Grand Prix - Suzuka Circuit

 

[Metar]

The starts and finishes of Formula 1 seasons appear to have been outside Europe for the last decades, so I'll keep that up. Other than that, I tried to keep it moving along the same hemispheres, and made up some fictional names for second races in the same country.

Disagreements are welcome, but all tracks either have Formula 1-acceptable safety-ratings, or could get them with some minor work. The exception would be the Macau GP, but that's just a novelty - not sure if I'd really add it to my list. Also, I'd like one of the opening far-east races to be a night race - and no Singapore, since it's dull as dishwasher.

It came out very Eurocentric - but real, interesting non-Tilkedrome tracks are tough to find nowadays, and Europe holds most of the F1-passable non-Tilke tracks. Abu Dhabi looks mighty interesting - but so did Valencia, so first, it'll have to provide us with a good race in 2009.

1. Australian GP - Melbourne
2. Malaysian GP - Sepang International Raceway (at night?)
3. Japanese GP - Suzuka
4. Macau GP - Guia Circuit
5. Spanish GP - Circuito de Jerez
6. Portuguese GP - Autódromo Internacional do Algarve (Portimão)
7. Florentine GP - Mugello
8. Monaco GP - Circuit de Monaco
9. Turkish GP - Istanbul
10. British GP - Donington Park Circuit
11. Dutch GP - Zandvoort
12. Hungarian GP - Hungaroring
13. Belgian GP - Spa-Francorchamps
14. German GP - Hockenheim
15. Italian GP - Monza
16. Canadian GP - Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (Montreal)
17. United States GP - Indianapolis, with a slightly reworked infield.
18. Argentinian GP - Potrero de los Funes (San Luis)
19. Brazilian GP - Autódromo José Carlos Pace (Interlagos)

Also, a special European Formula 1 Endurance calendar, pitting heavier, sturdier versions of F1 cars at the finest of now-unsafe (or rotten away) classic long tracks for a series of 1000km races:

1. German GP - Nurburgring Nordschleife
2. Italian GP - Old Monza
3. Champagne GP - Reims-Gueux
4. Mediterranean GP - Pescara
5. French GP - Charade (Clermont-Ferrand)
6. Belgian GP - Old 'Triangle' Spa Francorchamps
7. Targa Florio - AKA "Screw Italy's Highways ['cause we're blocking them all] Grand Prix"
8. Normandie GP - Rouen-Les-Essarts

 

[Ardius]

I'm surprised with all this talk about the USGP's and US circuits no one has at least mentioned the street courses! Some of the best races of the 80s occured on them! Especially, if I remember right, Detroit.

Perhaps not completely realistic any more because of the very restricted pit lane, etc and road surfaces. But I'm surprised no one has at least mentioned them for "fantasy" choices.

My "realistic" ones would be:
1. Australian GP - Melbourne
2. Malaysian GP - Sepang
3. Bahrain GP - Bahrain
4. Spanish GP - Jerez
5. Portuguese GP - Estoril
6. Monaco GP - Monaco
7. Italian GP - Monza
8. Turkish GP - Istanbul
9. British GP - Brands Hatch GP (I believe this is feasible within the rules ignoring the "sound" problems?)
10. Canadian GP - Gilles Villueneve
11. US GP - Indianapolis (as I don't know the details of how feasible the rest of the tracks are and have doubts about the surfaces of many of ovals against the tyres).
12. Argentinian GP - Potrero de los Funes (San Luis)
13. Brazilian GP - Intelagos
14. Hungarian GP - Hungaroring
15. Austrian GP - A1 Ring
16. German GP - HockenheimRing (full version)
17. Belgian GP - Spa-Francorchamps
18. European GP - Donington GP
19. Japanese GP - Suzuka

Bit of a trip around the world and back for a finale at Suzuka - as I always felt it was a good "ultimate circuit" to finish off with sometimes unpredictable weather.

My "fantasy" tracks:
Oulton Park Gold Cup - classic F1 track and race brought back, finally an F1 circuit only an hours drive away from me!
Indianapolis 500 - Would be nice to steal some thunder from the US and would be the quickest way to increasing attention, not so sure it would be a popular idea initially though. Plus its another classic from the calendars.
Detroit Grand Prix - because I've watched some good races from here on youtube and it looks a fantastic way to test the drivers and cars and seemed to throw up some odd good results.
Birmingham Superprix - It was never an F1 track but it certainly had the reputation and short but sweet racing history. Though this would be best seen on a "fantasy Touring Cars season" than anything. Perhaps expand the track around the city for F1?

 

[Metar]

I'm surprised with all this talk about the USGP's and US circuits no one has at least mentioned the street courses! Some of the best races of the 80s occured on them! Especially, if I remember right, Detroit.

I actually went through every US street-track (and, I estimate, almost 90% of all championship-raced GP tracks ever), but I found their 90° turns so horribly uninspiring... Other than temporary street-tracks, none other than Indy seemed suitable for F1 - Infineon is among the only ones that fit, length-wise, but who knows about the elevation-changes...

 

[Ardius]

But to be fair...how many 90 degree turns do we currently have? Especially with that track surface..

 

[Roo]

I actually went through every US street-track (and, I estimate, almost 90% of all championship-raced GP tracks ever), but I found their 90° turns so horribly uninspiring... Other than temporary street-tracks, none other than Indy seemed suitable for F1 - Infineon is among the only ones that fit, length-wise, but who knows about the elevation-changes...

Same here. I did consider Long Beach, but dropped it in favour of Road America. Same goes for Charade, which fell behind Reims.

 

[Alex.]

It's a shame road atlanta isnt long enough, that'd have been on my list.

 

[Hyst]

Can't narrow it down to just 20, so every 5th race is an old school 'non-championship' race.

R1 - Grand Prix of Australia
Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit

R2 - Grand Prix of China
Shanghai International Circuit

R3 - Grand Prix of Japan
Suzuka Circuit

R4 - Grand Prix of Argentina
Autodromo Oscar Alfredo Galvez ('Buenos Aires' long circuit)

R5 - Grand Prix of Brazil
Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace ('Interlagos')

NC - Grand Prix of South America
Autodromo Internacional Nelson Piquet ('Jacarepagua')

R6 - Grand Prix of Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez

R7 - United States Grand Prix West
Long Beach Street Circuit

R8 - United States Grand Prix East
Road Atlanta

R9 - Grand Prix of Canada
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve

R10 - Grand Prix of England
Brands Hatch GP Circuit

NC - Grand Prix of the United Kingdom
Oulton Park International Circuit

R11 - Grand Prix of Spain
Circuito de Jerez

R12 - Grand Prix of Monaco
Monaco

R13 - Grand Prix of France
Circuit Paul Ricard

R14 - Grand Prix of Germany
Nurburgring Grand Prix Circuit

R15 - Grand Prix of Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps

NC - Grand Prix of Europe
Brno Circuit

R16 - Grand Prix of Austria
A1-Ring

R17 - Grand Prix of Hungary
Hungaroring

R18 - Grand Prix of Turkey
Istanbul Park

R19 - Grand Prix of San Marino
Imola

R20 - Grand Prix of Italy
Autodromo Nazionale Monza

NC - Grand Prix of Florence
Mugello Circuit

Damn. Even cheating it was hard to get it down to that small a number. Shame I couldn't fit Montjuic or Vallelunga in there. Not a fan of Donington Park, and I find Silverstone immensely boring.

 

[hellnback]

Yeah! To Ardius. First mention the old Hockenheim, bring back the forest and 4 long straights...

To those who don't or too young to remember... you want passing? That track was born to pass...