2009 F1 calendar: better than ’08? (Poll)
F1 gains Suzuka (above) but loses Montreal in 2009
The official 2009 F1 calendar has been published with the Canadian Grand Prix mysteriously absent. That’s not the only change for next year, with Abu Dhabi arriving on the calendar as the new season finale.
Has the FIA and Bernie Ecclestone done a better job with the 2009 F1 calendar than the 2008 schedule? Compare the two and cast your vote below.
The major changes between the two calendars are:
- The Canadian Grand Prix is dropped for 2009
- The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix arrives in 2009 as the season finale
- The German round will be held at the Nurburgring in 2009 instead of the Hockenheimring
- The Japanese round will be held at Suzuka in 2009 instead of Fuji Speedway
*Exact title TBC. The Hockenheimring owners won’t allow the Nurburgring to use the title ‘German Grand Prix’.
**Exact title TBC. May use the title ‘Mediterranean Grand Prix’ so the Nurburgring can be the ‘European Grand Prix’.
Is the 2009 F1 calendar better than the 2008 F1 calendar?
- Yes, the 2009 F1 calendar is much better (5%)
- Yes, the 2009 F1 calendar is slightly better (12%)
- They are just as good/bad as each other (25%)
- No, the 2008 F1 calendar is slightly better (23%)
- No, the 2008 F1 calendar is much better (31%)
- I have no opinion (4%)
Total Voters: 393
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Trip Hazard said on 9th October 2008, 0:13
In fact, if you start from west coast America, you’ll notice that as you go eastwards, a grand prix will disappear from the calendar year after year………..
David Gleeson said on 9th October 2008, 1:25
I guess that logistically and money spent that it really doesn’t matter where the next race is.
Used/broken equipment needs to be sent back to base, new equipment needs to be assembled and sent to the new race track. So here there is no savings to cost.
With the cost of hotels (they could put them in backpackers hostels) for the extra days, penalty rates (away from home living), food costs, entertainment costs. The costs would be very close to the flight home and the flight to the next race.
Added bonus is that people see home and family.
They can have meetings with all stakeholders.
And anyway, the crew is not paid to have a couple of days off.
Steve K said on 9th October 2008, 2:20
“World Championship” and the series comes to North America. . .um, not at all, and only once to this hemisphere. One of the things that makes this circuit so cool is the fact that they go everywhere, but alas, not anymore.
Chalky said on 9th October 2008, 9:20
So if Cananda is due to the track surface and marbles problems, are there any other competing circuits trying to swipe the Canadian GP for 2010?
Mosport perhaps? Or is this another “Not up to scratch for Bernie” track?
TisoyJrIII said on 9th October 2008, 10:02
no problem as long as we have F1 race next year
cheers for that
El Gordo said on 9th October 2008, 10:49
Losing Canada is really big shame – it was perhaps the one circuit on the calendar that would guarantee close racing and over-taking.
That said, Suzuka is a far better circuit than Fuji, and the Abu Dhabi circuit looks promising.
I’d like to get rid of Magny Cours, Valencia, Hungary and Barcelona, and (to make a true world championship) races at Watkins Glen, Estoril, Kyalami and Long Beach.
Lustigson said on 9th October 2008, 11:02
A true World Championship should have races no at least 5 of 6 continents (being North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania), and since Africa doesn’t have a race, there should be a North American one. And then I’m not even considering that the US are a top market for all manufacturers in F1 apart from Renault.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 9th October 2008, 11:40
The teams are trying to get Canada back on the schedule: story.
DC said on 9th October 2008, 14:23
Hey Journeyer, Long Beach and Watkins Glen are on opposite coasts of America. There is probably more distance between them than Silverstone and Monza. ;)
I’m not too impressed with the calendar. I like Suzaka better than Fuji, but am depressed about the loss of Canada.
F1Fan said on 9th October 2008, 16:41
Suzuka is infinitely better than Fuji and can make for a very interesting race, given the overtaking opportunities (recall Kimi won there in ’05 from 18th on the grid). Montreal is a tough circuit, but they need to address the surface issues they have had for the last 3-4 years. If they don’t, they deserve to lose the race.
Pink Peril said on 10th October 2008, 2:45
I already had several issues with the 2009 calendar – season opener starts 2 weeks later than usual, finishing in Abu who?-bi instead of Brazil, two boring races in Spain.
But the loss of Montreal just takes the biscuit.
Not happy Jan.
Gman said on 10th October 2008, 4:02
Lustigson, very good points and you are indeed correct about the need to race on all the continents. You are also correct that Renault dose not deal here by name, but they do have a major market stake in the U.S. and Canada with Nissan, so even they have a say about losing Canada and the U.S. in the last two years.
Bud said on 11th October 2008, 2:06
I imagine most of us follow F1 on TV. Sad that some of the new venues have the visual appeal of a post apocalyptic wasteland devoid of humanity.
I fear following the loot rather than the fans will be the sport’s undoing.
No Canadian GP = Bloody Ridiculous
Abu where?
John said on 2nd November 2008, 18:09
Man, first they can the U.S. GP and now that I live on the east coast and have the potential of going to montreal to see the GP they get rid of that too! I bet if I end up doing my PhD in england they get rid of that race as well. =(