FOTA’s rumoured ‘new F1′ calendar for 2010 revives USA and Canadian rounds
Adelaide in Australia is one of the track FOTA want to bring back
The Guardian claims to have details of the Formula One Teams’ Associations’ planned calendar for its rival F1 series in 2010.
As well as bringing back the United States and Canadian Grand Prix, it suggests race are planned in Argentina, Finland and Mexico. Plus, many of F1′s most popular venues – with two unfortunate exceptions – are to be retained.
3 March – Buenos Aires, Argentina (last F1 race: 1998)
21 March – Mexico City, Mexico (last F1 race: 1992)
11 April – Jerez, Spain (last F1 race: 1997)
25 April – Portimao, Portugal
2 May – Imola, Italy (last F1 race: 2006)
23 May – Monte Carlo, Monaco
6 June – Montreal, Canada (last F1 race: 2008)
13 June – Indianapolis, United States (last F1 race: 2007)
1 July – Silverstone, United Kingdom
25 July – Magny-Cours, France (last F1 race: 2008)
15 August – Laustizring, Germany
29 August – Helsinki, Finland
12 September – Monza, Italy
26 September – Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
10 October – Marina Bay, Singapore
24 October – Suzuka, Japan
8 November – Adelaide (last F1 race: 1995) or Surfers’ Paradise, Australia
There are many interesting points to note on this highly speculative list.
Good riddance
First, many F1 fans will welcome the rejection of many unloved venues penned by Hermann Tilke: Bahrain, Fuji, Shanghai and Sepang are all missing, So too is his rather better Istanbul circuit, with its excellent turn eight bend.
Several former F1 venues are revived including some real gems: the tough, bumpy, rapid Mexico City track, and the classic season finale on the Adelaide street circuit (though Surfers’ Paradise, formerly an Indy Car track, would be almost as good). However the same cannot be said of Jerez which, despite holding two memorable races in 1986 and 1997, is much too small for F1. The Motorland Aragon circuit (which, ironically, was designed by Hermann Tilke) would be a much better venue for the Spanish Grand Prix.
No Brazil – or Belgium
The cherished venues of Monaco, Silverstone, Suzuka and Monza all remain. The only ‘big names’ missing from the list are the sublime Spa-Francorchamps, which is believed to have a contract with Bernie Ecclestone until at least 2012, and Interlagos in Brazil (likewise until 2015).
The lack of any Brazilian round is a particular disappointment – it has been on the F1 calendar without fail since 1973, and Brazil has produced many championship and race-winning drivers. The absence of these two races, while San Marino returns as a second Italian round, is the least appealing aspect of this calendar for me.
The North American rounds return at their previous venues – the Canadian Grand Prix at Montreal and the United States round at Indianapolis (presumably the road course which has now been re-configured for Moto GP bikes and is, it must be said, even less satisfactory than its previous configuration).
New venues
The Portuguese Grand Prix, last raced in 1996, returns but at the new Algarve International Circuit in Portiamo which is a splendid-looking facility and was warmly received by the F1 teams and drivers when they tested on it last winter.
The prospect of a Finnish Grand Prix at Helsinki is fascinating and long overdue. A return to Argentina, even at the slow, cramped version of the Buenos Aires track last used in 1998, would be a welcome re-acquaintance with F1′s history. The new Potrero de los Funes circuit in San Luis would be a truly inspiring venue for this race, however.
The relocation of the German Grand Prix to the Laustizring is curious. Unless their intention is to use the oval circuit – which would be enormously exciting – the prospect of a race on the dreary road course within its bounds isn’t one I’d relish.
That aside I have only one objection to this speculative calendar – I want a single, unified Formula 1 to race on it, not some weakened manufacturer-run series under a different name, and not something that calls itself Formula 1 which has driven all the biggest and best teams away.
What do you think of the rumoured calendar? Is it credible? Which races would you drop – and which would you like to add?
Read more
- Exclusive interview: Pedro de la Rosa on F1 2009 and Motorland Aragon
- The ‘backwards’ Indianapolis configuration revealed
- Why F1 should race on ovals
- Could F1 make a return to Portugal at the Algarve International Circuit?
- Dear Bernie, please put a race on here: Potrero de los Funes, San Luis, Argentina
- 2010 F1 calendar
- F1 to split in two as FOTA teams announce their own world championship
NB. I haven’t been able to find a link from the article where I saw the calendar online – it’s on the front of the sports supplement in today’s Guardian.
Update: Thanks to Marilia for posting this link to the epaper version of the Guardian in the comments, where you can find the page.
F1Yankee said on 23rd June 2009, 0:26
my worthless suggestions for this hypothetical list notwithstanding, i’ll take jump on board with fota the minute this becomes official.
as others have said, this is a great chance to rotate through lots of good (or great) tracks. i’d still like to see one race per country, but lacking spa and a couple others, some short-term padding doesn’t hurt. goodbye to china, hungary, turkey and a second race in malaysia. abu dhabi remains because of the heavy investment from that country.
indy / leguna seca / road america
suzuka / fuji
melbourne / surfer’s paradise / adelaide
monza / imola / rome
nuburgring / hockenheim / wherever
yes, i like where this is going….
Bartholomew said on 23rd June 2009, 0:30
How about Philips Island in Australia ? at least for bikes it is superb
alejob said on 23rd June 2009, 0:30
well, im not sure about Argentina, the track was so bumpy that cause problems to drivers view (jumping eyes)
scunnyman said on 23rd June 2009, 0:35
People remember this Guardian article is probably just speculating on a possible calendar.
Once the real calendar is released in a few weeks i’m sure some of us will be happy, some of us downhearted and some really p***ed off.
We can all come up with our ideal calendar, but For me, i’ll be happy with a decent sized calendar with decent length of races and all the best teams and drivers. In time FOTA will get the series running the way we might want it with as many circuits most of us like as they can organise. Nobody can expect them to get it perfect straight away.
alejob said on 23rd June 2009, 0:40
thats true scunnyman, but can be just another point to pressure Max Mosley to find a solution (get out from the FIA)
scunnyman said on 23rd June 2009, 0:49
It could also do the opposite alejob.
The guardian article may, and this is a long shot i know, have released this information which they think the fans will not be happy about, and therefore be unhappy with FOTA, hence might start to have simpathy with FIA.
How wrong they would be if this was the case. We fans may be unhappy with certain aspects of the calendar, but for the most part we will still support FOTA.
alejob said on 23rd June 2009, 0:59
Good point scunnyman, at this point we do not know who is doing what to push to their favor.
From my point of view, i dont think that the FOTA will separate from F1, they are like a undivorcial marriage… and Mosley the pain in the *&^%%#$ mother in law.
F1Fan said on 23rd June 2009, 0:39
I like that several of the weak tracks (Sepang, Fuji, Valencia) or those with very poor attendance (Turkey, Bahrein) are dropped. I really like the re-inclusion of Montreal and Indy. I don’t like the non-inclusion of Spa and Interlagos. Overall this is a good calendar, consider the circumstances. And I could care less about what the FIA does. The FOTA F1 championship will be **the** F1 championship. I would rather see Ferrari racing McLaren, Renault, Toyota and BMW than Lola racing USF1 … any day.
Gman said on 23rd June 2009, 1:26
Hopefully USF1 will be racing with the big teams, breakaway or no breakaway…..
chaostheory said on 23rd June 2009, 0:52
I wouldnt mind Long Beach instead of Indianapolis
chaostheory said on 23rd June 2009, 0:55
http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/783/longbeach79loading.jpg
Ferrari 1607 said on 23rd June 2009, 1:00
THANK YOU FOTA!!!!!!!!!!!
WE accually have not 1 but 3 proposed venues in North America!!!!
Not indy/ go to Languna Seca
heres an onboard lap of Laguna Seca in a Toyota F1 car from 2006
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QUxMXQ9D64
Leaf said on 23rd June 2009, 1:00
YaYa Baby, now we’re talking! F1 FOTA back in the USSA!
I can wait until 2012 for Spa. F1 back in the USSCanada Too! This is gonna be great! I can wait for 2015 for Interlagos too. How about Jacaparagua or whatever the other Brazilian track is called?
Better yet, in USA how about some upgrades and get them running at Road America. Our version of the Ostereichring. Isn’t there a better Spanish track available besides Jerez? (That doesn’t belong to Bernie?)
Gman said on 23rd June 2009, 1:28
Jacaparagua has been closed for some time and is being demolished in plans to promote Rio’s bid for the Olympics.
Filipe said on 23rd June 2009, 2:21
Jacarapagua was almost destroyed a couple of years ago and what is left of the track is barely used by the local brazilian series.
The unfortunate truth is that there’s no F1 ready track in Brazil except from Interlagos. The only track up t6o safety standards would be Curitiba where the first WTCC round is (http://www.trackpedia.com/wiki/Curitiba). It’s big short comming is that it’s too short (3.2km). The only other potential option I can think of is Brasilia (http://www.trackpedia.com/wiki/Brasilia), that happens to be a pretty good track, but it’s completely out of current F1 standards (it’s a 70′s track that barely get any updates since then). I mention it for two reasons:
1 – After IRL decide to hold a race here, the local government put the track as an option and seems willing to update it for them. Of course, it would need much larger updates for F1 than for IRL, but it would also bring much more money to the city.
2 – The track is owned by the city, but its rights are leased to Nelson Piquet. So at least Briatore already has a strong relationship with the track owner (on the other hand Piquet might want to include a contract extension for Jnr in the deal).
Marilia Compagnoni Martins said on 23rd June 2009, 7:02
Filipe,
I was reading Flavio Gomes’blog, and the follower Alemão de Santa Cruz do Sul wrote 3 possible tracks: Santa Cruz do Sul,Tarumã, and Guaporé. I don’t know any of them, do you? Also the show Limite from ESPN Brasil has been showing some nice tracks in our country. Again, I don’t know those tracks, I don’t know if the cities can hold a GP, but remember: Silverstone is surrounded by farms.
Interlagos is perfect for me cause I can stay at my brother’s house and see my family. But sometimes I wander about a nice GP in another track.
Filipe said on 23rd June 2009, 13:58
Tarumã is great but to old and too short. Santa Cruz is to short and narrow. Guaporé is so out of date that even Stock Cars refuse to go back there.
guille2306 said on 23rd June 2009, 1:07
Being totally impartial, I’d love to see (FOTA) F1 (back?) in Argentina.
Regarding the ‘Buenos Aires’-'Potrero de los Funes’ choice: Buenos Aires would need to be completely rebuild, it’s impossible to run F1 cars there. But it has many possible layouts, and as they need to start almost from scratch they can choose whichever gives the best racing (the first turn, fast, long, with a slight banking, taking to the massive back straight would be a nice view…). Potrero de los Funes is an amazing place, but they will need some extra money to upgrade it to F1 level. Granted, it will be less money than what you need to update Buenos Aires, but Buenos Aires is close to a huge 13 million population area, while the whole Mendoza Province has a population of only 1.5 million. Do the math ;-)
Dr Jones said on 23rd June 2009, 1:09
I like to have FOTA add Spa & San Paulo on their list.
How about the classic Nurburgring track for a challenge? :)
Prisoner Monkeys said on 23rd June 2009, 1:10
Sorry, but I’m not believing it. This list emerged less than forty-eight hours after FOTA annouced their breakaway, and they’ve stated that they’re not going to do any work on anything until after the WMSC meeting on Wednesday. The idea that they could already have a provisional calendar drawn up is ridiculous, especially since they were still willing to negotiate with the FIA the day before the split.
And while the Tilke-dromes are off the calendar, they’ve been replaced by equally-bland cicuits: Buenos Aries, Magny-Cours or inappropriate ones like Surfers Paradise. Meanwhile, I KNOW Adelaide doesn’t want a return of Formula One. They’re happy with the Adelaide circuit being the season-opener for the V8 Supercars, and don’t much want to have to shut the city down twice.
I suspect this calendar is little more than someone trying to get readers/listeners/viewers by presenting information that no-one else has.
Gman said on 23rd June 2009, 1:30
I agree with that- it’s something anyone could have drawn up really. Perhaps FOTA is negotiating with some of those places, but I doubt this is the arrangement.
phil c said on 23rd June 2009, 3:38
I see your point, but i dont think FOTA would have made a threat without some research in advance. Then again who knows. The difference with a FOTA race in comparison to an F1 race will be the track will make a profit. FOTA wont demand 42million like they demand for the Mebourne GP. The fee would be 15 to 20 million. At this price the track makes money. FOTA make money and the prospect of hosting a race become very attractive.
Robert McKay said on 23rd June 2009, 8:53
It depends who you listen to. Some of FOTA’s more prominent members like to keep telling us that they’re doing lots of work behind the scenes on the breakaway championship.
NICK GIORDANO said on 23rd June 2009, 1:34
if you are planning to have a race in the USA that will stay, and become a destination for the sport, you only have 2 real choices: Laguna Seca or Long Beach. These are the places that will make F1 in the USA
Gman said on 23rd June 2009, 1:38
Very interesting development. As for my thoughts…
- Any calendar that features a return to the United States, as well as Montreal, gets an A-plus in my book! Even if it’s at Indy, one race on that circuit is better than none at all.
- With that said, one of the things that makes me think twice about this info is that the car companies (who would obviously be running FOTA) aren’t very keen on Indianapolis, as they prefer a localtion closer to major consumer bases. Indy is easy in terms of logistics, but I would expect them to look elsewhere if possible.
- Long Beach would be GREAT for a FOTA series to run at, but IndyCar already races there (thanks Bernie!) and you’d have the same issue that someone raised earlier with Adelaide shutting down twice for two events.
- I’d love Watkins Glen, but it’s owned by the France Family (who own NASCAR) and I doubt they would want a seires they percieve as a rival racing there, even if they were willing to make upgrades.
- In a country with as much racing herritage and interest as Brazil, isn’t there more than one F1-spec circuit?
- The idea of a race in Finland is quite interesting…..
- Three cheers for Portimao, although I can’t understand why they want Jerez over Motorland Aragon.
Again, not a bad deal, but I doubt it’s even a rough draft of the real calendar, if they are putting that together.
Filipe said on 23rd June 2009, 3:20
Indy is the only US track up to standards. That’s a good reason to race there. That said, I suspect FOTA knew they might need to lax a little bit on some of the current standards if they want a 17-race calendar.
I get the feeling that what was leaked was a calendar that had a list of races, but but the actual tracks are guesses by the paper. A few of the tracks choices are weird San Luis makes more sense than Buenos Aires, the Toyota-owned Fuji unfortunely makes more sense than the Honda-owned Suzuka and Adelaide makes no sense (but Surfers do, it’s even perfectly placed in the calendar).
My big head-scratcher is no A1-Ring. Isn’t the track owned by the Red Bull guy? Why the guy that ones 25% of the grid would not want that his series run at his circuit?
Between Jun 14 and August 13 there’s exactly 2 races (Silverstone and a French race, no less) in 2 months. That actually makes a lot of sense in a Calendar created by the teams.
ajokay said on 23rd June 2009, 9:59
There’s a fair bit of work to do on the A1-ring track, it’s been near enough demolished.
Filipe said on 23rd June 2009, 14:01
Well, that explains it.
snoopy said on 23rd June 2009, 23:35
Like i said earlier there will not be F1 race in Finland. And that is fact not rumor.
manatcna said on 23rd June 2009, 2:07
If Sky get the (proposed) “new F1″ I won’t be watching.
We went for the opposition – Virgin Media
And I ain’t gonna get both VM and Sky
KlBD said on 23rd June 2009, 2:27
If Britain were to have another round, I’m rather fond of Brands Hatch
and, well this is kind of a joke suggestion for a German Grand Prix, but can anyone see F1 cars duking it out at the Norisring?