Whatever you think of the entertainment value of the Tilke circuits, they are designed with safety in mind, and that is a good thing.

Hmmm. Well, at Sears Point if ya miss a corner it’s likely tou’ll slide clear to the next county without hitting anything. Only the hairpin at the pit entrance actually has a wall.

How is that not safe enough for F1?

Again, I maintain it goes to Bernie and his need for huge fees to meet the income required to maintain his and CVC’s repayment schedule to their lenders. The only place he can get his money is where the country’s government will back the race. Hence, the continuing move toward AsiaF1.

We all know that there is something wrong with this picture. And we all know what it is. It is sad to see Bernie sacrificing the history of Formula 1 to keep it out of Debtors Prison.

First off, YOU GO MARTIN !

And what I really wanted to note here:
the “old” tracks aren’t “safe” enough for F1. Bull. They don’t have deep enough pockets to suit Bernie. Mosport hosts races to all manner of open wheel and full-body road cars, and speeds that F1 would reach on that track are seen. Same with other tracks. They are plenty safe enough, they simply can’t or won’t pay the outlandish fees that Bernie wants/needs to charge these days, and they don’t have the plush multi-million dollar VIP suites that Bernie requires for his list of important people. But that’s another discussion. I mention that only to point out that F1 COULD run there, except Bernie chooses to book races elsewhere.

Sorry, I get sidetracked sometimes.

Many tracks that people say are not safe enough for F1, that people say F1 is too fast for the track…many of these tracks run other open wheel series, or the LeMan Prototype cars, that run either the same speeds as F1 or darn close to it.

So, I question whether it is an issue of “not safe enough” or “not profitable enough for Bernie” or “just not in favor with the powers that be” that keeps F1 from these tracks.

the best tracks are still the old ones. Every track since senna died has been slowly neutered into a sad morph of every other one with the exception of the ones noted. Great tracks like san marino are not used now and the old tracks have all these chicanes built in them to lower cornering speed in the name of safety. All it did was make it easier for the lesser driver to keep up as they didnt have to reach down and grab a pair to keep up with the real racers.

Ah, gee. I wish I’d written that. Well said, Martin.

All the ‘great tracks’ as you mention are far too unsafe to race now. Cornering speeds were far lower and steel brakes were used to race on the ‘great tracks’.

Cars are now too fast to race on tracks like those now. And in light of recent incidents, I would like to see how you are prepared to undermine safety for the sake of racing.

Cornering speeds are higher now. So is downforce. 190 mph thru the fast corners at Spa without incident this year.

Carbon fiber brakes make it even safer and easier to race at the “great tracks”.

As to your comment of “recent events”, I can only think you speak of the untimely death of young Henry Surtees, and of the spring that ate Massa’s helmet. Both incidents true “freak” things, never has such a thing happened before, and probably never will happen again. That’s why FiA has not jumped up with new regs for enclosed cockpits or rollbars over the driver’s head. No one here advocates sacrificing safety, but we are realistic.

There is no such thing as a bad track

Valencia street circuit.

I rest my case.

If its wet its a great race on any track, if its dry it is a boring race on any track.

I see you don’t watch many races. Darn shame. If you did, perhaps you’d have a more rounded outlook.