F1 Fanatic

Formula 1 is driven by economics. There can be, at most, fifty-two races a year. Allowing for a break between races, the maximum that would be feasible is twenty-six. We’re currently at twenty, and expanding the calendar any further would require the agreement of the teams.

Assuming that twenty is the maximum number of races in a season, any country looking to start up a Grand Prix will only be able to do so when an opening in the calendar becomes available. And while Bernie takes criticism for being equal parts ruthless and greedy, he does deserve credit for one thing: he has never dropped a race mid-contract simply because he got a better offer from someone else. If one race is dropped in favour of another, it is because the race that was discontinued reached the end of its contract. So if Russia, Mexico, Argentina, France and South Africa want in, they will not be added until there is an opening.

So long as Great Britain, Monaco, Belgium and Italy remain on the calendar, I don’t think too many people would mind if Spain, Germany and Hungary were dropped. And I don’t think too many tears would be shed for Valencia, either. Bernie said about a week ago that Formula 1 will eventually leave Europe. He’s kind of right – economically, Europe is in the toilet right now.

Hungary can evidently afford to keep their race.

Hungary also has the added significance of being the only race on the calendar in a country which used to be behind the Iron Curtain. If a race in Russia proves successful it may become expendable, which would be a shame, because the crowd really does seem to enjoy the race every year.

I just think trying to get a sport like F1 into America will be hard to do. Yes i know that people love the sport over there but i just dont see it working if it does good job to America if it dosent then oh well. Yes i understand teams want to get into the American market but i just dont think enough has been done.

I agree with everything you have said, i also believe if the now defunct USGP was around it would boost American influence in the sport even more.

Any American team in the sport is going to take whichever drivers are best for it, regardless of whether or not they are American (just as Force India has a Briton and a German). USF1 had Jose Maria Lopez – an Argentine – under contract before the team went bust, and I do believe that British driver James Rossiter was also signed on, though this was never made public until about a year after the team folded because Rossiter’s sponsors and management lost faith in the team’s ability to appear on the grid.

Nobody needs two races in Spain, especially considering how average the tracks are. So there is one race saved. Germany should have one race considering the amount of german drivers and the amount of people here supporting the sport (even though I often feel only few really understand it). Hungary should not be dropped, it is a fantastic race to attend, a great City to go to and usually fantastic conditions. Also I kind of like the one week break between Germany and Hungary, it has become somewhat of a tradition.

Me personally, I would like to see more back to back races, then a break, then again back to back races in a different region. For example Britain, Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Italy, in the week after Italy a two day test and then 3 weeks break. I know it’d be almost impossible to achieve but thats what I’d like to see. That way 25 races could possibly be achieved, introducing the “20 best results” rule (just because I liked the best results count only rule). Or make 5 of the races non championship races. The last race of each “stint” of back to back races could be a non championship race, friday and saturday being free practice all day long, qualifying and race on sunday. That way there is more racing, possibly third drivers getting chances to drive and testing possibilities during the season.
I know that will never happen but I’d like it.