The F1 Thread

[Hatem Is A Geordie]

To be honest I love waking up really early to watch an F1 race, makes it more exciting for me.

[Speedo]

To be honest I love waking up really early to watch an F1 race, makes it more exciting for me.

Very much so. I want to be sufficiently excited by it that my fruit and fibre emigrates from the bowl to my lap.

[Kyle?]

I'm putting a fiver on Grosjean winning the title. Lotus look decent.

[Speedo]

I'm putting a fiver on Grosjean winning the title. Lotus look decent.

There's a curveball and a half! I can't see them lasting the season at a high level - see last year. Their development isn't quick enough in mid season.

[overseasTOON]

Get rid of Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Valencia, Singapore and Korea.
Keep all the good European ones, bring back Magny-Cours and, if possible, der Nordschleife.
I don't think I'll ever be convinced by any of Tilke's newer tracks sadly.

Tilkes most recent tracks need spicing up a bit as they have become a bit dull.

Is he designing the Sochi track in Russia?

[tomtom94]

Get rid of Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Valencia, Singapore and Korea.
Keep all the good European ones, bring back Magny-Cours and, if possible, der Nordschleife.
I don't think I'll ever be convinced by any of Tilke's newer tracks sadly.

Tilkes most recent tracks need spicing up a bit as they have become a bit dull.

Is he designing the Sochi track in Russia?

Aber ja, naturlich. and the New Jersey one to boot.

[overseasTOON]

Tilkes most recent tracks need spicing up a bit as they have become a bit dull.

Is he designing the Sochi track in Russia?

Aber ja, naturlich. and the New Jersey one to boot.

Seems he has a monopoly on track design. Are he and Bernie good friends?

Just read his wiki page:

"Tilke is one of four designers recognised by the FIA but has predominantly been the only one to be commissioned to design Formula One tracks"

"Tilke designs every track with several other engineers from Tilke Engineering, as well as F1's commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone."

[tomtom94]

I think above all else I reject this policy of always going to new tracks, and basing a new track solely around the idea of holding an F1 race.

In particular, these two new American ones. Because America is, as we know, lacking in racetracks already! Why can't we ever just go back to the OLD ones, that WORKED?

[Speedo]

I think above all else I reject this policy of always going to new tracks, and basing a new track solely around the idea of holding an F1 race.

In particular, these two new American ones. Because America is, as we know, lacking in racetracks already! Why can't we ever just go back to the OLD ones, that WORKED?

How much would you love to see an F1 car on the Corkscrew at Laguna Seca?

[overseasTOON]

I think above all else I reject this policy of always going to new tracks, and basing a new track solely around the idea of holding an F1 race.

In particular, these two new American ones. Because America is, as we know, lacking in racetracks already! Why can't we ever just go back to the OLD ones, that WORKED?

How much would you love to see an F1 car on the Corkscrew at Laguna Seca?

That would be a serious challenge for an F1 car!

[overseasTOON]

I think above all else I reject this policy of always going to new tracks, and basing a new track solely around the idea of holding an F1 race.

In particular, these two new American ones. Because America is, as we know, lacking in racetracks already! Why can't we ever just go back to the OLD ones, that WORKED?

Wasn't the French GP cancelled because Bernie said it was too far away from Paris?

What about the South Korean GP? That's a very remote place.

You're right about existing tracks but it seems many of these are priced out of F1 as Bernie et al are asking extortionate sums to host a race and many of their existing facilities are deemed below standard for an F1 race in terms of traffic access, VIP grandstands, corporate hospitality areas etc.

We, the standard F1 fans are of little overall concern to the owners of the sport as we don't spend enough.

[Speedo]

How much would you love to see an F1 car on the Corkscrew at Laguna Seca?

That would be a serious challenge for an F1 car!

I miss cars grounding like it's the 80s...

[overseasTOON]

Seems there will only be one GP in Spain from 2013 with it alternating between Barcelona and Valencia each year:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/17312397

Just dump Valencia. They can't really afford the race anyway and it's a boring circuit.

[tomtom94]

Five years' time and we won't have one at all.

As ever, Bernie knows that the circuits are reliant on F1 for revenue. Reduce the number of races, you reduce their revenue, they can't hold onto their slot on the calendar, so he can shove another crappy new Tilke-drome in the gap.

[Speedo]

Seems there will only be one GP in Spain from 2013 with it alternating between Barcelona and Valencia each year:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/17312397

Just dump Valencia. They can't really afford the race anyway and it's a boring circuit.

I don't like either especially. The Barcelona race in 2010 (I think) saw just 1 on track overtake in the whole race, while Valencia is another Tilke In-principle-very-exciting-racetrack-but-actually-s*** special.

[GRB]

Why persist with US they dont get it

[overseasTOON]

Why persist with US they dont get it

If they can crack it then they'll make a fortune but the US market is already saturated with motor sports which are far cheaper to attend then an F1 race.

I went to the Daytona 500 about 10 years ago.

The races they love are OK (though to me a tad dull) because you have quite a lot of action on the track and the cars are never out of view from the stands so you feel you're watching an entire race and not just one corner or straight.

I did think that the best US track for their type of audience was the old Brickyard in Indianapolis but F1 managed to kill any allure they'd attracted with the tyre issue and the Ferrari team orders.

[tomtom94]

I did think that the best US track for their type of audience was the old Brickyard in Indianapolis but F1 managed to kill any allure they'd attracted with the tyre issue and the Ferrari team orders.

Ecclestone

[overseasTOON]

Please let this be the writing on the wall for the Valencia GP:

Mexico has signed a five-year deal to host a Grand Prix in the capital Mexico City starting in 2013. The race, which will replace the current event in Valencia in Spain, will take place on the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, which last hosted Formula 1 in 1992.

Reported in Marca (Spanish paper)

[Paco]

Please let this be the writing on the wall for the Valencia GP:

Mexico has signed a five-year deal to host a Grand Prix in the capital Mexico City starting in 2013. The race, which will replace the current event in Valencia in Spain, will take place on the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, which last hosted Formula 1 in 1992.

Reported in Marca (Spanish paper)

That sounds amazing