Future Grands Prix? - Page 47

Sodemo · 11 Mar 2016, 14:33 (Ref:3622141)

They would probably still insist on having a dozen chicanes and 300m tarmac run-offs at every corner. I'm aware a few corners already have tarmac run-off. (turn 1 for example).

What makes Watkins Glen different from Mexico? They had to butcher that in order to get back onto the F1 calendar.

wnut · 11 Mar 2016, 22:58 (Ref:3622265)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sodemo

They would probably still insist on having a dozen chicanes and 300m tarmac run-offs at every corner. I'm aware a few corners already have tarmac run-off. (turn 1 for example).

What makes Watkins Glen different from Mexico? They had to butcher that in order to get back onto the F1 calendar.

I think you can take it to the bank, or Bernie and Tilke will anyway, "butchering" the circuit for profit is an important part of Bernie's financial modelling.

**bjohnsonsmith** · 12 Mar 2016, 01:09 (Ref:3622276)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sodemo

They would probably still insist on having a dozen chicanes and 300m tarmac run-offs at every corner. I'm aware a few corners already have tarmac run-off. (turn 1 for example).

What makes Watkins Glen different from Mexico? They had to butcher that in order to get back onto the F1 calendar.

What makes Watkins Glen different from Mexico? A lot afaic.

**bjohnsonsmith** · 12 Mar 2016, 01:55 (Ref:3622282)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sodemo

They would probably still insist on having a dozen chicanes and 300m tarmac run-offs at every corner. I'm aware a few corners already have tarmac run-off. (turn 1 for example).

What makes Watkins Glen different from Mexico? They had to butcher that in order to get back onto the F1 calendar.

What makes Watkins Glen different from Mexico? A lot afaic. As for Mexico, I never thought there was the need to change the track, as much as F1 did. It worked well as a CART/Champ Car venue. Bernie clearly thought otherwise and yet the Baseball Stadium section, which CART originally used in 2002, was revamped by F1 last year. It's all about the show.

Mike Harte · 17 Mar 2016, 15:17 (Ref:3623606)

I thought that I would bring this up again as BA have just announced they are ceasing flights to Baku from the end of next month. They cite as the reason that there has been a lack of passengers, and that it was not worthwhile flying there at all. Yet another reason why a Grand Prix shouldn't be held there!

Greem · 17 Mar 2016, 15:41 (Ref:3623610)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

I thought that I would bring this up again as BA have just announced they are ceasing flights to Baku from the end of next month. They cite as the reason that there has been a lack of passengers, and that it was not worthwhile flying there at all. Yet another reason why a Grand Prix shouldn't be held there!

And that's just as the event organisers have been looking to recruit additional experienced volunteers from other nations, too. It'll put the event out of reach of a lot of people, both spectators and marshals.

chillibowl · 17 Mar 2016, 16:07 (Ref:3623619)

not up to date with whats going on in Baku/Azerbaijan, but did BA stop flights out of security concerns or because of financial reasons/lack of demand?

if its the latter then i dont think thats necessarily a reason to not host a GP there. loved Pacific GP mainly because of its remoteness which gave it an exotic feel. Magny Cours was also great because of its remote pastoral setting. sort of feel thats an element which is lacking now...but then again the world is a much smaller place now so nowhere seems that remote anymore.

its probably security related though.

BSchneiderFan · 17 Mar 2016, 16:15 (Ref:3623624)

I don't mind having a GP in Baku; I do mind it being called the European Grand Prix.

Rob29 · 17 Mar 2016, 16:26 (Ref:3623626)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chillibowl

not up to date with whats going on in Baku/Azerbaijan, but did BA stop flights out of security concerns or because of financial reasons/lack of demand?

if its the latter then i dont think thats necessarily a reason to not host a GP there. loved Pacific GP mainly because of its remoteness which gave it an exotic feel. Magny Cours was also great because of its remote pastoral setting. sort of feel thats an element which is lacking now...but then again the world is a much smaller place now so nowhere seems that remote anymore.

its probably security related though.

Why would would you want to go to a 'remote pastoral setting' for a race? I would prefer for all sport to be held in a city centre.

**bella** · 17 Mar 2016, 16:28 (Ref:3623628)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

I thought that I would bring this up again as BA have just announced they are ceasing flights to Baku from the end of next month. They cite as the reason that there has been a lack of passengers, and that it was not worthwhile flying there at all. Yet another reason why a Grand Prix shouldn't be held there!

their only direct competition on the route is indirect via istanbul or germany, or the local airline. how much would you bet that their landing/departure costs went up so much in preparation for driving all the f1 traffic through the local airline that it became financially unreasonable...

Mike Harte · 17 Mar 2016, 16:30 (Ref:3623630)

BA is stopping flights because of a lack of bums on seats; for no other reason.

The stupidity of going to Baku is that nearly half of all the hotel beds are going to be occupied by team personnel and/or their hangers on, and there will only be space for about 15,000 spectators of which two thirds will be standing only.

And the country is far from exotic for most of it's citizens; say the wrong thing about it's dictator (I think that only one man stood for President, and he won the free and fair election with about 120% of the vote) and you will be disappeared. And he and his family, all of whom have been made extremely wealthy by the State, have no compunction about using that wealth to further their own interests.

**bella** · 17 Mar 2016, 16:32 (Ref:3623631)

mike, how do you know that? have you been checking the loads? they inherited the route during the bmi merger, and it's a long-standing one. the f1 weekend was fully booked/extortionate for this already, and passengers are being transferred to the lufthansa services via germany instead.

if anything other than dodgy things it's because that date iirc coincides with the most suitable aircraft being withdrawn/reduced in numbers (also inherited from bmi) and it's not really suitable for short haul, and the traffic numbers aren't there for a 777.

chillibowl · 17 Mar 2016, 16:37 (Ref:3623633)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob29

Why would would you want to go to a 'remote pastoral setting' for a race? I would prefer for all sport to be held in a city centre.

to each their own of course and there are some great city centre/street track races but i like the variety and the set up challenges different style tracks present and as a TV viewer i like having a variety of backdrops.

21 is a lot of races for all of them to be in the same setting.

Mike Harte · 17 Mar 2016, 16:40 (Ref:3623636)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bella

mike, how do you know that? have you been checking the loads? they inherited the route during the bmi merger, and it's a long-standing one.

They announced it a few days ago, and unless BA flies there from any other airport other than Heathrow, the last flight outbound and return is on April 29th. And BA do cite that it is for commercial reasons, quoting as follows:

Quote:

“As part of our review, we have carefully evaluated the London Heathrow to Baku route and have concluded that, at the present time, the services are not making a profitable contribution to our business.”

**bella** · 17 Mar 2016, 17:07 (Ref:3623643)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

They announced it a few days ago, and unless BA flies there from any other airport other than Heathrow, the last flight outbound and return is on April 29th. And BA do cite that it is for commercial reasons, quoting as follows:

it's coincided with the withdrawl of some of the a321s (their only mid-haul aeroplane) that were transferred from bmi which they acquired with the route when they in turn bought bmed from ba. the commercial bit is to do with the traffic not being enough to justify a 777. at 6 hours it's not viable to put a short haul aircraft on it, especially for premium passengers.

and most importantly i bet a democratic nation such as azerbaijan would have welcomed a price war on a route they serve with a 787 with open arms

dsg · 19 Mar 2016, 06:58 (Ref:3624119)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob29

Why would would you want to go to a 'remote pastoral setting' for a race? I would prefer for all sport to be held in a city centre.

I agree, lets get rid of Silverstone and Spa and move the races to London and Brussels.

JeremySmith · 19 Mar 2016, 14:29 (Ref:3624248)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob29

Why would would you want to go to a 'remote pastoral setting' for a race? I would prefer for all sport to be held in a city centre.

Your not serious, are you ? 😳

Richard C · 19 Mar 2016, 14:48 (Ref:3624271)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob29

Why would would you want to go to a 'remote pastoral setting' for a race? I would prefer for all sport to be held in a city centre.

Richard

**bjohnsonsmith** · 19 Mar 2016, 18:49 (Ref:3624464)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob29

Why would would you want to go to a 'remote pastoral setting' for a race? I would prefer for all sport to be held in a city centre.

A San Francisco GP would be interesting.

Richard C · 19 Mar 2016, 19:27 (Ref:3624478)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

A San Francisco GP would be interesting.

The Bullitt chase scene recreated with modern F1 cars might be interesting. How much air might they get? Could the entire field survive a single lap?

Richard

djinvicta · 19 Mar 2016, 19:57 (Ref:3624499)

It would bring a new meaning to aero downforce..

VIVA GT · 19 Mar 2016, 21:59 (Ref:3624635)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Casto

The Bullitt chase scene recreated with modern F1 cars might be interesting. How much air might they get? Could the entire field survive a single lap?

Richard

Would that also mean we'd see the same parked Volkswagen Beetle three or four times every lap?

**bjohnsonsmith** · 8 Apr 2016, 12:58 (Ref:3631194)

Imola to return to F1?

http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/123673

wolfhound · 9 Apr 2016, 08:20 (Ref:3631410)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Imola to return to F1?

http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/123673

Maybe or is Bernie up to his usual tricks to get Monza to dance to his tune?

I think if there was to be no GP in Italy Bernie would have to suffer the wrath of Ferrari, the Tifosi he would ignore.
I doubt he could ignore Marchionne.

Mike Harte · 9 Apr 2016, 08:32 (Ref:3631413)

Although Imola, I believe, holds a licence for international events, I recall that it was stated recently that F1 would require quite dramatic alterations made to the actual circuit, plus the fact that the paddock and pits areas do not come up to the standard that BCE would expect.

This smacks of being yet another exercise by Mr E to ramp up the pressure on Monza to get it's act in order. This may or may not be easier to achieve, now that Ivan Capelli has stepped down from his role at the circuit.

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