With 20 Grand Prix scheduled for 2011, are there too many GPs on the F1 calendar?

[duke_toaster]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Surely there would be support for Bahrain to be replaced if there were 18 races in a season because it's the season opener?

Thats why it has been suggested, I think. The season opener should preferably be a big event, something on a finite date, something to look forward to. Ideally that "big event" should be in Melbourne though.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Back down to 19; is that still too many?

[Purist]

Peralta, you can't build an "event" like a GP that is only held every other year. We've seen in other forms of motorsport that for an event to build, you NEED a consistent venue, at a consistent time of year, held each year. This is NOT the World Cup or the Olympics, not by a long shot, so being closer to a "one-off" type event doesn't really work.

It MIGHT work if you were wanting to share between a couple of countries that are fairly small and very close together (Hungary/Czech Republic), but there are only so many of those in the world that have an honest interest in hosting F1.

Twenty GPs seems fine to me; I'd just have different ideas about where they should be held compared to what we have now.

[duke_toaster]

Originally Posted by Purist

Twenty GPs seems fine to me; I'd just have different ideas about where they should be held compared to what we have now.

The latter is the key point in my opinion, although in my view that could be resolved with a eighteen race calendar. I have done a back of a fag packet calendar that would include all of the places F1 should go, with only eighteen races.

[Matt]

26 race calendar would be great.

[Purist]

So, Toaster, what countries are on that 18-race list?

My problem is always sorting out which are the most essential nations to visit in Eurasia. I mean, ideally, I figure on something 3 races in North America, 2 in South America, 1 in Africa, 2 in Australia/Oceania, and the remainder in Eurasia.

[duke_toaster]

Originally Posted by Purist

So, Toaster, what countries are on that 18-race list?

Broken down by region, and by classic (defined as having a GP in either 1950 or 1951) and non-classic for Europe.

Asia/Australasia : Japan, Korea, Singapore, Australia
Americas : United States, Canada, Brazil
Classic European Races : Spain, France, Monaco, United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Italy (I would argue that all of these races are non-negotiable aspects of the calendar, although possibly at different venues, namely Motorland Aragon for Spain and Paul Ricard for France).
Other European Races : Portugal, Poland, Russia, Sweden

I admit that Singapore is on the calendar because of the circuit and the sheer visual spectacle of a night street race, coupled with it being a sensible opening back-to-back with Australia. I'd start the season in Australia followed by Singapore (or possibly swung round), and end with the US and then Brazil.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by duke_toaster

Broken down by region, and by classic (defined as having a GP in either 1950 or 1951) and non-classic for Europe.

Asia/Australasia : Japan, Korea, Singapore, Australia
Americas : United States, Canada, Brazil
Classic European Races : Spain, France, Monaco, United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Italy (I would argue that all of these races are non-negotiable aspects of the calendar, although possibly at different venues, namely Motorland Aragon for Spain and Paul Ricard for France).
Other European Races : Portugal, Poland, Russia, Sweden

I admit that Singapore is on the calendar because of the circuit and the sheer visual spectacle of a night street race, coupled with it being a sensible opening back-to-back with Australia. I'd start the season in Australia followed by Singapore (or possibly swung round), and end with the US and then Brazil.

That's a very comprehensive list. What about a roving European GP?

[Yannick]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

That's a very comprehensive list. What about a roving European GP?

To which venue would it be roving - and who would pay for it?

Nürburgring? Portimao? Jerez? Imola? Maybe even a restored Donington?
Or Fuji, calling it the Pacific GP again?

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Yannick

To which venue would it be roving - and who would pay for it?

Nürburgring? Portimao? Jerez? Imola? Maybe even a restored Donington?
Or Fuji, calling it the Pacific GP again?

Any of the venues you've listed, as for payment a reduced fee but too be honest Bernie wouldn't buy it; he wants his £20mill per GP.

[duke_toaster]

Originally Posted by Yannick

To which venue would it be roving - and who would pay for it?

Nürburgring? Portimao? Jerez? Imola? Maybe even a restored Donington?
Or Fuji, calling it the Pacific GP again?

Portimao would ideally be on the calendar anyway as the Portuguese GP.