How long before Spa and Monza get the 'new Hockenheim' treatment?

Yoong Montoya · 28 Jul 2002, 18:20 (Ref:344678)

If Spa and Monza were chopped in half like Hockenheim was, F1 would end up like NASCAR. After all, NASCAR always uses ovals, and F1 would become the same, except with medium speed tracks with almost no overtaking points instead of ovals.

Miss Hardt · 28 Jul 2002, 19:32 (Ref:344718)

Spa will be taken away from the calendar after this year....and Monza? I hope that the Italians would never destroy the track and the park.

F1 is dead, why don't we admit it?

TimD · 28 Jul 2002, 20:03 (Ref:344733)

Well, remembering the hoo-ha that was created by Italian conservationists when the FIA tried to insist on post-Senna circuit changes in 1994, I doubt if Monza could be easily changed.

I seem to recall that some sort of trade-off was arranged, whereby the barest minimum of mature trees were felled, and several times the number of saplings were reinstated elsewhere in the Park.

I think that in this case, Miss Hardt, the trees are quite safe.

If the FIA were to absolutely insist, I suspect that Monza would be dropped from the calendar long before the bulldozers tried to change it.

Hey, if they dropped it from the calendar, perhaps they could smooth out the chicanes and have some lovely slipstreaming Monza races once again. Formula 1 is alive and well, and is to be seen contested by brave amateurs in privately run historic cars all over the world!

NiceGuyEddie · 28 Jul 2002, 20:23 (Ref:344739)

Well, at Monza they took a headstart by creating an utterly stupid first chicane, and earlier revamping the Lesmo's to mere mediocre corners which no one who never witnessed a car speeding throught the old Lesmo's will remember.

DNQ · 28 Jul 2002, 21:06 (Ref:344763)

Yep.

Medium speed tracks with no elevation changes all the way. Yippee

f1manoz · 29 Jul 2002, 03:32 (Ref:344948)

Spa can't be tampered with as it would be just too much hard work. Half of the track is on public roads.

As for Monza, any changes would take a long time to come about. Monza has been basically the same now, except for the introduction of chicanes, for 70-odd years and any moves to reconstruct the circuit would have a stack of arguments against it, despite what Eddie Irvine wants!!

But it won't surprise me when Spa is eventually dropped and Monza is chopped up. Most F1 circuits are pathetic and boring nowadays. Hey, why have two more exciting tracks when we can have boring, follow-the-leaders races!!!

**Stephen Green** · 29 Jul 2002, 11:35 (Ref:345208)

It looks rather like Spa will be dropped from the calender due to the tobacco issue. Once gone I bet it doesn't return, rather like a few other circuits.

If we believe Bernies promises to other nations for GP's then you have to expect Italy to lose a GP, the same with Germany and France. At the moment they each have two Grand Prix (Monza/San Marino, Magny Cours/Monaco, Hockenheim/Nurburgring)

Morris 1100 · 29 Jul 2002, 11:41 (Ref:345213)

Spa and Monza have already been cut in half!

Red · 29 Jul 2002, 11:42 (Ref:345215)

Technically France does not have 2 Gp, can't see the Monaco GP be named Grand Prix of France.... But I agree with Italy and Germany.

**Stephen Green** · 29 Jul 2002, 11:56 (Ref:345232)

I agree it's not tecnically France Red, but you got my drift I'm sure?

Red · 29 Jul 2002, 12:03 (Ref:345249)

Yeah.... no tobacco ads in France...... but in Monaco they're still ok.

I believe that Monaco cannot be dropped or renamed as French GP. And a F1 season without the French GP is also inimaginable.

**Stephen Green** · 29 Jul 2002, 12:10 (Ref:345264)

Speaking of the tobacco ban, did you notice it didn't apply yesterday for some reason. Why are Germany exempt, I thought it was a voluntary ban within EU countries?

Red · 29 Jul 2002, 12:11 (Ref:345270)

:confused: Didn't know about such thing, but anyway, it won't be voluntary from 2006... I believe that local laws still applies by then.

alesi95 · 29 Jul 2002, 13:02 (Ref:345328)

I don't believe Spa or Monza will be in F1 much longer in any shape or form.

What with more Eastern countries coming to the calender One Italian race will be dropped and since Imola is sanitised it's unlikely to be the one.

Also Germany, is about a 20 minute walk form Spa so Bernie is unlikely to want that to stay.

M Coupe · 29 Jul 2002, 18:27 (Ref:345599)

I have to agree with Morris 1000, that Monza and Spa have already been decimated, Monza in a boring chicne fashion, but Spa shows how to do it properly. Shame it won't be around for much longer.

F1Manoz

The situation at Spa being mostly on public roads is slowly disappearing. I have visited the circuit twice in recent years while on the way to Germany, and both times it has been closed to the public, and is so from about February to November, with the recent new road being opened which bypasses the circuit, I don't believe it will be long before it becomes closed 12 months a year.

Speedworx · 29 Jul 2002, 19:37 (Ref:345655)

I keep saying Spa will be net for the chop, if it survives. Monza is short enough already.

Mr V · 29 Jul 2002, 20:15 (Ref:345697)

Quote:

Originally posted by Red
Technically France does not have 2 Gp,

Technically, neither does Italy, and technically neither did Germany when it was called the Luxembourg GP! All a load of BS of course, but it's amazing how money talks!

Speedworx · 29 Jul 2002, 20:25 (Ref:345708)

Monza is doing the work needed to keep F1, Imola isn't.

The Imola track is horrid and deserves to be dropped. Move the German GP to Nurburgring.

**Spudgun** · 29 Jul 2002, 20:41 (Ref:345721)

I really hope they don't drop Spa. IMO it's the best track in the world. At least I'll get to go to the last race held there if they do drop it next year..

Max! Don't do it!

paul-collins · 29 Jul 2002, 21:07 (Ref:345738)

Quote:

Originally posted by M Coupe
I have to agree with Morris 1000, that Monza and Spa have already been decimated...

Imagine this:

Jordi · 29 Jul 2002, 22:01 (Ref:345776)

It'd be time for CART to take up Spa and Monza if they were dropped. Then we would see Real Racing, with no team orders...

We're already at the Gilles Villeneuve!

emmer · 30 Jul 2002, 02:05 (Ref:345925)

about france it seems that paul ricard can be the chosen track for 200X (can't remember). i hope so.

if one track has to be dropped i'd chose hockenheim :| :

Lee Janotta · 30 Jul 2002, 02:20 (Ref:345935)

Beautiful photo, Paul...

Paul Richard'll replace Magny Cours before long, but it'll be the emasculated short course. No big straightaway.

Rutle · 30 Jul 2002, 03:35 (Ref:345957)

emmer and Lee J - You're right of course - Paul Ricard has to be a fairly obvious replacement for Magny Cours at some point - just look at who owns it!!!

also...

Quote:

originally posted by Yoong Montoya
After all, NASCAR always uses ovals

They don't actually - they also currently use Sears Point and Watkins Glen and have previously used Willow Springs, Elkhart Lake, Bridgehampton and Riverside.

Red · 30 Jul 2002, 05:34 (Ref:345980)

Quote:

Originally posted by mr v
Technically, neither does Italy, and technically neither did Germany when it was called the Luxembourg GP! All a load of BS of course, but it's amazing how money talks!

Those are not similar cases Mr V. Monaco is a different country, whileas Imola is in Italy not in San Marino, and Nurburgring is in Germany not in Luxembourg.

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