Future Grands Prix?

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

So long as it's not Caesar's Palace!

Bit hard seen as the car park that was used has since been built over

[TheMightyM]

Originally Posted by F1Guy

The question is, IF this was to go ahead, is the US having 6, potentially 7 F1 rounds per year, fair? Does F1 really need 7 rounds just in the US? Which of the other rounds would be axed to make way for 7 rounds in the US?

Some people feared that once Liberty Media took over, there'd be more F1 races in the US as a result - and less races outside of Europe. One more US round yes, but 7 rounds is just not right IMO.

Most Europeans have a poor sense of the sheer size of the United States. It's just under 900 miles by air from London to Rome. By comparison, Charlotte, where I live, is over 1,000 miles by air from Austin. Miami is 650 miles from me to the south; Boston is over 700 miles from me to the north. Los Angeles is over 2,000 miles from Charlotte.

The current E.U. population is about 510 million. The population of the U.S. is about 325 million. So if F1 catches on, the U.S. most certainly could support a lot more than the one race it currently has.

[BSchneiderFan]

Can you run 25 races (which I think I is too many) and still maintain the summer break? I'd be doubtful.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by ScotsBrutesFan

Given Liberty were talking about 25 races I'd suggest 3 at most, a spring time race on the East coast, a June race double header with Montreal in a Northern state, and then Austin doubled with Mexico later in the season as it currently sits.

25 races? That's too many. F1 will become mundane.

[chillibowl]

25 is also too many for me...then again 20/21 is already too many for me.

mainly for selfish reason, but 25 sundays is too many to give up and i suspect way too many weekends for the teams and personnel as well. actually the only way it still works for me is that time zone differences mean that most races are on at 7am (my time) so its a nice early morning/breakfast routine and the rest of my day is free.

more afternoon races in the US will change that but perhaps even more difficult would be the time zone implications for European viewers?

[Mike Harte]

At the moment, it appears that Liberty, like BCE before them, are not listening to the paying public.

The recent survey, which was answered by around 170,000 F1 supporters, showed that the respondents overwhelmingly felt that the number of races should be between 19 and 21 a year. And a good percentage of those respondents are the ones going through the turnstiles, and the survey showed that those numbers are decreasing.

And they need to be mindful of their TV audiences, as well. Since 2010, TV viewing figures are down by 25%, and over 40% of the respondents to the survey stated that in the years since 2010 they actually watch less F1 than they used to.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

actually the only way it still works for me is that time zone differences mean that most races are on at 7am (my time) so its a nice early morning/breakfast routine and the rest of my day is free.

more afternoon races in the US will change that but perhaps even more difficult would be the time zone implications for European viewers?

I'm 100% with ya on that, actually missed the US GP cause I forgot to take a break and go back in to watch, love the 6-8 am starts, breakfast and then I have Sunday to get stuff done. More races here would end up being more races missed by me I think.

[chunterer]

I'd be happy with 30 rounds but perhaps double header weekends so actually 'only' 15 events....

[Adam43]

Imagine how much people would whinge about the same result happening in both rounds in a double header! You'd have to work on that being unlikely. Which means touring car style stuff and the loss of the sport element.

I'm for 16 races only. Tops.

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by Adam43

Imagine how much people would whinge about the same result happening in both rounds in a double header! You'd have to work on that being unlikely. Which means touring car style stuff and the loss of the sport element.

I'm for 16 races only. Tops.

Have to agree. I'd be going down to 16-18 or so. The fan survey showed people really really don't care about Baku, Russia, Bahrain, China, and even Sepang and Hungary. So why bother putting them there. Drop them all, go back to a sensible length calendar.

[S griffin]

19 should be the limit IMHO.

[bjohnsonsmith]

They only have one double-header now in IndyCar. The last time they had more was in 2014, with three. Even so not one driver won both races. The last driver to win both, was Scott Dixon in 2013, at Toronto. However, IndyCar is more random than F1, so the likelihood of an F1 driver winning both is higher.

I think F1 should steer clear of double-headers, as they could come across as gimmicky. 19 races is a good number.

[Adam43]

You don't have two football matches, two 100m finals, snooker finals, golf masters, etc..., on one weekend.

Again it is the devaluing point. The expression Grand Prix would no longer be relevant. Perhaps F1 should go that way and we can set up a few real prizes that really matter each year?

[NaBUru38]

There's the Olympic Games, Pan American Games, Commonwealth Games, X Games...

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

There's the Olympic Games, Pan American Games, Commonwealth Games, X Games...

All of which are different and held on different weekends.

That's the equivalent of F1, Indycar, WEC, IMSA, BTCC. They're all motorsport but isn't the same motorsport.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Adam43

You don't have two football matches, two 100m finals, snooker finals, golf masters, etc..., on one weekend.

Again it is the devaluing point. The expression Grand Prix would no longer be relevant. Perhaps F1 should go that way and we can set up a few real prizes that really matter each year?

I remember, when either going to a Grand Prix, or even watching on TV, was a really exciting and special event. Maybe I do have those Rose Tinted spectacles on the end of my nose but these days, with already so many races, the magic isn't really quite there.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

They only have one double-header now in IndyCar. The last time they had more was in 2014, with three. Even so not one driver won both races. The last driver to win both, was Scott Dixon in 2013, at Toronto. However, IndyCar is more random than F1, so the likelihood of an F1 driver winning both is higher.

This isn't a dig at Indycar, but sometimes the way the randomness works out is a little silly. The fuel mileage, pit windows and yellows on ovals and road or street circuits is indeed random. It produces different winners and somehow fits Indycar, but I'm not sure it is right for F1.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

I remember, when either going to a Grand Prix, or even watching on TV, was a really exciting and special event. Maybe I do have those Rose Tinted spectacles on the end of my nose but these days, with already so many races, the magic isn't really quite there.

I think that is simply a consequence of over exposure. Both number of races and media drivel.

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by Adam43

This isn't a dig at Indycar, but sometimes the way the randomness works out is a little silly. The fuel mileage, pit windows and yellows on ovals and road or street circuits is indeed random. It produces different winners and somehow fits Indycar, but I'm not sure it is right for F1.

Agreed. I've been saying it for years but indycar current yellow system just messes everything up. You can have someone dominate for 75% of the race and then a yellow comes along (which you get a lot of in America) and suddenly he's 17th and out of contention. That's not much fun because half the race is pointless. If safety cars only happened two or three times a year then ok, but it's every race. Might as well just randomise the grid and half a 30 min sprint.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Adam43

This isn't a dig at Indycar, but sometimes the way the randomness works out is a little silly. The fuel mileage, pit windows and yellows on ovals and road or street circuits is indeed random. It produces different winners and somehow fits Indycar, but I'm not sure it is right for F1.

In some respects I quite like the randomness, in that it makes things less predictable, something that F1 can't be accused of, particularly in recent years with the dominance of RBR and then Mercedes. A little less predictability might be a good thing for F1.

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

In some respects I quite like the randomness, in that it makes things less predictable, something that F1 can't be accused of, particularly in recent years with the dominance of RBR and then Mercedes. A little less predictability might be a good thing for F1.

It would be, but I'd like to see it unpredictable based on performances, rather than a random roll of the dice. Too many times I've watched IndyCar and a yellow puts all the good cars mid pack and it's one by a random car. At that point I'd rather just have a sprint race with a randomised grid, because that's the same effect but more honest about it.

Both have pros and cons I suppose.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Adam43

I think that is simply a consequence of over exposure. Both number of races and media drivel.

I think over exposure has undoubtedly played a big part and a 30 race calendar isn't going to help.

[NaBUru38]

All circuit championships with pitstops have issues with caution periods, most notably endurance racing.

F! and FIA WEC have introduced virtual safety car. Lucky cars are those that need a pitstop, rather than cars that have just stopped. But the issue remains.

[ScotsBrutesFan]

Easy way around that is to close pit lane for regular stops. Allow damage repairs or a fixed amount of fuel.

[Alan52]

To make a race credible the best car/driver combinations should be the ones with the chance of winning.Indycar is a game of pit strategy bingo and seeing mediocrity come out on top so regularly has caused me to lose interest.