Future Grands Prix?

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Yes, but that doesn’t mean F1 is on his radar. The only person mentioning a London GP is Toto

London mayor Sadiq Khan says he is "interested" in Formula 1 holding the British Grand Prix in the capital.

'"If F1 want to speak to me I am keen to listen," said Khan."My ambition is for London to carry on being the sporting capital of the world."

Speaking to the BBC London Sport, he added: "There are some hurdles to overcome, but I am certainly interested in the future in having F1 in London."'

It's on his radar - and if it had dropped off, Toto has put it back on again.
Ross Brawn is also talking about it - so it's not just Toto:
Brawn - '“We would like to see London complement Silverstone, not replace it.”

“We have the most efficient hybrid engines in the world and the current superstar is a British guy so racing in London showcasing our technology and our innovative capability, let’s go,” he said. “Let’s go racing in London.”'

At this stage - I'd wager that there is more chance of a London GP happening in the next five years than an Australian GP happening this year.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

London mayor Sadiq Khan says he is "interested" in Formula 1 holding the British Grand Prix in the capital.

'"If F1 want to speak to me I am keen to listen," said Khan."My ambition is for London to carry on being the sporting capital of the world."

Speaking to the BBC London Sport, he added: "There are some hurdles to overcome, but I am certainly interested in the future in having F1 in London."'

It's on his radar - and if it had dropped off, Toto has put it back on again.
Ross Brawn is also talking about it - so it's not just Toto:
Brawn - '“We would like to see London complement Silverstone, not replace it.”

“We have the most efficient hybrid engines in the world and the current superstar is a British guy so racing in London showcasing our technology and our innovative capability, let’s go,” he said. “Let’s go racing in London.”'

At this stage - I'd wager that there is more chance of a London GP happening in the next five years than an Australian GP happening this year.

That BBC Sport article was from 2017. Since then the UK was referred to the European Court of Justice, for failing to tackle illegal levels of air pollution and Sadiq Khan has subsequently been pushing the green agenda, with the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and has increased the congestion zone charge in June last year. I think he would look very hypocritical, if he were now to push for a GP.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

I suspect post covid, bringing tourists back to urban settings will be be huge.

A London GP makes sense in that context and any neighborhood people who might object will unfortunately have to take a back seat to business interests.



Reasonable.

London doesn't need F1 to attract tourists. I suspect nobody has told Kahn what the hosting fee and build costs are!

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

London doesn't need F1 to attract tourists. I suspect nobody has told Kahn what the hosting fee and build costs are!

There's always a balance - and the revenue streams are not as clear cut.

Typically, the promoter's fee amounts to somewhere in the region of £23m to host a GP.
On the other hand, the revenue from Sky Sports to F1 each year amounts to £610m per year.

So Liberty - being a Media-focused company - may choose to prioritise their TV stream over the promoter's fees, and might anticipate a rise in TV revenue from the UK for a London GP?

If they can monetise the broadcast more than the promotion - then things could look entirely different.

[GT6]

Would an F1 car be congestion charge except?

The cost of holding it in London would be massive and the chance of selling enough tickets very limited. Daft idea to be honest

[NaBUru38]

If Formula E had nimbys, imagine what would happen with F1.

[Mike Harte]

Just read on the BBC website ( https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/57621406 ) that the Russian GP is moving from Sochi to the Igora Drive circuit outside St Petersburg from 2023.

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

Just read on the BBC website ( https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/57621406 ) that the Russian GP is moving from Sochi to the Igora Drive circuit outside St Petersburg from 2023.

That’s the one with the long back straight isn’t it? Could be interesting

[marcel82]

Originally Posted by S griffin

That’s the one with the long back straight isn’t it? Could be interesting

no, it's this one:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/%D...8!4d30.1990436

about 4km/2,5 miles.

I think we're going to miss Sochi.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Igora Drive

Here is a link to some information on the circuit.
https://www.racingcircuits.info/euro...l#.YNc-PO8o-nE

[Alan52]

Judging from the couple of races I have watched on tv from St. Petersburg the circuit is rubbish by F1 standards.

[S griffin]

I think it might be better than Sochi, but that ain’t saying much

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by marcel82

no, it's this one:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/%D...8!4d30.1990436

about 4km/2,5 miles.

I think we're going to miss Sochi.

Only 2.5 miles? Too short for a 'statement'venue. Needs to be at least 3 miles.

[Adam43]

Don’t worry! They might alternate between the two venues.
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/ru...drive/6621621/

Is this a golden age in Russian motorsport, like the heyday of alternating between Brands and Silverstone?

[S griffin]

Or in recent times, Hockenheim and the Nurburgring

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Igora Drive

Here is a link to some information on the circuit.
https://www.racingcircuits.info/euro...l#.YNc-PO8o-nE

Originally Posted by chunterer

Only 2.5 miles? Too short for a 'statement'venue. Needs to be at least 3 miles.

They’re going to make it a bit longer and mess with the final part of the lap.
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/ig...f1-gp/6622742/

[S griffin]

Glad to see they are lengthening it, could make it more interesting

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by Adam43

They’re going to make it a bit longer and mess with the final part of the lap.
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/ig...f1-gp/6622742/

That's a bit more like it!

[bjohnsonsmith]

The Miami GP has been confirmed for next year.


https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12...7hpy_H9nkS0gg0

[S griffin]

I’m now convinced it will happen, so look forward to it

[Born Racer]

Qatar is in for this year and for 2023 and beyond: https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...dNWZMDAn6.html

[ScotsBrutesFan]

Interesting that it’s only confirmed for this year at Losail, the venue from 2023 has yet to be determined.

Another Mid East street circuit. A new Tilke drome in the region or major changes to Losail to make it more of a car and F1 circuit.

[S griffin]

It's worth a try this year, although I question whether we really need another race in the Middle East. Bahrain and Abu Dhabi have hardly been classics and we're now getting Saudi too

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by S griffin

It's worth a try this year, although I question whether we really need another race in the Middle East. Bahrain and Abu Dhabi have hardly been classics and we're now getting Saudi too

I'm not sure why the geographical territory in which a race is held should make any difference to how good the race is?

A poor venue in Europe or America is equally as likely to give a poor race. Historical relevance of a circuit may play a part - but you can only gain history at a venue by racing there?

I'd also question the quality of races if you look at the threads here. Bahrain 2021 rated 8+ on average.

[S griffin]

I wasn’t talking about the quality of the racing, I was talking about the quality of the circuits. Bahrain may occasionally make a great race, but Spa or Suzuka it ain’t. Most of them are bland autodromes and let’s face it they’ve hardly gained the following in Europe. Fact is classic venues and countries that have returned like Imola or Portugal have proven more popular among F1 fans