Future Grands Prix?

[Cynic]

Real shame that there is no German GP, but it's just another example of circuits that aren't state funded realising they can't bankrupt themselves for the sake of one race. How many will need to go before the powers that be realise how much damage they are doing to the sport?

[GT6]

Unfortunately the short sighted people running F1 only look at the instant cash, and do not think about the effects, no german gp will not go down well with many sponsors and if more of the big races are lost in the future then struggling teams will pay the price

[Sodemo]

Don't worry. Pay TV will save F1, after all, it's what the fans want!

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Originally Posted by Cynic

Real shame that there is no German GP, but it's just another example of circuits that aren't state funded realising they can't bankrupt themselves for the sake of one race. How many will need to go before the powers that be realise how much damage they are doing to the sport?

Sadly I feel that it will have to be the powers that be (perhaps Bernie) who have to go first.

[bella]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Monza has had a few wet GPs, but you are right they are very rare. The only other European circuit that doesn't seem to have that much rain, to me, is Paul Ricard

hehehe, it's funny how this perception thing works, it's exactly the opposite for me. i think i've been there about 6 times, easily 4 of those involved torrential rain at one point or another during the weekend or test. always biblical rain or hail, never a light shower. silverstone eat your heart out

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by GT6

Unfortunately the short sighted people running F1 only look at the instant cash, and do not think about the effects, no german gp will not go down well with many sponsors and if more of the big races are lost in the future then struggling teams will pay the price

It won't just be sponsors. Mercedes must be feeling a little frustrated. As we know, they won the WCC and the WDC with a German driver but there's no home GP with which to market and capitalise on that achievement.

[chillibowl]

Merc, or various voices within Merc, seem to go back and forth between save and not save.

do they prefer Nuerburgring or Hockenheim, is it really their responsibility to save it, is it worth saving since they get low attendance and local promoters may not be doing a good enough job?

plus if the German gov't or people dont really want to spend public money to save the race im curious how many of them think its a good idea that a prominent national company spends so much in F1...a sentiment that will no doubt grow the next time the company is facing the need to cut jobs in Germany.

cant blame them as its a hard spot for them to be in.

if this race is gone for the foreseeable future, should we also be questioning Merc's long term involvement in the sport?

[Mr Pink]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

The revised calendar is at the end of this article.

https://www.autosport.com/news/repor...-le-mans-clash

They should've scratched Bahrain, Shanghai, Sochi and Abu Dhabi while they were at it.

[Akrapovic]

Wasn't the German GP poorly attended? Last figures I seen were around the 50k mark, which is the same as WEC - which is constantly criticised for having poor attendance. If you watch the Ring 24, that's far better attended than the F1 event too. Even the GP circuit grandstands were very full for that. People would rather turn out to see a GT/Touring car race than the F1 event, despite Mercedes and Vettel doing well.

[alan1302]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

if this race is gone for the foreseeable future, should we also be questioning Merc's long term involvement in the sport?

No, they are from Germany but are an international company and they are in F1 for that international exposure.

Renault are in F1 and France doesn't have a race.

[S griffin]

I'm glad Bernie has been overpowered and there is to be no political clash. Then again Le Mans last laps was more exciting than the whole of Baku, so no wonder! As for no German GP...

[dsg]

Originally Posted by alan1302

No, they are from Germany but are an international company and they are in F1 for that international exposure.

Renault are in F1 and France doesn't have a race.

Mercedes are probably happy the races are in Bahrain, Shanghai, Sochi and Abu Dhabi.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Mr Pink

They should've scratched Bahrain, Shanghai, Sochi and Abu Dhabi while they were at it.

In his herd of F1 cash cows, those are Bernie's prize heifers. He's not going to send them to the F1 abattoir any time soon.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by alan1302

No, they are from Germany but are an international company and they are in F1 for that international exposure.

Renault are in F1 and France doesn't have a race.

The difference between Mercedes and Renault is their product and their market. Mercedes produce cars for the international luxury market, Renault don't.

[NaBUru38]

Also, Mercedes sells around the world, and Renau;t is focused on Europe, South America and a few MENA countries.

[Mr Pink]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

In his herd of F1 cash cows, those are Bernie's prize heifers. He's not going to send them to the F1 abattoir any time soon.

Yeah I'm well aware.

[wolfhound]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

In his herd of F1 cash cows, those are Bernie's prize heifers. He's not going to send them to the F1 abattoir any time soon.

Even if some of them are white elephants in terms of paying spectators.

[chunterer]

Joe Saward reporting Paul Ricard back on the calendar in 2018!!!

Woohoo!

[wolfhound]

Originally Posted by chunterer

Joe Saward reporting Paul Ricard back on the calendar in 2018!!!

Woohoo!

I wonder how much Bernie is paying himself for the pleasure of hosting the GP?

(probably nothing as the taxpayer will do it)

[S griffin]

About time too! 10 seasons without a French GP is waaay too long!

[bella]

oh dear, it's about 2 hours from another f1 venue, 4 or 5 from another, completely unsuitable in terms of facilities and will be unsustainable as a larger venue. don't get me wrong, i love the place and it's a stunning part of the world, but the inevitable rise in day rate fees for testing and races is going to be tricky for the market to sustain. i fail to believe that bernie/whoever will fund the investments themselves through the good of their own hearts...

[NaBUru38]

As far as I know, Paul Ricard hasn't attracted any crowds for a decade.

[Rob29]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

As far as I know, Paul Ricard hasn't attracted any crowds for a decade.

Has no facilities for spectators-temporary open stands I seem to remember when I went there for the GP in the 80s

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Rob29

Has no facilities for spectators-temporary open stands I seem to remember when I went there for the GP in the 80s

There are GPs on the calendar that don't draw crowds.

[S griffin]

They have reopened it to the public since it started hosting regular races again