Why does F1 not have two races in Japan every year?
Discussion
Both Suzuka and Fuji are stonking good circuits, both fully deserving of being a permanent fixture on the calendar. And when we have races at such dreary places/circuits like Sochi, Abu Dhabi, Paul Ricard, Cota, Hanoi, surely there is room for a second Japanese race at Fuji considering the massive importance of Japan in the auto industry and how great these two circuits are.
It could even be done the immediate week following the Suzuka race to greatly save on travel costs.
It could even be done the immediate week following the Suzuka race to greatly save on travel costs.
If it made sense from a marketing and ultimately financial point of view it could happen. There are good financial reasons for several of the other slightly dull circuits you mention being on the calendar.
Also in 'normal times' each country has a single GP, so it's pretty much the norm for Japan to have just one isn't it?
Also in 'normal times' each country has a single GP, so it's pretty much the norm for Japan to have just one isn't it?
TheDeuce said:
If it made sense from a marketing and ultimately financial point of view it could happen. There are good financial reasons for several of the other slightly dull circuits you mention being on the calendar.
Also in 'normal times' each country has a single GP, so it's pretty much the norm for Japan to have just one isn't it?
Actually Japan did have two races a year in 1994 and 1995, and both Germany and Italy had 2 races a year for many years.Also in 'normal times' each country has a single GP, so it's pretty much the norm for Japan to have just one isn't it?
I think F1 has really shot itself in the foot by always going for whichever circuits happen to have promoters willing to pay the most, it is not good for the long-term health of the sport in my opinion. F1 should race at the circuits that fans like to watch them race at the most.
DOCG said:
TheDeuce said:
If it made sense from a marketing and ultimately financial point of view it could happen. There are good financial reasons for several of the other slightly dull circuits you mention being on the calendar.
Also in 'normal times' each country has a single GP, so it's pretty much the norm for Japan to have just one isn't it?
Actually Japan did have two races a year in 1994 and 1995, and both Germany and Italy had 2 races a year for many years.Also in 'normal times' each country has a single GP, so it's pretty much the norm for Japan to have just one isn't it?
I think F1 has really shot itself in the foot by always going for whichever circuits happen to have promoters willing to pay the most, it is not good for the long-term health of the sport in my opinion. F1 should race at the circuits that fans like to watch them race at the most.
On the other hand there are some circuits that most viewers couldn't give a toss about so there hosting fees are probably massive and justify being on the calendar as such.
Whichever equals the most money in terms of promoter payment + TV rights value will get the gig.
DOCG said:
TheDeuce said:
If it made sense from a marketing and ultimately financial point of view it could happen. There are good financial reasons for several of the other slightly dull circuits you mention being on the calendar.
Also in 'normal times' each country has a single GP, so it's pretty much the norm for Japan to have just one isn't it?
Actually Japan did have two races a year in 1994 and 1995, and both Germany and Italy had 2 races a year for many years.Also in 'normal times' each country has a single GP, so it's pretty much the norm for Japan to have just one isn't it?
I think F1 has really shot itself in the foot by always going for whichever circuits happen to have promoters willing to pay the most, it is not good for the long-term health of the sport in my opinion. F1 should race at the circuits that fans like to watch them race at the most.
They want races in the US, Europe, Asia and have to balance:
Money coming in from promoter
Global marketing appeal of racing there
Feasibility to get it into the calendar in terms of number of races
Timing of when a race can be run locally (avoiding monsoon season or extremely hot summer, for example)
Avoiding other events locally and internationally that are fixed timing-wise and could clash.
Appeal of the circuit, fanbase, etc.
For these reasons, it's quite unusual now to have two races in the same country (this year being exceptional due to Covid)
Prior to this year; the last time a country held two races was 2012, when Spain held the Spanish Grand Prix (Catalunya) and the European Grand Prix (Valencia)
To address Fuji in particular, it's only held four F1 races IINM.
The 1976 race was infamously wet and wouldn't have gone ahead nowadays. In 1977, two spectators were killed there as a result of a crash involving Gilles Villeneuve
In 2007 there was a lot of transportation problems getting fans to and from the circuit and rumours that the circuit (which was owned by Toyota) were preventing fans from supporting teams other than Toyota with flags, etc
In 2008 there was again heavy rain - a common problem in the area.
The circuit itself may be OK, but it's not exactly Spa and I don't see many other people clamouring for it's return to the calendar. They had the opportunity to alternate with Suzuka and couldn't make it work.
Plus, Suzuka itself is widely known as one of the most challenging and exciting tracks to race at, so no need to move from there.
Muzzer79 said:
Prior to this year; the last time a country held two races was 2012, when Spain held the Spanish Grand Prix (Catalunya) and the European Grand Prix (Valencia)
A favour from Bernie to Briatore who had the Spanish TV rights and wanted to capitalise on the Alonso effect. The 'European Grand Prix' is a term that's been used to permit two races in one country - i.e. Germany at the height of Schumacher's popularity there.
Bottom line is that if the bottom line might benefit, then it would be considered.
Whenever the idea of a 'London Grand Prix' rears its head, one of the concerns is the impact it would have on the British GP in terms of spectators - the theory being that there'd be a dilution across both the London and British GPs which would render the economics of both, shaky.
France used to have two rounds of the World Championship as well - one branded as the Swiss GP.
Of course, before the total lock down on non-championship F1 races, there were many examples of countries hosting not only two but sometimes two or more F1 races - for contemporary teams and drivers.
In 1964 there were six top flight F1 races in the UK alone, the official Grand Prix at Brands Hatch, the Daily Mirror Trophy at Snetterton, the News of the World Trophy at Goodwood, the Aintree Trophy, the International Tourist Trophy at Silverstone and the Oulton Park Gold Cup.
Of course, before the total lock down on non-championship F1 races, there were many examples of countries hosting not only two but sometimes two or more F1 races - for contemporary teams and drivers.
In 1964 there were six top flight F1 races in the UK alone, the official Grand Prix at Brands Hatch, the Daily Mirror Trophy at Snetterton, the News of the World Trophy at Goodwood, the Aintree Trophy, the International Tourist Trophy at Silverstone and the Oulton Park Gold Cup.
StevieBee said:
A favour from Bernie to Briatore who had the Spanish TV rights and wanted to capitalise on the Alonso effect.
The 'European Grand Prix' is a term that's been used to permit two races in one country - i.e. Germany at the height of Schumacher's popularity there.
In certain years in the 90s we had the European GP at Jerez, the Luxembourg GP at Nurburgring and the San Marino GP at Imola, in addition to the Spanish, German and Italian GPs. The championship was a lot more Euro-centric back then.The 'European Grand Prix' is a term that's been used to permit two races in one country - i.e. Germany at the height of Schumacher's popularity there.
Schermerhorn said:
Red Bull suffered two successive engine related DNFs with Verstappen at Monza and Mugello.
Now, imagine that happened at Suzuka and then Fuji. The PR fallout would be very bad in a country that prides itself on its achievements and is very patriotic......
Yes, because the Japanese presumably don’t watch races outside of their country like everyone else?Now, imagine that happened at Suzuka and then Fuji. The PR fallout would be very bad in a country that prides itself on its achievements and is very patriotic......
thegreenhell said:
In certain years in the 90s we had the European GP at Jerez, the Luxembourg GP at Nurburgring and the San Marino GP at Imola, in addition to the Spanish, German and Italian GPs. The championship was a lot more Euro-centric back then.
In my opinion it should still be as most of the great and historic circuits are in Europe DOCG said:
thegreenhell said:
In certain years in the 90s we had the European GP at Jerez, the Luxembourg GP at Nurburgring and the San Marino GP at Imola, in addition to the Spanish, German and Italian GPs. The championship was a lot more Euro-centric back then.
In my opinion it should still be as most of the great and historic circuits are in Europe Muzzer79 said:
DOCG said:
thegreenhell said:
In certain years in the 90s we had the European GP at Jerez, the Luxembourg GP at Nurburgring and the San Marino GP at Imola, in addition to the Spanish, German and Italian GPs. The championship was a lot more Euro-centric back then.
In my opinion it should still be as most of the great and historic circuits are in Europe Drivers are more diverse than the teams and even there, only 6 of 20 are not European and 4 of those are from North/Central America.
WEC is mostly European races too, is that not a World Championship either?
Pericoloso said:
How many world champion drivers has the UK had ?.....many.
How many Italians, Germans, French ?......many
How many Japanese champions ?
One Italian - Ascari (and he wasn't even driving a Formula 1 car on the two occasions he was World Champion)How many Italians, Germans, French ?......many
How many Japanese champions ?
One French - Prost
Two Germans - Schumacher and Vettel
Britain leads by a mile (Hawthorn, Hill G, Clark, Stewart, Hunt, Mansell, Hill D, Hamilton, Button).
Eric Mc said:
One Italian - Ascari (and he wasn't even driving a Formula 1 car on the two occasions he was World Champion)
One French - Prost
Two Germans - Schumacher and Vettel
Britain leads by a mile (Hawthorn, Hill G, Clark, Stewart, Hunt, Mansell, Hill D, Hamilton, Button).
When did Mario Andretti stop being Italian?One French - Prost
Two Germans - Schumacher and Vettel
Britain leads by a mile (Hawthorn, Hill G, Clark, Stewart, Hunt, Mansell, Hill D, Hamilton, Button).
Eric Mc said:
One Italian - Ascari (and he wasn't even driving a Formula 1 car on the two occasions he was World Champion)
One French - Prost
Two Germans - Schumacher and Vettel
Britain leads by a mile (Hawthorn, Hill G, Clark, Stewart, Hunt, Mansell, Hill D, Hamilton, Button).
Farina (the first WDC in 1950) was also Italian.One French - Prost
Two Germans - Schumacher and Vettel
Britain leads by a mile (Hawthorn, Hill G, Clark, Stewart, Hunt, Mansell, Hill D, Hamilton, Button).
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