Just been to the GP in Shanghai and.....
Discussion
I can't help thinking that Bernie has got it all wrong building new F1 circuits in countries like China where the goverment can't even look after their own people, let alone pull off a world class event like an F1 race. Don't get me wrong, the race was superb and the circuit itself is very nice, but the surroundings appear to be run - down and under developed. I was sat at corner 3 and by 12pm there was no beer left down my end, and by about 2pm ALL drinks and food had completely sold out too.
It seems very strange that Bernie is taking F1 away from circuits like Silverstone, where a lot of money has been spent building new access roads and improving facilities. Why not just improve on whats already there instead of trying to start afresh and only getting the job 3/4 done?
Come on guys, we wouldn't run out of beer in England by 2pm would we?!
It seems very strange that Bernie is taking F1 away from circuits like Silverstone, where a lot of money has been spent building new access roads and improving facilities. Why not just improve on whats already there instead of trying to start afresh and only getting the job 3/4 done?
Come on guys, we wouldn't run out of beer in England by 2pm would we?!
nutta29 said:
I can't help thinking that Bernie has got it all wrong building new F1 circuits in countries like China where the goverment can't even look after their own people, let alone pull off a world class event like an F1 race. Don't get me wrong, the race was superb and the circuit itself is very nice, but the surroundings appear to be run - down and under developed. I was sat at corner 3 and by 12pm there was no beer left down my end, and by about 2pm ALL drinks and food had completely sold out too.
It seems very strange that Bernie is taking F1 away from circuits like Silverstone, where a lot of money has been spent building new access roads and improving facilities. Why not just improve on whats already there instead of trying to start afresh and only getting the job 3/4 done?
Come on guys, we wouldn't run out of beer in England by 2pm would we?!
Perhaps some of the food/beer got hijacked by the poor starving buggers in the surrounding run down areas.It seems very strange that Bernie is taking F1 away from circuits like Silverstone, where a lot of money has been spent building new access roads and improving facilities. Why not just improve on whats already there instead of trying to start afresh and only getting the job 3/4 done?
Come on guys, we wouldn't run out of beer in England by 2pm would we?!
RichB said:
The track looked completely deserted on the images I saw, one grandstand, a big green one was empty.
There are about 4 different track layouts at Shanghai, 3 of which can be totally independent of each other so they probably have the extra stands for them. The empty one I saw at turn 13 was being used to advertise Expo 2010 so it was probably a planned closure rather than being unfilled.FourWheelDrift said:
RichB said:
The track looked completely deserted on the images I saw, one grandstand, a big green one was empty.
There are about 4 different track layouts at Shanghai, 3 of which can be totally independent of each other so they probably have the extra stands for them. The empty one I saw at turn 13 was being used to advertise Expo 2010 so it was probably a planned closure rather than being unfilled.i know what your saying steve...bernie is interested in the bigger slice of the cake...but it kills me when he says he's taking F1 to new circuits for 'the fans.' the other weird thing was that 80% of merchandise was Ferrari stuff (official and unofficial) with the remainding 20% being made up of McLaren stuff. There was no signs of any other team gear...
seems as though the Ferrari bug has spread out to China also!
seems as though the Ferrari bug has spread out to China also!
nutta29 said:
...seems as though the Ferrari bug has spread out to China also!
With no real local interest or knowledge of motor racing, they're going to latch onto whoever gets the most publicity.That was the first China GP I've watched and I have to say what a boring and mickey mouse circuit Shanghai is, like an overgrown kart track.
While you were thinking that I was thinking the complete opposite. How did Bernie manage to convince China that they need F1? They they need to build a circuit, facilities, promote it, pay for the rights. He's a genius. If I were China I would have said "we're rich and have 1 billion people, why the hell do we need F1?"
Of course this means nothing if China wanted the F1 to make themselves appear like a member of the international community by being involved in sporting events like F1 and the Olympics and will pay anything to get it (see Olympics).
I don't think it's strange that Bernie is taking F1 away from the historical circuits - the reasons are pretty well known and in the public. But I do think it's a shame and a loss for the sport.
Of course this means nothing if China wanted the F1 to make themselves appear like a member of the international community by being involved in sporting events like F1 and the Olympics and will pay anything to get it (see Olympics).
I don't think it's strange that Bernie is taking F1 away from the historical circuits - the reasons are pretty well known and in the public. But I do think it's a shame and a loss for the sport.
zac510 said:
Of course this means nothing if China wanted the F1 to make themselves appear like a member of the international community by being involved in sporting events like F1 and the Olympics and will pay anything to get it (see Olympics).
I think you are absolutely correct, we are doing a lot of business in China at the moment and it seems to be their over-riding ambition, to be considered part of the international community.Not sure about them being rich though!
profstoff said:
I think you are absolutely correct, we are doing a lot of business in China at the moment and it seems to be their over-riding ambition, to be considered part of the international community.
Not sure about them being rich though!
I only take a fairly loose interest in international finance but I understand that they have a lot of investments in other countries and other countries are in debt to China. So their people don't have iPhones and BMW 3 series but the country itself has wealth and increasing political power.Not sure about them being rich though!
profstoff said:
nutta29 said:
...seems as though the Ferrari bug has spread out to China also!
With no real local interest or knowledge of motor racing, they're going to latch onto whoever gets the most publicity.That was the first China GP I've watched and I have to say what a boring and mickey mouse circuit Shanghai is, like an overgrown kart track.
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