Formula One Racing in Western Europe. The Future?
Discussion
Where is the formula one following greatest? Well, you'd have to say Germany, Italy, France and Britain rank right up there. Now, I know this may seem as a bit of a bizzare suggestion, but perhaps the FIA should stop having evening and night races at the other side of the world to satisfy their largest audience, and begin to hold races here instead!
Over the winter we lost France. Now we have concerns of the future of the British Grand Prix. And now, it seems, the two biggest tracks in Germany are unable to hold events. Now, Spa has always been the focal point of debate amongst FIA delegates, who always seem to have a plan to strike it's name off the calender. And surely it's only a matter of time until Monza is called into question. Formula One is moving rapidly away from the countries that made it so - the countries with the drivers, the teams, the car industry and the support.
And where is formula one heading instead? To tracks with a hundred thousand spare seats in the middle east and the far side of Asia! It's an absolute out-rage, especially in the economic down-turn, that messrs Ecclestone and Mosely are heading to the tracks that can pay the most money. Countries with no history of car industries, formula one drivers or interest in the sport. The bill for the track in India is expected to rise to around £18 billion. What country in Europe can afford that? And also, judging by the number of empty seats in Bahrain, Turkey and China, none of the fans can afford it either.
In my eyes, FOTA had it right, and I was actually beginning to look forward to the prospect of cheaper entrance prices, and races closer to home. They had the right balance - with tracks in Australia and Japan, where the people really do love the sport - but also including tracks in South America, North America and Western Europe. It would be cheaper to stage events and cheaper to allow people in. Thus creating mass crowds wherever the races were staged. Perhaps the FIA should stop worrying about trying to entice new teams to race by lowering race costs, but begin to entice the fans by lowering entrance costs. Whatever president elect can offer this, gets my vote.
Over the winter we lost France. Now we have concerns of the future of the British Grand Prix. And now, it seems, the two biggest tracks in Germany are unable to hold events. Now, Spa has always been the focal point of debate amongst FIA delegates, who always seem to have a plan to strike it's name off the calender. And surely it's only a matter of time until Monza is called into question. Formula One is moving rapidly away from the countries that made it so - the countries with the drivers, the teams, the car industry and the support.
And where is formula one heading instead? To tracks with a hundred thousand spare seats in the middle east and the far side of Asia! It's an absolute out-rage, especially in the economic down-turn, that messrs Ecclestone and Mosely are heading to the tracks that can pay the most money. Countries with no history of car industries, formula one drivers or interest in the sport. The bill for the track in India is expected to rise to around £18 billion. What country in Europe can afford that? And also, judging by the number of empty seats in Bahrain, Turkey and China, none of the fans can afford it either.
In my eyes, FOTA had it right, and I was actually beginning to look forward to the prospect of cheaper entrance prices, and races closer to home. They had the right balance - with tracks in Australia and Japan, where the people really do love the sport - but also including tracks in South America, North America and Western Europe. It would be cheaper to stage events and cheaper to allow people in. Thus creating mass crowds wherever the races were staged. Perhaps the FIA should stop worrying about trying to entice new teams to race by lowering race costs, but begin to entice the fans by lowering entrance costs. Whatever president elect can offer this, gets my vote.
I believe the future is here in Europe, but the Rights fees being charged by FOM and CVC are way too high and when the new Concorde Agreement is signed the committee running FOTA will be discussing the costs of hosting GP's and showing real interest in delivering more value for money. On track action is weak, off track showcases are poor and nobody wants to 'promote' or sell the whole weekend experience. bernie knows nothing of the web, marketing, sponsorship and merchandising...he does know TV but thats all. It is time that CVC introduced some major marketing specialists and event organisers to F1....ie Disney or Universal, the people who run huge live events and theme parks internationally.
Both Turkey and China have stated that they may not renew their F1 contracts when the expire. Dubai is having troubles with its construction and Japan may well walk away from F1 too unless reduced fees can be negotiated. Germany has issues no Hockenheim in 2010, and look at Silverstone and Donnington. European Governments don't need to promote business or tourism via F1, but evolving nations do.France is building a new track, Valencia have doen an OK job so far and Spa have upped their game too recently.
Obviously the sponsors and manufacturers wish to 'showcase' F1 to developing markets, but India is the future not China. Korea should have a race, the US and Canada should have three, South America one or two...Mexico is a must for 2012 or later. Europe eight or nine and then four elsewhere...but not all in the middle east!
F1 has become over exposed in chasing races, F1 politics now gets more of a write up than the actual racing and the drivers need to do more personal PR not corporate appearances. Races need to be held where the fans have a deep understanding of motorsport, not held because a prime minister wants to promote tourism....Turkey, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain etc. The fans need more value for money and the teams need to open their doors more and showcase their history / their souls and experience / personalities.
Both Turkey and China have stated that they may not renew their F1 contracts when the expire. Dubai is having troubles with its construction and Japan may well walk away from F1 too unless reduced fees can be negotiated. Germany has issues no Hockenheim in 2010, and look at Silverstone and Donnington. European Governments don't need to promote business or tourism via F1, but evolving nations do.France is building a new track, Valencia have doen an OK job so far and Spa have upped their game too recently.
Obviously the sponsors and manufacturers wish to 'showcase' F1 to developing markets, but India is the future not China. Korea should have a race, the US and Canada should have three, South America one or two...Mexico is a must for 2012 or later. Europe eight or nine and then four elsewhere...but not all in the middle east!
F1 has become over exposed in chasing races, F1 politics now gets more of a write up than the actual racing and the drivers need to do more personal PR not corporate appearances. Races need to be held where the fans have a deep understanding of motorsport, not held because a prime minister wants to promote tourism....Turkey, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain etc. The fans need more value for money and the teams need to open their doors more and showcase their history / their souls and experience / personalities.
Echo's my own thoughts.
Britain, France, Germany and Italy ARE Grand prix racing. We are where it came from, the history/heritage, we design and build the cars, we are the markets that give b€rnie his collosal TV rights. F1 without these countries would be like holding wimbledon in southern spain.
Problem is though that countries where the common man has little or no rights are able to pi55 huge amounts of money on hosting vainglory grands prix events that a democratic government can't justify to it's people, and to borrow a phrase from mr. Hicks if money had a dick b€rnie eccleston WOULD BE a flaming faggot.
So Thanks America, Oz, Canada, Japan, and all the countries that have helped make F1 a great global series. We don't need you anymore, cheerio, at least until F1 stops being the must-have-at-any-cost fashion accessory for every country led by fools who feel inadequate unless they can "show they're as good as the west" and then we'll come begging again.
I was pretty optimistic that, like you touch on, the breakaway would be the kick up the arse that our overblown F1 needs and that something healthier would rise from the ashes.
Britain, France, Germany and Italy ARE Grand prix racing. We are where it came from, the history/heritage, we design and build the cars, we are the markets that give b€rnie his collosal TV rights. F1 without these countries would be like holding wimbledon in southern spain.
Problem is though that countries where the common man has little or no rights are able to pi55 huge amounts of money on hosting vainglory grands prix events that a democratic government can't justify to it's people, and to borrow a phrase from mr. Hicks if money had a dick b€rnie eccleston WOULD BE a flaming faggot.
So Thanks America, Oz, Canada, Japan, and all the countries that have helped make F1 a great global series. We don't need you anymore, cheerio, at least until F1 stops being the must-have-at-any-cost fashion accessory for every country led by fools who feel inadequate unless they can "show they're as good as the west" and then we'll come begging again.
I was pretty optimistic that, like you touch on, the breakaway would be the kick up the arse that our overblown F1 needs and that something healthier would rise from the ashes.
Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff