Ecclestone mulling options

European venues could lose out in F1 shake-up

Last updated: 9th April 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Ecclestone mulling options

Ecclestone: calendar choices

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Bernie Ecclestone has warned some European countries that their grand prix faces the axe as he tries to make way for new venues.

With India set to make its Formula One debut next season, the calendar will be extended to 20 races, a number that Ecclestone has stated in the past he would be happy with.

However, Moscow and New York are both looking for a place on the calendar, with 2012 and 2013 being touted as possible dates for their debut seasons.

But in order to make space for the new grands prix, Ecclestone says he is going to have to cull some of the current European venues.

"We're going to lose some races for sure, there are some races we can afford to lose without too much problem," he told Autocar.

"I've spoken to the countries to see what we can come up with."

Comments (18)

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Alan Cashmore says...

Only one thousand spectators at the Chinese GP practice on Friday. Many of the far eastern events are poorly supported and these are the races that Bernie wants to include in the F1 championship. European sell-out races are to be sacrificied so that politically motivated events can take their places. Bernie should remember that when his new race promoters "get bored", or just cannot afford his price any more, the traditional races may no longer exist. Does any-one remember the GPs of Sweden, Holland, Austria, Argentina, South Africa, etc etc?

Posted 18:31 17th April 2010

Nick Blundell says...

Get rid of hungary.The worst procession of them all

Posted 23:48 13th April 2010

Steve Horsman says...

Keep the best venues and alternate between the tracks that don't come up to scratch, say every other year until they become better tracks, lets face it Silverstone has one of the wosrt facilities for spectators at one of the highest prices.

Posted 17:48 13th April 2010

Steve J says...

Lewis H - Abu Dhabi was an excellent circuit and race, its Bahrain which is dull as dishwater, would be very upset if Monza, Silverstone, Spa or Monaco went. Please, please get rid of Valencia its awful.

Posted 12:53 12th April 2010

Wade Perrin says...

I'm sick of Bernie disregarding the European audience. It's the traditional home of F1 and where it is most popular. Even though it's a global competition, he can't take European races away like the French GP for example. Next he'll constitute iconic GP's like Spa and Monza for US and New Zealand GP's...

Posted 02:18 12th April 2010

Muteen Hussain says...

I have always thought the F1 calander should have 20 races and it not a problem that there should be races outside of europe, after all this is a 'World Championship'. I think there should be one race per country. Spain now has 2, to meet the demand to see Alonso, just as German had to to meet the demand to see Schumi, but i still think they should only have 1 each. Plus Valencia is a boring race. Thats what Bernie will have to remember, most of the new GPs are borning and the older tracks a better. So are the circuit designers doing a great job? My Friends have said they enjoyed the Singapore GP, but i found it boring until the last ten laps when the circuit breaks and the cars crashed. They have bourght back the Canadian GP, which is always good to watch because there is always a safety car involed. read more on F1 at my unbiased blog @ http://jaiom-gx3.blogspot.com/

Posted 20:14 11th April 2010

Peter M says...

Get rid of one of the spanish circuits, preferebly the European Grand Prix because it is virtually pointless. Also they should give Africa at least 2 Grand Prix's to widen the publicity of the sport. Come on guys!!!!!

Posted 17:30 11th April 2010

Nick F says...

F1 is screwed... lets have a breakaway with quicker more expensive cars. Set a budget of 50m and allow the engineers to go crazy. The sport and world needs invention ... V10's, Turbos, 6 wheels thats what I want to see.

Posted 14:20 11th April 2010

John Pawlowski says...

im all in favour for new circuits but if the grandstands are going to be empty in these countrys that dont care about F1 keep it in europe where the real motor racing fans are....

Posted 13:15 11th April 2010

Nick Bear says...

one got to be turkey, considering that they get no crowds like last year and valencia just cause it has to be the most boring f1 track out there

Posted 12:54 11th April 2010

Adam Whiteley says...

i second what lewis h is saying, for peet sake, dont drop the awesome european grand prixs that are tried and proven, and bring in the crounds year in year out, and make for some grat racing, spa, hokenhiem, turkey, silverstone, there all great, then you get the very classy and brand new venues like abu dhabi, but make for truly boring races, make money for sure bernie, and new venues are always welcome, but dont bore your followers while you do it

Posted 11:14 11th April 2010

Wanarua Mwangi says...

I support Bernie on this one and it was long overdue.Like,why should we have two races in Spain.Lewis is right that F1 fans don't want to see races in boring circuits like Yas Marina.I was there in person and it was a disaster for spectators given the fact it was the last event of the calendar.

Posted 09:52 11th April 2010

Red 4ever says...

Selfishly speaking I would hate to see the lost of the European circuits as they are the ones that I go to, so please Bernie leave them alone (For my sake!!!)

Posted 09:20 11th April 2010

Linus Hornsey-pennell says...

There are races that should be binned from the calendar outside of Europe the first of which being Bahrain. Bahrain is a pointless race with no personality. Moscow would provide fantastic entertainment but New York is a grid, there would be little excitement there, and following in true American fashion they shout about it before they realistically assert themselves in the areas required. Europe is the home of F1 and to cull its roots would be a mistake. Bernie needs to maintain the cultural history in the sport, Europe is it's history and I believe its future too.

Posted 21:59 10th April 2010

Mark Ryall says...

I totally agree with the point that John Shaw has raised. Keep all european tracks and alternate them each year. If standards fall below par, then demote the circuit which is flagging behind in favour for a new european circuit with more to offer. This would ensure that all tracks are on top form as well as providing revene to revamp poor circuits in order to get back in the top divison. Im sure that there are many countries that would like to have a piece of the cake that travels in excess of 190mph

Posted 15:24 10th April 2010

Liam Banks says...

I can not remember the last time Bernie Eccleston said something that i agreed with. The european races usually produce the best raing we can not get rid of them. I agree with wht John said any that are cut off should produce cycle for the european grand prix.

Posted 15:07 10th April 2010

John Shaw says...

With news F1 are trying to shorten the european races,you could still use at least 5 of the venues by alternating them every year and calling it the european grand prix as it is known now.

Posted 11:46 10th April 2010

Lewis H says...

With F1 looking to go global this was only a matter of time. I just hope he doesn't throw out the iconic European races for more boring circuits like Abu Dhabi.

Posted 18:54 9th April 2010
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