Formula One needs to accept the steady move away from its traditional European homeland according to McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa.
McLaren, along with seven other F1 teams are based in the UK, with four of the F1 teams based in Europe. However in 2012, the F1 calendar has just 8 of the 20 races scheduled for Europe.
De la Rosa wrote in his latest formulasantander.com column that F1 is moving with the times of the world.
“We all know that the grands prix are usually contested in those countries which can permit it, and nowadays, the majority of countries which can permit it are now in the Near East or on the same continent, Asia,” he said.
The next traditional host in danger of losing its F1 races is Germany.
“I find it hard to imagine a season of formula one without Germany,” the Nurburgring’s Karl-Josef Schmidt is quoted by the DPA news agency this week. “I think it’s the same for Mr Ecclestone.”
Schmidt is trying to negotiate a lower race fee for the circuit’s next scheduled race in 2013.
But de la Rosa said F1’s traditionalists need to accept the future has arrived.
“I understand that it is very hard for all those who, like me, grew up watching F1 races at the Nurburgring, at Brands Hatch, Estoril or at the Paul Ricard circuit,” he said.
“But it is as obvious to recognise that the investment of Asian countries is supplanting and even replacing the tradition of European countries.”
Source:GMM
