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[al4x]

id much prefer all 2 week gaps than a one and then a 3!

going 2 weekends is too much!

[al4x]

id like more races around australia time, i dont like the middle east time for watching them, but it seems like more and more are going that way

[texasmr2]

i think night races are gonna suck!

That's what alot of the diehard NASCAR fan's thought also but their night race's are now complete sellout's one to two year's in advance. I think everyone will be very surprised as too how much they actually enjoy the F1 night race/race's.

[al4x]

i guess only time will tell, id like to go to a night race (i love the dark ) but to see one on telly, will probably just be normal

but we will see

[texasmr2]

Your right as only time will tell.

[Mr.Snuggles]

i love the dark to
but yeah i know what you mean
i gues in the major break my 2nd brain can come in to play
that cna be the time i bonus Love

[8-ball]

i think night races are gonna suck!

That's what alot of the diehard NASCAR fan's thought also but their night race's are now complete sellout's one to two year's in advance. I think everyone will be very surprised as too how much they actually enjoy the F1 night race/race's.

i personally can't wait for the night race. It going to be the best thing that happened to F1 in a long time. Hopefully more races will go at night and we get some kind of an african grand prix

[Mr.Snuggles]

I Have to agree with you 8 ball its going to be somthing new for us to experience, it won't really be anything different for the pure fact of the lights will be on??
but it will make an azming change to things, a new step forward if you will?

[7UpJordan]

I remember the first night race in the BTCC back in 1999, it was quite a unique experience, and I hope the F1 night race feels the same.

[Martin]

What about there being no circuit lights but all of the drivers can hold a torch? That would make it exciting wouldn't it? At pit stops they could have new tyres, more fuel and new batteries for the torch!!

[Mr.Snuggles]

that would be so funny!

hmmmmmmm...get in contact with B/E
lets see what we can make happen?

[Denthúl]

now that AKR and Mr Snuggles are best friends here is my opinon. Business wise dropping the Australian grand prix is a good thing. Europe is F1 biggest market and the advertising revenues due to the time difference is some of the lowest in the season even though the race is first on the calendar. Bernie could make more money from Russia or any other place where F1 would be the new shiny sport in town. So if it is not made into a night race so Europeans can watch at a suitable time then Australia isn't going to be on the calendar for long. In fact i am surprised that it has lasted this long

You're completely right, but as I have said before and as Gregg has said on this thread, I don't think it's entirely right to let the final digits on a bank statement decide the future of Formula. Certain Grands Prix are special, and whilst not being as special as say, the British Grand Prix, the Australian Grand Prix has a lot of kudos and history behind it. Further, Formula One is meant to be a world championship, so not having an Australian Grand Prix, with no United States Grand Prix, no African Grand Prix and only one Grand Prix in South America really is quite sad. One of the things I don't like about modern Formula One is that is has become so clinical: tracks have to be modern, which generally means boring; everybody uses 'Ron Speak' to address the media now; and drivers cannot even do doughnuts after winning a race! In truth, the sport has lost its way and things are only going to get worse so long as Max Mosley and Bernie Ecclestone are running the sport. Thanks Bernie, you've done a great deal for the sport without doubt, but now it's time to go.

I agree with the entire post, but the part in bold really sticks out as important in my mind. Eventually, it will just become the Formula 1 Asia Championship with a couple of races in Europe. :/

If it were to be a proper world championship, a calendar including these would seem much more appropriate:

Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Belgium
Brazil
Britain
Canada
Europe (Nürburgring)
France
Germany (Hockenheim)
Italy
Japan
Malaysia
Monaco
San Marino (I know it's in Italy, but yeah...)
South Africa
Spain
USA

Chances are, though, such a thing will never come to be...

[Martin]

I agree with the entire post, but the part in bold really sticks out as important in my mind. Eventually, it will just become the Formula 1 Asia Championship with a couple of races in Europe. :/

If it were to be a proper world championship, a calendar including these would seem much more appropriate:

Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Belgium
Brazil
Britain
Canada
Europe (Nürburgring)
France
Germany (Hockenheim)
Italy
Japan
Malaysia
Monaco
San Marino (I know it's in Italy, but yeah...)
South Africa
Spain
USA

Chances are, though, such a thing will never come to be...[/quote]

I agree with most of that, although there are other countries that could provide good racing and revenue, but I suppose the line has to be drawn somewhere.
What I dont understand is the European GP. Why do we have that?, most of the original European countries are represented anyway, there are now new members of the EU, none of which has a GP, but I wonder about Portugal. As far as I can remember there has not been a Portuguese GP. Its probably to do with money, or lack of it, I suppose. However, I dont really agree with the concept of a Euro GP, when so many other deserving countries could use that slot.

[AKR]

Martin wrote : What I dont understand is the European GP. Why do we have that?, most of the original European countries are represented anyway, there are now new members of the EU, none of which has a GP, but I wonder about Portugal. As far as I can remember there has not been a Portuguese GP. Its probably to do with money, or lack of it, I suppose. However, I dont really agree with the concept of a Euro GP, when so many other deserving countries could use that slot.

There used to be a Portuguese GP at Estoril. They got rid of it in the early 1990s. I can't remember exactly which year but I remember Nigel Mansell winning there for Ferrari in 1990 when the race was stopped 10 laps before the end because of a red flag.

[Denthúl]

Well, I never really understood the European GP, either. I just saw it as a way to fit both German circuits in there, since I love both. Though, I do remember now that they'll be alternating between the two, much like Suzuka and Fuji from '09, so it isn't necessary. As for Portugal, their last GP was held there in 1996. It was at Estoril. They've also had GPs in Boavista, Cascais and Monsanto. But you're definitely right about there being many places to choose from.

I also missed Turkey and Hungary off my list. I like those two, as well.

Thing is, there are so many circuits to choose from, that it would probably be a good idea if there were a core set of GPs (Australia, Britain, Brazil, USA, Canada, Monaco and Belgium, for example) that didn't change each year and then all the others could be held at various circuits each time round. I actually think that would help to spread the sport more and also be more challenging for the drivers. If you drive the same circuit every year for five years or so, you get quite used to it and it gives you a bit of an advantage. An ever-changing calendar presents a whole new set of challenges, such as car set-ups and drivers learning the braking and turning points.