Where will the 25th September Grand Prix be
Discussion
There's lots of jibber jabber on the event that's not happening; this is about what is, or even better, what absurd speculation we have to what might. Ideally it'd be a poll so we can all nail our colours to a mast and laugh about how wrong we were, but maybe I'm dim, as I can't see how one does that.
So, the 25th sits at the start of what would/may still be a triple header flyaway with the Singapore and Japan races 2nd and 3rd. Due to coming off a European triple header event with a one week break it's felt that logistically (trucked v. Airfreight) a Europe race is not optimal, but never say never & let's include some in the discussion although an Asian race would fit the organising better. Liberty wanting a full calendar to serve the TV money means hosting fees and poor attendance aren't their primary concern - so we could see somewhere unexpected - but this is F1 so don't be surprised if the scent of green swerves it.
At short notice I'm thinking it's unlikely to be a circuit not previously raced at, with the possible exception of the Hanoi circuit of Vietnam. So the circuits avaliable are:
Nowhere. Won't happen. We can all sit and think about what we've done.
Hanoi circuit, Vietnam: tilke-designed F1 circuit supposed to be with us already, but for the c-word. Surely there's some impetus to make this happen?
Shanghai, China: Chinese said to be keen to get back on the calendar and will probably pay big $$$.
Sepang, Malaysia: we know it works.
Korean circuit, Korea: not seen for a few years but still in use.
Buddh circuit, India: Fell out with old F1 management but different people today. Money talks.
Burriam circuit, Thailand: FIA grade 1, but has never hosted Formula 1.
Portimio, Portugal: stepped in when the c-word made the world go potty. Fan favourite. Europe not optimal though?
Istanbul, Turkey: as above and past indescretions buried...
Fiji, Japan: seems unlikely.
Sakhir (alternate circuit), Bahrain: all the middle eastern suspects spoken for and a second trip seems unlikely but $$$ ?
Somewhere else? Where and why?
So, the 25th sits at the start of what would/may still be a triple header flyaway with the Singapore and Japan races 2nd and 3rd. Due to coming off a European triple header event with a one week break it's felt that logistically (trucked v. Airfreight) a Europe race is not optimal, but never say never & let's include some in the discussion although an Asian race would fit the organising better. Liberty wanting a full calendar to serve the TV money means hosting fees and poor attendance aren't their primary concern - so we could see somewhere unexpected - but this is F1 so don't be surprised if the scent of green swerves it.
At short notice I'm thinking it's unlikely to be a circuit not previously raced at, with the possible exception of the Hanoi circuit of Vietnam. So the circuits avaliable are:
Nowhere. Won't happen. We can all sit and think about what we've done.
Hanoi circuit, Vietnam: tilke-designed F1 circuit supposed to be with us already, but for the c-word. Surely there's some impetus to make this happen?
Shanghai, China: Chinese said to be keen to get back on the calendar and will probably pay big $$$.
Sepang, Malaysia: we know it works.
Korean circuit, Korea: not seen for a few years but still in use.
Buddh circuit, India: Fell out with old F1 management but different people today. Money talks.
Burriam circuit, Thailand: FIA grade 1, but has never hosted Formula 1.
Portimio, Portugal: stepped in when the c-word made the world go potty. Fan favourite. Europe not optimal though?
Istanbul, Turkey: as above and past indescretions buried...
Fiji, Japan: seems unlikely.
Sakhir (alternate circuit), Bahrain: all the middle eastern suspects spoken for and a second trip seems unlikely but $$$ ?
Somewhere else? Where and why?
According to veteran F1 hack Joe Saward, who’s usually really good with this stuff, the original plan was for Qatar, until they realised it’s going to be well over 40ºC there in September.
The plan is now to turn up early in Singapore, and do a second race for which they are expecting to sell out, possibly in the daytime rather than at night.
Almost any other plan becomes a logistics nightmare, because of all the problems around freight shipments at the moment.
https://joesaward.wordpress.com/2022/04/13/green-n...
The plan is now to turn up early in Singapore, and do a second race for which they are expecting to sell out, possibly in the daytime rather than at night.
Almost any other plan becomes a logistics nightmare, because of all the problems around freight shipments at the moment.
https://joesaward.wordpress.com/2022/04/13/green-n...
Sandpit Steve said:
According to veteran F1 hack Joe Saward, who’s usually really good with this stuff, the original plan was for Qatar, until they realised it’s going to be well over 40ºC there in September.
The plan is now to turn up early in Singapore, and do a second race for which they are expecting to sell out, possibly in the daytime rather than at night.
Almost any other plan becomes a logistics nightmare, because of all the problems around freight shipments at the moment.
https://joesaward.wordpress.com/2022/04/13/green-n...
I'd have thought as we had a 3x b2b scheduled that F1 has airfreight already chartered - probably locked in for the rest of the year - so anywhere within reasons possible?The plan is now to turn up early in Singapore, and do a second race for which they are expecting to sell out, possibly in the daytime rather than at night.
Almost any other plan becomes a logistics nightmare, because of all the problems around freight shipments at the moment.
https://joesaward.wordpress.com/2022/04/13/green-n...
The garage equipment that's alternated and surface freighted just has to be diverted from Sochi?
Teddy Lop said:
I'd have thought as we had a 3x b2b scheduled that F1 has airfreight already chartered - probably locked in for the rest of the year - so anywhere within reasons possible?
The garage equipment that's alternated and surface freighted just has to be diverted from Sochi?
It's not as simple as just diverting the flights they've already chartered to a different destination, unless they're paying double to cover for a potentially empty return flight for the planes. They don't just fly to a place and then sit and wait a week for F1 to finish so they can fly F1 to the next place. These are working planes, not dedicated F1 planes, and there's a global shortage of air freight capacity right now. As soon as they've unloaded F1 they'll be straight onto their next charter, and if F1 decides it wants to be thousands of miles away from where they originally booked their charter to then it's going to be very expensive.The garage equipment that's alternated and surface freighted just has to be diverted from Sochi?
thegreenhell said:
Teddy Lop said:
I'd have thought as we had a 3x b2b scheduled that F1 has airfreight already chartered - probably locked in for the rest of the year - so anywhere within reasons possible?
The garage equipment that's alternated and surface freighted just has to be diverted from Sochi?
It's not as simple as just diverting the flights they've already chartered to a different destination, unless they're paying double to cover for a potentially empty return flight for the planes. They don't just fly to a place and then sit and wait a week for F1 to finish so they can fly F1 to the next place. These are working planes, not dedicated F1 planes, and there's a global shortage of air freight capacity right now. As soon as they've unloaded F1 they'll be straight onto their next charter, and if F1 decides it wants to be thousands of miles away from where they originally booked their charter to then it's going to be very expensive.The garage equipment that's alternated and surface freighted just has to be diverted from Sochi?
Forget Vietnam and India. Both were the playthings of corrupt officials who no longer have influence beyond whom there existed little appetite to host a race. That may change in the future but not anytime soon.
The short term race planning during Covid was possible because all they needed to do was ship the teams and some TV equipment about. There was no need for lavish hospitality facilities and the normal scale of things required for a fully populated GP weekend. Plus, F1 was paying the circuits, not the other way around.
TheDeuce said:
Given weather and transport headaches/cost...
Seems likely they'll just double up either Italy or Singapore. Or, just maybe, Portimao after Italy.
Portimao would be my personal choice of the three options.
I think Italy or Singapore doubled is the likely outcome but Istanbul is on the way between them (as is a second Azerbaijan race) so could be made to work maybe ...Seems likely they'll just double up either Italy or Singapore. Or, just maybe, Portimao after Italy.
Portimao would be my personal choice of the three options.
But I'd go Lydden Hill as well
DOCG said:
Wouldn't another Singapore race be a nightmare for organizers with regards to shutting down public streets for twice as long.
If one GP works for them financially, I'm guessing they'd welcome a double.I worked in a Singapore once and was amazed at how light the traffic is. I think they'd cope just fine. I was staying in a hotel right next to the pit building and the roads were very qiuet.
Although if there is to be a double I'd vote Italy out of preference.
I think it’s unlikely to be two races in Singapore for several reasons - they’d have to close the streets for at an additional 5 days or so which would cause major disruption to those travelling into the business district and wouldn’t be looked on very favourably. Second the Singapore GP needs the associated entertainment to help draw the local fans (there’s usually 4 or 5 stages around the venue with live bands plus a mega stage on the Padang) that would need to be replicated for a second race. Additionally the F1 teams are able to stay on European time as its a night race, but if you have a day and a night race, that may not be ideal. And finally despite the organisers having already sold tickets for the usual Singapore GP, they have yet to announce a title sponsor for the event nor have they announced which bands have been signed up for the various stages. So it may be a step too far to hold two.
I live in Singapore and would be delighted with two races, but I don’t think it’ll happen...
I live in Singapore and would be delighted with two races, but I don’t think it’ll happen...
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