British GP 2005 - it's on the calendar

[Kicking-back]

I've just seen details of the 2005 F1 Calendar.

The British Grand Prix is on there.

[Adam43]

As we knew last night. And not a really a surprise anyway.

Interestingly France and Imola are on it too...

[Kicking-back]

Well, we knew it was "expected to be" on it last night

There will most likely be 19 races next year, but it will all work out in Bernie's favour

[Andrew Gunnell]

Sorry, but what was the problems with France and Imola?

[Super Tourer]

Here is the full line up


http://www.fia.com/mediacentre/Press...131004-01.html




2005 FIA Formula One World Championship
13.10.2004

The following calendar was voted by the World Council.

Australia 06 March

Malaysia 20 March

Bahrain 03 April

France* 17 April (* contract under discussion)

San Marino* 24 April (* subject to compliance with contract)

Spain 08 May

Monaco 22 May

Europe Date to be confirmed

Canada 12 June

United States Date to be confirmed

Great Britain* 3 July (* contract under discussion)

Germany 17 July

Hungary 31 July

Turkey 21 August

Italy 04 September

Belgium 11 September

Brazil 25 September

Japan 09 October

China Date to be confirmed

The dates for the Grands Prix of Europe, USA and China will be confirmed no later than the meeting of the World Motor Sport Council on December 10, 2004.

[Super Tourer]

Originally posted by Andrew Gunnell
Sorry, but what was the problems with France and Imola?

France was touch and go this year due to lack of a promoter and financial viability of the event.

Imola - it was widely thought that this would be lopped off the calendar to make way for one of the new venues, and there has been questioning of the facilities a la Silverstone.

[Kicking-back]

I think we can assume France, San Marino and Britain will go ahead - because it would leave big gaps on the calendar otherwise.

[Logrence]

The French aren't fronting the money - they've been having problems with that for a few years...but how's Bernie going to weasel out of the San Marino contract?

[Super Tourer]

At least one will go unless BE can get the teams to agree to an additional race, for which he will have to dig into his pocket or get some sort trade off against the rules package.

IIRC, some of the teams would prefer to see 17 races, but this may just be a bargaining tool.

[Kicking-back]

I believe the teams will agree to nineteen races.

They were told that was likely many months ago.

[Super Tourer]

Originally posted by Kicking-back
I believe the teams will agree to nineteen races.

They were told that was likely many months ago.

I think they will agree in the end, it's a question of what is offered in return....a favourite must be retaining V10's as the main player's are more interested in the regs, than money.

[Andrew Gunnell]

Thank you Super Tourer. Although if there is a problem with too many races why not drop the San Marino and European grand prixs. Because I throught that each country should only have one race each.

[Super Tourer]

Originally posted by Andrew Gunnell
Thank you Super Tourer. Although if there is a problem with too many races why not drop the San Marino and European grand prixs. Because I throught that each country should only have one race each.

All part of who offers the most money to hold the race, I believe Bernie is asking $40M per race from the new venues, with a 10% increase per year.

France coughed at the amount they were being asked to find and bearing in mind the only income they receive is the gate money.

Whilst government's in the developing markets for F1 will drop money at FOM's feet to hold races, they will take it, obviously at the expense of 'traditional circuits'.

The reason why there were often more races per country in Europe is that this was the heartland for F1 20 years ago. The GP of Europe used to be a roving race that moved between European circuits before finding a permanent home at the Nurburgring.

Nowadays, a combination of the tobacco advertising issue and the emerging markets has seen the focus increasingly shift from Europe, although in the short/medium term the bulk of the races will still be held there.

The future is probably a new circuit in Russia and re-visiting South Africa and Mexico along with 2 races in the USA, which will inevitably put pressure on more European races.

[Andrew Gunnell]

ALthough these is going off the title of the thread. But if Russia, South Africa, Mexico and the second race in the USA do go ahead then how many races will the teams allow and who is going to be queezed out. The British grand prix is safe at the moment, but for how long.

[Super Tourer]

Originally posted by Andrew Gunnell
ALthough these is going off the title of the thread. But if Russia, South Africa, Mexico and the second race in the USA do go ahead then how many races will the teams allow and who is going to be queezed out. The British grand prix is safe at the moment, but for how long.

I think BE has 20 races in mind as the number he would like to see. He would also like to see the 2 day GP weekend, an example of which we saw at Japan by default, which he thinks would 'free up' teams to attend more races, which could then be run back to back more easily.