#27; F1’s Expansions into the Unknown

As a Formula 1 fan it’s been easy to notice the shift in geographical location over the years from classic Formula tracks like Montreal, Imola and others into new territories for the sport, particularly the shift in focus towards a rich Asian continent for the commercial right holders to take advantage of. Formula 1 is slowly creeping out of Europe, which still is the prominent location of fan-base for the sport. It’s a shame because some of the tracks in Europe are fantastic – look how we lost Spa Francorchamps for a few years, yet saw it return with one of it’s iconic corners trampled for a new chicane that look the fun out of the bus stop. Sadly it seems no track in the sport is safe, no matter how historic or iconic they may be, and you can consider this a rant at the shift in focus to these new locations.

Obviously I have nothing against such countries as China, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and another new locations to the Formula 1 world. The problem I do have is the soulless, barren landscapes they seem to be developed in, combining with tracks that provide no real sense of entertainment where they should be the pinnacle of motor racing. Why is it we always hear these comments from drivers that say… “So and so is a first rate facility, it’s state of the art” and so on – yes, well done, you’ve made a fantastic facility to show off the fat cats behind the curtains, now how about someone work on making tracks that actually benefit us fans? The tracks need top rate medical facilities and need to be safe, no doubt about that. To simply destroy every that Sid Watkins, Jackie Stewart and many other safety personnel over the years have created for F1 would be a catastrophe, but the fans don’t need to know about top class facilities. I feel they want a track that provides excitement, one with history, passion and commitment to the sport with fans that will come to see the race no matter the local heroes in the sport or not.

Of course can all point the finger at Hermann Tilke’s track layouts, which for me have been consistently dull minus a few exceptions in Malaysia and Turkey (more on this later though), but it would be unfair to simple point the finger at one man when he’s simply doing his job on the orders of others. The commercial rights holder that looks for these new locations is a man you may have heard of, Bernie Ecclestone. Yeah, you know that guy! Of course, these new Middle Eastern and south Asian countries have bags upon bags of wealth to throw at Bernie and his commercial rights, and there can be the argument that Formula 1 may need to open it’s arms to new markets, new audiences and expand upon it’s influence but what is these new markets of fans are simply not interested? You study the attendances of Turkey, Shanghai, Malaysia and their attendance records in races have been substantially lower than anything we would see in the main European market of Formula 1. The following diagram shows how Formula 1’s calendar has changed in nearly 20 years:

 

There is a huge difference on locality for Grand Prix in just this relatively short time span. Yes, the main European audience is still kept in mind but for how long, I ask? In the future, we’re expecting to see Grand Prix entries within the Formula 1 calendar from India, South Korea and closer to home in Europe, Bulgaria as well as rumours of United States and Canada regaining their Grand Prix events. But it just astonishes me at times that the commercial holders that negotiate the contracts seem to turn their back on loyal audiences and loved tracks simply for the hope of better money and ‘top class facilities’. Yes Formula 1 needs to be in a modern environment but why not support the locations they feel need improving? It just saddens me to see places like Montreal and Silverstone kicked off simply for stupid reasons.

I don’t like Hermann Tilke’s tracks, I’ll be honest. Bahrain is one of the most dull experience on a Formula 1 calendar ever created I feel and it’s very harsh to criticise anything for me, but it’s simply just a dire environment. There are a few tracks that Tilke has created that create a fantastic spectacle – Turkey has that infamous turn 8 that goes on, and on and is a huge challenge for the drivers, and the track itself has it’s great moment. I also have a soft spot for Malaysia as it’s a good track personally, not an amazing track but one of Tilke’s better designs. The problem is, these tracks still remain in countries that just don’t have the passion you see in the main European audience and it definitely shows on television, as watching a Grand Prix with empty stands at times can be disheartening. It happens in European tracks at times too, for example Valencia and Hungary stand out for me as usually disinteresting tracks with audiences nowhere near maximum capacity (although Valencia has only been around for 1 year, I really can’t see an improvement in 4 weeks time). We shall see what the future brings though.

Formula 1 is ever changing, there is no doubt about it. Rules change from year to year it seems, drivers swap about teams and both leave and exit the sport, and as you can see, tracks come and go. I’m a very traditional, possibly old fashioned, person as I’m sure you can tell from this and for me I just want to see the sport, the pinnacle of motorsport as they say, at the best tracks because that’s where the fans want them to be, and I’m sure the teams do too. What atmosphere can a sport achieve in a desert environment with no relief, landscape changes, atmosphere and relative support? It may seem a little greedy to be annoyed at these additions to the calendar but it’s something I can’t ignore. Hopefully I’m not the only Formula 1 fan who can’t help but wonder at these sort of things as time goes on.