is the street circuits is the future of formula 1 ?

WALEAD1999 · Jan 23, 2024

we got early in this morning a news about f1 and madrid want to host madrid gp in 2026 as spanish grand prix but still now we dont know about the future of barcalona gp
formula 1 continue to add new tracks (most of them street circuit) after jeddah in 2021 , miami in 2022,las vegas in 2023 and now madrid in 2026
this way of street circuits worried fans a lot cause by this step formula 1 start to reduce permanent circuits regulary from calender ,here is examples of the tracks removed from f1 calender since 2017-now:
sepang
hockenhim
nuburging
portimao
istanbul park
lecastellet
and maybe barcalona in 2025
what you think about f1 start to add street circuit more than permanent tracks ?

Ruttman98 · Jan 23, 2024

Apparently the city streets are paved with gold.

Pete Conway · Jan 24, 2024

WALEAD1999 said:
....
what you think about f1 start to add street circuit more than permanent tracks ?

No, but it doesn't matter what we think, if the powers that be see profits in racing through sawdust in the Amazon basin then that's what will happen.... Hmmmm freshly mown trees.

Antony Snook · Jan 24, 2024

The 1st ever race i went to was Silverstone 1992. As much as i enjoyed it i had to camp out with my Dad. The location in a small town means you have to put up with Camping. With a street circuit you can do like i did with Montreal (Its a public park so kind of a street circuit / permanent track highbrid) You stayed in a hotel and and had a Bus shuttle you to the subway that took you to the track. The nice thing in Montreal is you have hotels restaurants and all the amenities. Unlike Silverstone where you have to pitch tents with food and merch. Not a fan of street circuits myself but they have improved a lot and the modern ones are quite good. The problem is the economy is poor and it is hard to look after and maintain a permanent track all year round. So street circuits are more economical and feed the tourism industry in our cities with a lot of the amenities already there. My city of Toronto has a ridiculous Indy car track and there are parades and festivals all summer long. So people down town are used to road closures and events and parades.

jgf · Jan 25, 2024

"street circuits is the future of formula 1 ?"

Gad, I hope not. Racing between the walls, poor view for spectators, jury-rigged pits. F1 has gotten boring enough, street circuits would be the final nail in the coffin.

jgf · Jan 25, 2024

Antony Snook said:
So street circuits are more economical

You've obviously not discussed this with cities involved. The costs of shutting down the streets for days prior to the event, of putting barricades in place, of setting up security and safety areas, of providing security personnel, of erecting spectator facilities, food courts, restrooms, of running extra water and power lines, of redirecting traffic ...etc. etc. etc. are astronomical.

Nearly forty years ago Columbus hosted an IMSA race downtown; after four years the city decided the cost and trouble wasn't worth it and refused to underwrite the costs anymore, telling the promoters if they would foot the bill completely the city would gladly expedite the permits and assist with the setup.

Remember When Downtown Was Transformed Into A Racetrack? A Look Back At The Columbus 500

Can you imagine cars going 170 mph around City Hall? Take a look back at the Columbus 500.

www.columbusnavigator.com

Antony Snook · Jan 25, 2024

jgf said:
You've obviously not discussed this with cities involved. The costs of shutting down the streets for days prior to the event, of putting barricades in place, of setting up security and safety areas, of providing security personnel, of erecting spectator facilities, food courts, restrooms, of running extra water and power lines, of redirecting traffic ...etc. etc. etc. are astronomical.

Nearly forty years ago Columbus hosted an IMSA race downtown; after four years the city decided the cost and trouble wasn't worth it and refused to underwrite to costs anymore, telling the promoters if they would foot the bill completely the city would gladly expedite the permits and assist with the setup.

Remember When Downtown Was Transformed Into A Racetrack? A Look Back At The Columbus 500

Can you imagine cars going 170 mph around City Hall? Take a look back at the Columbus 500.

www.columbusnavigator.com

Yes but if you where the chair of BRDC (British Racing Drivers Club) and had to look after Silverstone it would not be easy. It is like a Charity where what money goes in come's back out punting you in the red and begging people to help support you. With a street race there is a lot of work to be done but it is a case of one event. This helps the FIA with restrictions on testing. Michale Schumacher spent hours running round Marenello the private test track of Ferrari. IMSA race at many places like Mosport Park that is not a F1 grade track. As much as i would love to see F1 cars go there. It dose not have what it need's inside to facilitate a Grandprix with the high rollers with there lobster and wine, it would not suite these people

Antony Snook · Jan 25, 2024

jgf said:
"street circuits is the future of formula 1 ?"

Gad, I hope not. Racing between the walls, poor view for spectators, jury-rigged pits. F1 has gotten boring enough, street circuits would be the final nail in the coffin.

The problem is finance we lost Spa due to lack of funding to keep the track to FIA standards. The permanent tracks like some of the teams want more money form the FIA to stay in F1. As for F1 being dull it is not there yet. I have tried to watch INDYCAR and i have lasted no more than 20 minuet's before i change the channel. F1 i see start to finish every race. Some tracks and races are better than others but that is how it goes they cant all be perfect. Plus i am a Max Verstappen fan. The people loosing interest like Lewis Hamillton. Like my buddy says you pick your team and support them through thick and thin. The good times and the Bad times.

jgf · Jan 25, 2024

Antony Snook said:
It dose not have what it need's inside to facilitate a Grandprix with the high rollers with there lobster and wine, it would not suite these people

Antony Snook said:
keep the track to FIA standards

Exactly. This underscores my major complaint with F1 for the past thirty years - they have become so arrogant that they will not race on any circuit that does not have a five star hotel/casino complex across the street. They no longer care about racing itself, they merely want to flaunt their affluence.

So they concoct their "standards" and dictate to the nth degree how tracks will be constructed for them to deign to appear there and perpetuate their billionaire boys' club. Bah. They are as removed from racing in their way as NASCARE is in its way, and I have about as much interest in either.

I find more enjoyment in a weekend of vintage racing than I would with a season's pass to F1.

jgf · Jan 25, 2024

Antony Snook said:
the teams want more money form the FIA to stay in F1

From Red Bull to Williams - How much are F1 teams paying as entry fee for 2023 season?

Before every new F1 season, all the teams need to pay an entry fee to compete in the sport. This might come as a surprise to new fans, but even the topmost teams have to pay an annual fee to the FIA.

www.sportskeeda.com

jgf · Jan 25, 2024

Actually I can see street circuits as the future of F1. With their collective noses so far in the air and their reluctance to go anywhere "rural" they will soon never leave Monaco. Never mind that as a race circuit it is ill suited for anything over 100hp, all the FIA and F1 luminaries can live there year round enjoying the high life in a town of millionaires on the Mediterranean coast, and hold an F1 race there every three months.