Just read it:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71205

Does anybody know anything about the reasons? Was it just the end of the contract or are there financial issues or anything?

a.

EDIT:
I don't like seeing Montreal go. The track isn't the best on the calendar, but it's great to see the skyline and I always wanted to visit Montreal during a GP weekend... :-(

It will also be interesting to hear what Max's cost cutting ideas are.

Autosport

No explanation given at all! WTF is Bernie doing! Montreal is one of the best GP venues on the schedule!




CC

Oh my god...

That is crazy. One of the few remaining tracks with character, and one that always produces a great GP.

I presume they couldn't come up with enough cash to fill Bernie's greedy, greedy pockets.

This man really is stripping the sport of its character.

The story seems to suggest that the combination of dropping the race and moving the date of the Turkish Grand Prix allowed for the summer break. I am sure we will learn more in the next day or so.

They should be lined up and shot. Getting sick of these new tired old boring rubbish venues replacing the old ones. Montreal produces some awesome racing and the get rid of it. Idiots.

The teams wont be happy either, no North American races, not good for sponsers.

Sing It Brother!!!!!

This is ridiculous but what can you do when they need to make some room for Saudi-Arabia, Qatar and North-Korea.

Its been coming for a while, no surprise really. I suppose the hairpin debacle was the last straw on a track that really was showing its age.

To me thats not the big story from that piece. When have the teams ever come up with a plan?

and this would have been my FORTIETH Canadian GP. Oh well, there go the commemorative T-shirts! Humbug.

That really sucks. And the teams were saying the manufacturers cared about the NA market?

They ought to hold it for a different formula. The Canadian Grand Prix shouldn't die just because Formula One has left. Canada has a proud motorsport heritage and it will be Formula One's loss.

Then I guess we'll be seeing them chip in to pay for it.

What ever comes out of all these super fan surveys the FIA or sponsors make? Do they really want to tell us that fans want the good GPs to be scrapped for yet another Tilke track in the middle of a desert or jungle?

It sucks majorly. I'm extremely disappointed.

hmmm.. this is frightening.. but there's still place to put Turkey between Spain and Monaco where it belongs, and put Canada in june where it was before..

I hope this is just Bernie playing tough guy as he often does... simply releasing the calendar without any explanation is quite a low blow.. damn F1 is cruel and stupid

I fear Singapore might have changed alot of things in the little head of Bernie, there's no money in Montreal to compete with stuff like that..

There is no market there next year. Where as there is in Asia and the middle east.

That said it sucks, the track was getting a bit dodgy but as an event the Canadian GP is always one of the highlights of the season. A sort of spiritual successor to the old Adelaide GP of the mid 90s.

This threat happened before.
Then the organizers and governments stumped up another $20mil and the race was back on.
This time, there is no US GP and they may want to save the airfare.
A good chunk of the fans in attendance this year were American.
To abandon this important market will not sit well with sponsors.
Blackmail, Bernie. Blackmail....

Formula One couldn't give a toss about the fans. Sad but true.

Another great circuit goes.

I am totally pissed

Thats pretty shocking. How can this be called a "world" championship? Another classic lost and no doubt we'll see more soulless new tracks in its place.

Pathetic


BTW - what are the chances the race is saved in the 11th hour? I think its happened before with this track.

Montreal is one of the best GP venues on the schedule!

And by far the least profitable for Bernie:

The place had an old contract paying far less than other fly-aways

No Concorde means that teams could charge a premium for travelling there

No USGP means Bermie can't spread travel costs

The teams now have no race in North America, so Bernie can put pressure on them to either force their parent companies or sponsors to part-fund the USGP, or take a cut in travel demands.

The race will be back, on his terms...

I am disappointed that it has been dropped. It came as a complete shock.

what the f... , idiots, another great track gone, well lets get more tracks like valencia, useless boring and with no atmosphere.
FOTA needs to part from this bullshit organisation, morrons,
and levelling the engines , hell why dont just demand that ferrari and mclaren publish their blueprints, so
that no one lacks performance, this organisation is doing everything in their power to destroy this sport

I guess only ones happy about this are marmots....

I'm totally bummed as well. I'm glad I went this year (my 3rd visit to the Canadian Grand Prix). But it's ridiculous to think there won't be a single Grand Prix in North America next year.

My thoughts exactly. The hairpin debacle as you put it was pretty embarrassing. That and Bernie's shenanigans pretty much sums it up. When Spa goes again I think that'll be about it for me. No reason to really watch anymore. :\

Edit: As an aside, I think we'll be seeing a lot less corporate sponsorship next year given the current global credit crisis. This is going to affect F1 and all major sports sponsorship. Perhaps not a bad thing entirely... a little culling once in awhile is healthy for the herd. Reduce some of these ridiculous salary expectations and team expenditures and get back to real sport.

^ what he says

Whats next, Brazil?
That would leave the entire American continent with no GP only to cut costs.
Just leave it in Europe, Middle East, and Asia/Australia.

I'm gutted!

And another boring tilke track will take its place Canada GP was always fun to watch and it came in europe at perfect time.FU Bernie

Triple that baby. So f*cking pissed is an understatement. I'm so angry.

Just when I was planing a visit
Would be great if they could present a explanation as to why the race was droped.

i'm ROYALLY PISSED

WTF??????


I sincerely hope FIA will come to its senses and revert this decision. Montreal and F1 cannot be separated!

Well, I really feel like that kills it for me!!!
The last 2 years, my interest in F1 had dropped with all the legal battles(more action in court than on track and always about f***'n money) but now with this news about my hometown race, Bernie and Max can kiss my arse...and do without my hard earned dough!(And they'll do just fine, not to worry!!!)

Lemme see...

Poor asphalt, dirt, mud, plywood everywhere. 30 year old facilities. One way out. And to be honest, the downtown party was unimpressive.

As storied a track it is with legacy blah blah, it is not modern enough. There are other tracks that have the money and the pull. You can't get by on reputation alone. Glad I went this year finally. My next option is Spa.

Montreal GP walks up to the bouncer at the trendy new club. Bouncer stands firm. "Hey, I used to get into this club all the time!". Bouncer "You're not gettin' in tonight, sorry". GP "Why not?". Bouncer "Dress code. You're too old." GP "WHAT? Don't you know who I am?". Bouncer "You used to be the Montreal GP."

This is whats its all about guys... the event itself is a huge success...

at worst it'll take a year off (and that would be BAD!), but If there's US GP there is Canadian GP for sure..

If this is all about follow the money, its shortsighted....

I was thinking of going next year, but oh well. Maybe ALMS or the IRL will step in and race, otherwise it is just a Nationwide and Grand-Am weekend there.

you can slam ldM again for saying he doesn't like the new tracks
or maybe today more of you agree with it?

I agree with his criticism of Valencia. I think his criticism of Singapore is unwarranted.

Wake up this morning to read this shit. You take one of the best races of the year, a race and city that is loved by most F1 drivers and fans, and take it off the calender. Makes sense to me. But then I forgot, its all about the money!

Pretty much sums it up, add to that the old facilities and the track problems this year and out she goes.

Shame though, I liked the venue and the atmosphere, let's hope a proper venue for the USGP will get Montreal back on again too.

More sand money....

Folks F1 will target the Far and Middle East because that is where the new money - and lots of it is.... Wanna know why Merc, BMW et all never stood up for the USGP? Because those companies are meeting their ROI in the US. They have a budget which requires revenue and more then likely that revenue is based on principle customers who are going to be Merc/BMW lifers. These companies can make more cash in emerging markets - the majority of which are in the Far and Middle East.

A1GP and GP2 (I bet) will be positioned to pick up where F1 leaves... It still gives BE some controls to prevent competition from moving in and him losing money.

This is why I was hoping ChampCar would have lasted - as it was already begining to expand her role in Europe. Too bad really - that series at least had history behind it. Road America, Long Beach and Cleveland in the States with Edmonton, Toronto and Mexico making up the remainder of races in this hemisphere. The rest all could have gone to Nurburg (new one obviously), the oval in Britian with a race at Brands. Add in the 08 would be schedule of Belgium, Nederlands, Spain with Imola, Surfers and Suzuka and we'd have a pretty good little series.

Oh Well - Again - we'll see how A1 pans out - and whether we can get it in the States.

How could they?

I've really lost interest in F1 over the last few years with all the BS and the new tracks are pretty boring for the most part.

Let them go race in somewhere else - no great loss.

I guess the groundhogs can now call the new floating paddock home.

300,000 spectators over 3 days means nothing to Bernie. No way anyone can bad mouth Montreal's facilities when compared to Sao Paulo (and I don't want to lose Interlagos either). The asphalt has been a problem but not where it couldn't be fixed... and I'm sure it would have been in '09.

But I guess room has to be made for India, Russia and other motor-sports rich countries. Plus theres always Sepang (plenty of good seats still available) right down the road from Singapore. Oh yeah, must not forget the new Valencia circuit. So attractive located in an industrial park....

Crazy I went there this year and loved it, i was planning on going again but it has gone for more crappie new tracks

Don't forget Abu Dhabi...