16 replies to this topic

[JeordieX]

Two of Formula One's recurring issues are lack of testing for young drivers and races being lost because of cost.

 

Possible solution = non-championship races in which test drivers could be used and circuits pay a much lesser fee.

 

Possible races (including FIA grade 2 circuits) could include

 

Argentina - Termas de Rio Hondo, Potrero del los Funes

Australia - Albert Park, Phillip Islands, Eastern Creek

Austria- Spielberg

Azerbaijan - Baku

Bahrain - Sakhir

Belgum - Spa-Francorchamps

Brazil - Interlagos

Canada - Montreal, Mont-Tremblant

Chile - Codegua

China- Shanghai, Ordos

Czech Republic - Brno

France - Magny-Cours, Le Mans Bugatti, Paul Ricard

Germany - Hockenheim, Nurburgring, Sachsenring, Lausitzring

Great Britain - Silverstone, Donington Park

Hungary - Hungaroring

India - Buddh

Indonesia - Sentul

Italy - Monza, Mugello, Imola, Misano

Japan - Suzuka, Fuji, Motegi

Korea - Yeongam, Inje

Malaysia - Sepang

Mexico - Mexico City

Monaco - Monte Carlo

Morocco - Marrakech

Netherlands - Zandvoort, Assen

New Zealand - Taupo, Hampton Downs

Portugal - Estoril, Portimao

Qatar - Losail

Russia, Sochi, Moscow

Singapore - Marina Bay

South Africa- Kyalami

Spain - Catalunya, Jerez, Aragon

Thailand - Chang

Turkey - Istanbul

United Arab Emirates - Yas Marina, Dubai

United States - Austin, Indianapolis, Barber

 

It could open up Formula to new markets, return F1 to classic circuits (imola, Estoril, Zandvoort, etc) and provide opportunities for test drivers to get a chance. In addition, non-championship races could be less structured than a championship race, maybe not occurring annually or on the same date.

 

However, I do understand MONEY is a big factor, in relation to cost to the teams.

[Clatter]

I doubt the teams have any appetite for a non-championship race, but I suppose if someone offered them enough money they would do it. 

[Fastcake]

It won't happen. The costs of going racing nowadays is so high that the teams aren't going to turn up unless someone is paying them enough money to make a non points-scoring race worthwhile. No race organiser is going to pay that money when they could pay Bernie to get a championship race, and receive all the benefits like TV contracts - no one is going to pay to broadcast a race that doesn't matter.

[hittheapex]

I'd like to see them but unfortunately I think Fastcake is right. It would also be cheaper just to do more testing. There must be somebody who knows when the last non championship F1 race was held, but if it couldn't be done when times were better in the 1990s and most of the 2000s I don't think it can be done now.

[Disgrace]

The whole ideology behind F1 cost cutting is based in reducing the amount of time cars are running around the circuit. Testing is limited, hence explosion of CFD. Weekend running is limited, hence reduction of chances young drivers get to impress. New races, especially those that will not have any impact on how much prize money you'll get, is akin to teams committing financial suicide.

 

The only way it can work is if the likes of Bernie and CVC pay for the lump sum prize money with the savings collecting dust in their accounts. You would then have the equivalent of an exposition match, but then you need the stars to turn up. The way things are now, the teams are in no position to increase their spending and if they do, the status quo is cemented yet further.

[Nathan]

Who would pay for it?

It seems the cost is at least a million Euros per team + travel.

 

Who is going to pay that kind of bill for races that mean little and have virtually no-names racing the cars?

If the appetite was there the GP2's and FR's would be much more flush.

[Dan333SP]

There's no way that could be sold to the teams or the fans. Look at all the failed open wheel series in the last 10 years that intended to siphon some of the F1 fanbase/money... CART (not a direct competitor, but you get the point), A1 GP, GP Masters, Superleague Formula... If the teams/sponsors/promoters couldn't make those events viable, I don't see how there's any market for a non-championship F1 race with the test drivers. The only people who would be supportive of the idea would be... the test drivers and the fans, who wouldn't be paying full F1 prices for tickets but the cars would be just as expensive to run.

[Myrvold]

Not sure, the last thing that happened was the F1 indoor Trophy in 96 I guess. Minardi, Ligier and Benetton competed there. I do seem to recall Fisichella winning, in a Benetton!

[TomNokoe]

I think FOM will eventually consider this route to tackle viewing figures. Just something fun and outside the norm I guess.

Maybe fans could vote on what type of race they'd like to see.

Nostalgia/Historic
Past Eras (refuelling, grooves, single lap quali)
Endurance races with one car per team but all 3 drivers.

Etc etc.
F1 could be afforded to take itself a little less seriously in a non-championship environment.



edit: actually read OP

we are on different wave lengths

Edited by TomNokoe, 21 January 2015 - 03:06.

[ClubmanGT]

Hampton Downs is in need of further work before it could host a major international meeting. Basic stuff like the planned track extension and some covered grand stands. 

 

Taupo I am unsure about but the A1 was nowhere near F1 standard and the circuit often produces some follow-the-leader racing. 

[Collombin]

There must be somebody who knows when the last non championship F1 race was held.

If you mean a race that includes most of the usual WDC field, then it's the 1983 Race of Champions surely?

[hittheapex]

If you mean a race that includes most of the usual WDC field, then it's the 1983 Race of Champions surely?

That would be a good shout, but problem is I wasn't alive for most of the 1980s so I'm not sure.

[Rob29]

That would be a good shout, but problem is I wasn't alive for most of the 1980s so I'm not sure.

Correct-I was there-Also last year Britain held 3 F1 races.Must be a good case for Brands and Donington holding a race now as most teams are based in england? though I rekon the future lies in Batersea Park?

[Tommay]

I guess if you could incorporate it with a in season test. If you just made sure that the cars had to comply with the full rules when under race conditions and qually ( same time as normal) but other then that the track was open for testing how it would be on a normal test weekend. You could make it you young drivers only and maybe add a charity aspect to encourage people to go (let's face it if you could see a real race or a non championship event you'll go for the real).

Allow only a certain amount of mechanics and team personal to reduce costs, money made goes to cover costs for teams then the rest goes to charity and you might be able to encourage enough people to go without it costing anything.

Edited by Tommay, 21 January 2015 - 10:14.

[HistoryFan]

Non championship races will not return - why should they? In former days teams were paid with start and prize money for competing in them, but now they have fixed start and prize money for a whiole season.

 

But what I would like to see are national F1 championships with former F1 cars.

[Kristian]

It would be cool to see, say, a pre-season race for 3rd and test drivers only at the end of pre-season testing - maybe at Portimao or somewhere so its not a circuit on the calendar. 

[Radoye]

Well, there could be a "baby" F1 series set up - budget capped, customer cars allowed, higher limits on equipment (say, an engine lasts 10 races, double the F1 limit, so it needs to be tuned down). Maybe subdivided into three regional championships - Europe with Africa and Middle East, Far East and Australia / New Zealand, Americas - with some sort of a global finale to cap the season.

 

You might call it F2 as well.

 

The participating teams could use this as a proving ground if they have ambitions to enter "real" F1, in an environment where expenses are tightly controlled. Constructors could use this to gather data (any F1 legal car would be legal for this series as well) so they might cooperate with customer teams or even send their own "B" team to participate in what would effectively be an extended test session for them. Young drivers on the cusp of F1 would get the chance to race. We get to see more racing. Everyone wins! 

Edited by Radoye, 21 January 2015 - 12:49.