65 replies to this topic

[Marklar]

Provisional F1 calendar for the 2018 season - Sochi moves back towards the end of the season in Malaysias spot. Baku takes over Sochi spot. France takes Bakus spot. Germany returns too. China and Singapore yet to be confirmed. Malaysia out. Triple-header in June/July.

 

Edited by Marklar, 19 June 2017 - 14:19.

[Risil]

What's the likelihood of the two Asterisk Grands Prix returning for 2018?

 

Also where did you get this news from? The 2018 calendar on Wikipedia (ha!) says there's no deal with Bahrain or Abu Dhabi yet either.

[Marklar]

 

Also where did you get this news from? The 2018 calendar on Wikipedia (ha!) says there's no deal with Bahrain or Abu Dhabi yet either.

http://www.fia.com/n...cil-decisions-6

 

[Risil]

Looks like another Indy 500 clash but Le Mans has been left free.

Sochi moving again makes me think that F1 is losing interest with the Russian round. I don't think the sport needs two rounds in the Caucasus any more than it needs two rounds in tiny Arabian Gulf states.

Or maybe it's a plan to ensure Kvyat gets most of the season in at Toro Rosso.

[Fastcake]

Sochi is in a really odd spot, two weeks after Singapore and a week before Japan. They've never been able to find a time of the year that really fits.

The triple header seems to be in the wrong order. You'd surely aim at three races in close proximity travelling in the same general direction. Like Barcelona, Paul Ricard, Monaco, or something similar.

[Viryfan]

French gp is gonna be a failure             

 

Why the hell you put french gp in the middle of rolland garros, le mans 24 hours and tour de france.

 

what a brainfart

[MJB5990]

The triple header is going to be a bit overkill, no?

[Bleu]

It would make more sense to have Russia between Italy and Singapore. Or Baku in which case Russian GP would stay where it is in 2017.               

[JHSingo]

Lose China, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, Russia and Abu Dhabi, plus find a more inspiring venue for the French Grand Prix than sodding Paul Ricard. Apart from that, it's fine.

[Zava]

French gp is gonna be a failure             

 

Why the hell you put french gp in the middle of rolland garros, le mans 24 hours and tour de france.

 

what a brainfart

actually it would be best in the canadian gp's spot. I could see myself going to le castellet for the race, then 1-2 days on the beach, then off to le mans. it would only take 5 vacation days, in this order it is 10.

[Marklar]

The triple header is going to be a bit overkill, no?

A triple header was already planned for 2016 (Singapore, Japan, Malaysia) and eventually dropped, In 2014 a triple header was planned for Monaco, NY and Canada, which didnt happened for obvious reasons.

 

I hope the same happens here as well.

 

 

actually it would be best in the canadian gp's spot. I could see myself going to le castellet for the race, then 1-2 days on the beach, then off to le mans. it would only take 5 vacation days, in this order it is 10.

Or if you want to avoid all big events in France then somewhere around the Spa date or at least Budapest.

[rjsports]

Awesome 1,5 years until we go to Sochi. But sure a triple header around Le Mans makes sense.

[SirVanhan]

Noooooo we were so close to have the historic Canada-France-Great Britain tiplet back. Actually we could have the awesome sequence of: Spain, Monaco, Canada, France, Great Britain, Austria, Germany, Hungary, Belgium and Italy... but no, they had to switch Austria and UK 

[Kristian]

I doubt this will be the final calendar. 

 

As for Sochi, they asked to go back to the autumn date: http://en.f1i.com/ne...utumn-date.html

Edited by Kristian, 19 June 2017 - 15:15.

[TheManAlive]

4 races in July - my birthday, my wife's birthday, my daughters birthday and my wedding anniversary, summer holidays and 4 GPs to squeeze in. TheWomanLive will not be amused - will start breaking it to her now to warm her up to not seeing me at weekends in July!

[Lipp]

French gp is gonna be a failure             

 

Why the hell you put french gp in the middle of rolland garros, le mans 24 hours and tour de france.

 

what a brainfart

No it's brilliant.

The 24hrs will be a week earlier and Roland Garros 2018 is in May and Tour-etappes will finish more likely later than the race!

Apart from that, no cycling fans fancy F1.

Edited by Lipp, 19 June 2017 - 15:24.

[TomNokoe]

Triple header, wow.

[Risil]

A France-Austria-Britain triple-header sounds feasible. Pretty sure MotoGP has done them before.

[SophieB]

The endless races in what look like giant supermarket craparks blur into each other as it is. Stop watering down the gin, F1.

[Lotus53B]

Apart from that, no cycling fans fancy F1.

Um.

That turns out not to be the case.

[muramasa]

　

hockenheim? deutche gp shud be held at nah-berg-rink

[Kristian]

If there was to be a triple header, then the most sense would be Monaco-Paul Ricard-Barcelona (distances are 187km + 520km)

 

Monaco's date is dictated by tradition, and Melbourne is also locked in, so I'd arrange the calendar thus: 

 

18th March - Australia

+

1st April - China

8th April - Bahrain

+

22nd April - Russia (yes, they asked for the later date, but I'd tell them to get stuffed as they are relative newcomers ) 

29th April - Azerbaijan

+

13th May - Spain

20th May - France

27th May - Monaco (and these headers can fit into the 'superbowl' ideam make it a 3 week city-to-city festival of F1!)

+

10th June - Canada

+

24th June - Germany

+

8th July - Great Britain

+

22nd July - Austria

29th July - Hungary

+ 

+

+

26th August - Belgium

2nd September - Italy

+ 

16th September - Singapore

+

7th October - Japan

+

21st October - USA

28th October - Mexico

+

11th November - Brazil

+

25th November - Abu Dhabi

 

(Though ideally I would stick Abu Dhabi next to Bahrain at the beginning of the season, but I know contractually that won't work...)

Edited by Kristian, 19 June 2017 - 15:43.

[markelov74]

Lose China, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, Russia and Abu Dhabi, plus find a more inspiring venue for the French Grand Prix than sodding Paul Ricard. Apart from that, it's fine.

 

Whats wrong with China and Bahrain? The rest I agree with.

[ArrowsLivery]

When was the old French GP at Magny-Cours? I think a week after LM is not a good idea,

[Ruusperi]

-Russia after Singapore but one week before Japan? Terrible for the logisticians.

-Paul Ricard sucks. It's the ultimate parking lot track. Poor FIA cannot replace any grass or gravel, because there is none.

-Has Abu Dhabi bought rights for hosting the season finale for eternity? It should be Brazil or Suzuka instead of horrendous Abu Dhabi that should never have been added to the calendar.

[Marklar]

When was the old French GP at Magny-Cours? I think a week after LM is not a good idea,

Same as now (after Canada, or rather back then: After Canada/USA)

[DinocoBlue]

And here's me hoping that Baku was going to be replaced by Portimao.

 

Oh wel...

[statman]

I like the triple-header but Paul Ricard always looks terrible on TV with those giant car-park features and those red/blue strips all over the place

[Kristian]

I like the triple-header but Paul Ricard always looks terrible on TV with those giant car-park features and those red/blue strips all over the place

Yeah I hope they tone those down, otherwise I fear epileptics might not be able to watch the race. 

[f1paul]

Liberty- "lets turn F1 into NASCAR!" 

 

[JHSingo]

Liberty- "lets turn F1 into NASCAR!" 

 

 

How on earth they plan to keep growing the calendar and not clashing with MotoGP/other major sporting events, I've no idea. Pretty sure they've forgotten there's only 12 months in a year by now.

[savvy2210]

How on earth they plan to keep growing the calendar and not clashing with MotoGP/other major sporting events, I've no idea. Pretty sure they've forgotten there's only 12 months in a year by now.

I don't think they care to much. It's all about money to them. That's why they bought it.

[AustinF1]

Looks like another Indy 500 clash but Le Mans has been left free.

Sochi moving again makes me think that F1 is losing interest with the Russian round. I don't think the sport needs two rounds in the Caucasus any more than it needs two rounds in tiny Arabian Gulf states.

Or maybe it's a plan to ensure Kvyat gets most of the season in at Toro Rosso.

Pretty sure there will always be a Monaco - Indy 500 clash. That's the traditional weekend for both races.

[Marklar]

Pretty sure there will always be a Monaco - Indy 500 clash. That's the traditional weekend for both races.

Even if there wouldnt be one between the Indy 500 race and the Monaco GP (which happens sometimes), there would be one between the Indy 500 qualifying and the Monaco GP then. F1 would need to take of three weeks to avoid a clash.

[sabjit]

Which layout of Paul Ricard are they going to use?

 

[Marklar]

Which layout of Paul Ricard are they going to use?

That one

[Atreiu]

It's a terrific calendar.

 

It'd only drop some 5 or 6 circuits and bring 1 or 2.

[wj_gibson]

Why don't they just swap Singapore and Russia around? Or is that too obvious?

[wj_gibson]

Lose China, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, Russia and Abu Dhabi, plus find a more inspiring venue for the French Grand Prix than sodding Paul Ricard. Apart from that, it's fine.

At this point, the only three potential venues for France are Ricard, Magny-Cours and the Le Mans Bugatti circuit. Personally I'd happily go back to Dijon but they'd just butcher it.

[TF110]

As other's have said, what a brilliant idea to go from Asia (Singapore) to Russia (basically east Europe) back to Asia (Japan). I mean, common sense here says stay in Asia for two weeks then go to Russia or vice versa, who decides the order? 

[William Hunt]

I seem to be the only one who loves the Baku track, love the scenery in some of the corners there

Very happy to see Paul Ricard / Le Castellet back on the calendar: great fast racing circuit with some really nice corners and a lot of history there

Sepang was actually one of the better race tracks on the calendar imho

I'm not very fond of the Yas Marina track, it has an artificial feel

I do actually like the track in Sochi, there is one extremely long corner there which is totally unique

Edited by William Hunt, 19 June 2017 - 22:29.

[Viryfan]

That one

 

They will heavily modify the first sector layout in order to help overtaking.

 

 

 « D’importants travaux de modification de la piste vont être effectués afin de répondre aux exigences de la FIA et de la FOM. Et comme nous aimons le spectacle, il y aura de nouveaux virages, mais c’est promis, nous ne toucherons pas aux virages mythiques, ni à la ligne droite du mistral, ni à la double droite du Beausset, ni à la courbe des Signes. Par contre nous vous réservons de belles surprises sur les virages plus lents », explique Stéphane Clair. Cet hiver la mythique piste aura donc droit à un resurfaçage complet et à la modification de trois virages pour favoriser les déplacements. « Parce que c’est ça qu’on aime en Formule 1 ».

 

Edited by Viryfan, 19 June 2017 - 22:42.

[RacingGreen]

Lose China, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, Russia and Abu Dhabi, plus find a more inspiring venue for the French Grand Prix than sodding Paul Ricard. Apart from that, it's fine.

 

Well I can think of a French venue but it isn't exactly modern F1, and the bonus is that because of the topography it would be almost impossible to ruin it with tarmac run off areas.

 

https://www.youtube....h?v=nZSosr9h8j0  

[Lights]

Paul Ricard is the epitome of what is wrong with modern circuits. Absolute rubbish, such a shame F1 is going back there.

[RacingGreen]

As Jenks said 40 years ago

" It is interesting how quickly time passes and how soon. we get used to major changes, especially if there is no relaxation in the general pace. It seems only yesterday that we bemoaned the loss of the Reims-Geux circuit for the traditional Grand Prix of the Automobile Club of France, yet the last French Grand Prix to he run in the heart of the Champagne country was in 1966, the first year of the current 3-litre formula and it was won by Jack Brabham in his own car powered by a V8 Repco engine. In 1968 the traditional title of the Grand Prix of the Automobile Club of France disappeared when the Federation Francaise du Sport Automobile took over control of motor racing in France. The race was renamed the Grand Prix of France (or French Grand Prix) and was numbered "the First". The FFSA took the race to Rouen-les-Essarts, then to Clermont-Ferrand and our next upset was in 1971 when the "Fourth French Grand Prix" was held on the newly-built Paul Ricard Autodrome in the hot and dusty South of France. A brief return was made to the exciting and spectacular Circuit of the Auvergne at Clermont-Ferrand for 1972, but that. was the end. All those taking part decided they liked the fiat Autodrome in preference to the challenge of the Auvergne mountains, so Clermont-Ferrand was denounced as being unsafe and not in keeping with "modern thinking". By this time we had arrived at the sixth French Grand Prix, even though to British eyes the French Grand Prix had been run since 1906, and, in fact, was the original Grand Prix motor race. In 1974 the race was held at the tiddly-little unfinished Dijon-Ptenois circuit and the FFSA and the Automobile Club of France came to an agreement that the two titles of the race Should be combined. They took the numbering of the races run by the ACF and the title of those run by the FFSA and in 1974 we had the 60th Grand Prix of France, even though the 1973 race had been the 6th Grand Prix of France. Holding the race at Dijon was an unpopular mistake and though the FFSA wanted to return to Clermont-Ferrand they were over-ruled by vested interests and the FIA and the race returned to the Paul Ricard Autodrome.

So here we were in 1976, ten years alter the real French Grand Prix and "racing in the Grand Manner" had died the death, at the "superb facility" called the Paul Ricard Autodrome ready to witness the 62nd Grand Prix of France. Almost unbelievably it was the fourth time the race was held at Paul Ricard, which must prove that you can get used to anything if the alternative is nothing."

D.S.J - August 1976

[Kristian]

Why don't they just swap Singapore and Russia around? Or is that too obvious?

 

Far too sensible. 

 

Although Russia asked for FOM to put them back in their autumn slot (presumably whilst waving some $$$) and, whilst I've never known the reason's for Singapore's date, I suspect its due to the April/May period commonly having evening thunderstorms (whereas in September its mostly in the afternoon). 

[Kristian]

Oh one slightly related question - how many engines will they get next year? Will they get an extra as its 21 races, or will it stay at 4? Or even go to 3? (as I heard rumoured).

[Marklar]

Oh one slightly related question - how many engines will they get next year? Will they get an extra as its 21 races, or will it stay at 4? Or even go to 3? (as I heard rumoured).

Plan was to have 3 engines, but they dropped that and will stay at 4 for now.

[Frank Tuesday]

Monaco's date is dictated by tradition,

What tradition? In the past 25 years it's been as early as May 7, and as late as June 4. It's only been since 2011 that it has constantly been on the same day as Indy.

[Rob29]

Tradition was as I remember that it started on Asencion Day,Thursday,public holiday in France?