112 replies to this topic

[Cadence]

WTAF?

Another summer break? Why is Austin 1 month out from Singapore?

[Beri]

Let me ask you another question; why are you so surprised? The calendar is only out since like July 2023.

[Cadence]

Sorry, I hadn't committed it to memory.

IMHO it seems antithetical to maintaining public interest in F1. Especially after just coming off the summer break.

Edited by Cadence, 22 September 2024 - 22:00.

[NewMrMe]

Last year Singapore and COTA were held on the same weekends as this year with Qatar in the gap in between on the 8th of October.

 

In response to concerns about conditions in Qatar in October, which turned out to be valid after last year's race, Qatar was moved to the 1st of December so conditions would be cooler. Nothing was moved into the gap where Qatar previously was and neither was the gap closed up.

[P123]

It is a bit of a strange gap.  I'm sure there is a reason for it but it does make the calendar look poorly organised.

[Jellyfishcake]

It is a bit of an odd gap, having the summer break, then a quickfire block of 4 races in 5 weeks and then having to wait 4 weeks until the next one.

It's funny to think the season used to end Octoberish, but we still have 6 races left

[NewMrMe]

I sometimes think the FIA deliberately leave odd gaps so they can argue that the calendar can accommodate another race.

[RekF1]

I imagine if Sainz or Perez weren't both a bit **** in their own way this weekend we would all be back in the Baku incident thread for the next month. Let's try and spread some ****ing love in this place.

[Cadence]

I imagine if Sainz or Perez weren't both a bit **** in their own way this weekend we would all be back in the Baku incident thread for the next month. Let's try and spread some ****ing love in this place.

"What's the frequency Kenneth?"

[George Costanza]

It is a bit of an odd gap, having the summer break, then a quickfire block of 4 races in 5 weeks and then having to wait 4 weeks until the next one.
It's funny to think the season used to end Octoberish, but we still have 6 races left

Yes. The season used to end late October to mid November.

[southernstars]

Qatar and Suzuka both got moved, and they didn't replace the dates. So we have a gap.

 

It's a bit of a shame, because Bathurst falls neatly into this gap, and I was secretly hoping for some cameo appearances. But I guess not.

[jacdaniel]

And if you look, when the calendar resumes it is 3 weeks in a row followed by another 3 week break and then 3 in a row again.

Terrible calendar

[MortenF1]

The dumbest thing about this is that it drags the season into December (!!) when it could’ve ended mid November.

[taz]

After the four week break we're going into a triple header with usa/mexico/brazil, and there's yet again a three week break. To end it with another triple header..

They could have moved up the Las Vegas GP one week. Now it's a long trip from Las Vegas to Qatar, only a week between the two GP's.

Edited by taz, 23 September 2024 - 05:09.

[loki]

After the four week break we're going into a triple header with usa/mexico/brazil, and there's yet again a three week break. To end it with another triple header..

They could have moved up the Las Vegas GP one week. Now it's a long trip from Las Vegas to Qatar, only a week between the two GP's.

Nope.  They race the weekend before Thanksgiving or not at all.  Not negotiable.  It remains to be seen if there will be one after the third year let alone a third race.

[TauriJ]

Just move Abu Dabu forwards, rather finish at Qatar. They have deep pockets also

[jonklug]

Yea it's poorly spread out the calendar, but honestly I think the guys and gals deserve an extra break, the season is massive, it must be tiresome af. 

[LolaB0860]

Just move Abu Dabu forwards, rather finish at Qatar. They have deep pockets also

Yes but while Qatar might have eternal billions, Abu Dhabi has infinite billions. And crowds made up of carboards and slaves are no match to crowds made with AI.

[Beri]

Just move Abu Dabu forwards, rather finish at Qatar. They have deep pockets also

 

Their contract states that they must be the last venue of the season. Also they pay a lot for the post season tests. Swapping isnt as easy as one might think.

[Dalton007]

Yea it's poorly spread out the calendar, but honestly I think the guys and gals deserve an extra break, the season is massive, it must be tiresome af. 

 

Agree. 

[Beri]

Yea it's poorly spread out the calendar, but honestly I think the guys and gals deserve an extra break, the season is massive, it must be tiresome af. 

 

Id even go as far as saying the calendar is ridiculously spread out. Not only in terms of spread out on the actual calendar. But also geographically it is nuts to start out in the Middle east, then go to Australia, Japan, China, America and then Europe. Cut the middle east away from the start of the season and paste it at the end. Also do the same for that Miami and Canada race. Paste them with the part of the season that is coming up with Austin, Mexico, Brazil and Las Vegas. Order them accordingly so shipments being the most mileage effective and I think the season could host even 26 or 28 races.

[JimmyClark]

Presumably this break doesn't have the same factory closure rules as the summer break? So there could be yet more significantly changes in the order in Austin.

[Risil]

No room for a race at an overcast Nurburgring with 10 deg C temperature?

[LolaB0860]

If they need to have useless Sprint races for young drivers, this would've been the perfect opportunity instead of random Tuesday in December at Abu Dhabi when most of the contracts are already done too

[Beri]

Presumably this break doesn't have the same factory closure rules as the summer break? So there could be yet more significantly changes in the order in Austin.

 

No, indeed no closure. Hence why it is rumored that Red Bull might close the gap as the first of the updates are expected at Austin.

[Wuzak]

I sometimes think the FIA deliberately leave odd gaps so they can argue that the calendar can accommodate another race.

 

Just for clarification, the FIA does not set the calendar.

 

The commercial rights holder, which is Formula One Managment (FOM)/Liberty, set the calendar, which is sent to the FIA's World Motorsport Council for approval (ie. get the rubber stamp).

 

The FIA don't directly benefit from holding more races, but FOM does, as they get paid by the promoters of the races.

 

The FIA does require the 1 month summer break, however.

Edited by Wuzak, 23 September 2024 - 09:08.

[Anderis]

Also do the same for that Miami and Canada race. Paste them with the part of the season that is coming up with Austin, Mexico, Brazil and Las Vegas. Order them accordingly so shipments being the most mileage effective and I think the season could host even 26 or 28 races.

Montreal has such a climate that you can't host a race too early in the spring or too late in the autumn because it threatens to be too cold. On the other hand, I don't know if you want a race in Austin or Las Vegas in the middle of a summer. It's not easy to clump all American races into one segment because of how diverse the climate is in these locations.
 

[kumo7]

Suzuka in october is the right answer.

[LolaB0860]

Discussion about Montreal's unsuitability in any other timeframe than June comes out every 3 weeks so I'm not gonna repeat my disagreement on that again

 

However, I might add that there used to be NASCAR Nationwide event at Gilles Villeneuve circuit in mid-to-late August date for many years - there was even a failed attempt to resurrect the event recently. So if they wanted they could bundle Montreal, Miami, COTA and Vegas to August-September timeframe, thus eliminating the current ridiculous "need" for four separate ventures into North America...

Edited by LolaB0860, 23 September 2024 - 10:05.

[Sterzo]

I is confused. "There are too many races!" "The gaps are too long between races!" Er....

[Risil]

Discussion about Montreal's unsuitability in any other timeframe than June comes out every 3 weeks so I'm not gonna repeat my disagreement on that again

However, I might add that there used to be NASCAR Nationwide event at Gilles Villeneuve circuit in mid-to-late August date for many years - there was even a failed attempt to resurrect the event recently. So if they wanted they could bundle Montreal, Miami, COTA and Vegas to August-September timeframe, thus eliminating the current ridiculous "need" for four separate ventures into North America...

Possibly not Vegas and Miami, those are temporary circuits and there are other demands on that real estate.

Austin might be hot in August too.

[SophieB]

I is confused. "There are too many races!" "The gaps are too long between races!" Er....

These statements are not contradictory. The calendar has big gaps yet at other times of the year, it has multiple triple headers. In addition, the season itself starts at the beginning of March and doesn’t finish until December. 

There are too many races, and they are spaced out oddly.

[Beri]

Montreal has such a climate that you can't host a race too early in the spring or too late in the autumn because it threatens to be too cold. On the other hand, I don't know if you want a race in Austin or Las Vegas in the middle of a summer. It's not easy to clump all American races into one segment because of how diverse the climate is in these locations.
 

 

There are reasons, I know. But that wasnt the question at hand. The issue is that the calendar is still all over the place. When, where or how one should clump it up, is not what I bothered answering.

And to be fair, if F1 wants to make that net zero carbon goal and not make a mockery of itself, it will have to move towards a solution like that. Have F1 race in regions per certain months of the calendar. It would also make a great point of having "regional champions" and such. Somewhat what PAYR is already doing in his alternative championship.

[PayasYouRace]

Yes, I have ONE fan!

[Taxi]

It's pumpkin break baby!

[F1 Mike]

There's also the delicate issue of trying to avoid clashes with other major sporting occasions as much as possible, both motorsport and non motorsport. They do seem less bothered about this today than in the past though. I remember a time when the only F1 weekends held on the same weekend as MotoGP would be in opposite timezones, but there's quite a few clashes nowadays as the calendars for both series' have expanded

[JimmyClark]

I is confused. "There are too many races!" "The gaps are too long between races!" Er....

 

Bring back 2000. 17 races, 2 week gap between each one. That was perfect. 

[PayasYouRace]

Bring back 2000. 17 races, 2 week gap between each one. That was perfect.

Unless you worked in Formula 1.

[Red5ive]

Just like everything else the Fia seem to do - the calendar is a joke.

 

Perhaps they need all these break  so the drivers can carry out their community service.

 

Come to think of it my lawn needs mowing.

[DRSwing]

Suzuka in october is the right answer.

  
I went to Suzuka both last year and this year. I enjoyed Suzuka in April infinitely more. 

[Cadence]

Just like everything else the Fia seem to do - the calendar is a joke.

Perhaps they need all these break so the drivers can carry out their community service.

Come to think of it my lawn needs mowing.

I guess you missed it up-thread...

FOM is responsible for the F1 calendar, not the FIA.

However, both organizations are worthy of our disdain.

[JimmyClark]

Unless you worked in Formula 1.

But the season was March to October and most races in Europe, so it really wasn't that bad.

[PayasYouRace]

But the season was March to October and most races in Europe, so it really wasn't that bad.

Yeah, you work March to October without a holiday a see how you like it.

[JimmyClark]

Yeah, you work March to October without a holiday a see how you like it.

I mean, a lot of people do that!

I'm sure if you asked F1 personnel they'd rather the 2000 style schedule with a third of the year not travelling (apart from the testing teams) than 2024 with the two breaks and multiple double and triple headers across crazy timezones and only finishing just before Christmas.

Edited by JimmyClark, 23 September 2024 - 15:47.

[Ferrim]

Nothing will ever be as ridiculous as five weeks between the final two races of 1998, but this year comes quite close...

[PayasYouRace]

Nothing will ever be as ridiculous as five weeks between the final two races of 1998, but this year comes quite close...

Well that would have been due to the cancellation of the Portuguese Grand Prix, so it wasn’t planned to be a five week gap.

Back in the 70s you had the season start in January and then weeks before the rest of the season began.

[PayasYouRace]

I mean, a lot of people do that!

I'm sure if you asked F1 personnel they'd rather the 2000 style schedule with a third of the year not travelling (apart from the testing teams) than 2024 with the two breaks and multiple double and triple headers across crazy timezones and only finishing just before Christmas.

They were asked, and that’s why the summer break was introduced. They needed a break.

[genius83]

The only races that could be organized in this part of the year are Australian GP, Japanese GP, Chinese GP, Malaysian GP or may be Thailand GP or Vietnam GP if they join the calendar in the future. Now out of the 4 mentioned, Australian GP wants to held in the early part of the season, Japanese GP have just moved to the early part of the season plus its Typhoon season this time of the year for them. Chinese GP and Malaysian GP are the only real candidate for this gap.

[Risil]

Bring back Jerez

[lixlax]

Wasn't Qatar originally supposed to be between Singapore and Austin? But they moved it back because of the temperature issues there last year? I may wrong though.