I am still travelling at the moment but I have heard whispers that the European Grand Prix in Valencia is in serious doubt and could be cancelled this year because of lack of payment by the local government. This has been going on for some time and has finally worn out the patience of Bernie Ecclestone. I hear he is looking for a replacement event. If the French can get their act together, now is an opportunity not to be missed.
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joeblogsf1 
Joe,
Indeed, quite possible. Reported by local press with details and logic behind such a move.
A number of political parties have asked the F1 GP to be cancelled, by simply not paying….
http://www.lasprovincias.es/20120110/mas-actualidad/politica/compromis-ecclestone-formula-201201101308.html
BE would surely take them to court, but that would take time, so they can delay the payment of €15Mio for a couple of years….
According to what I’ve heard, count on it being cancelled.
Have a good one,
So the Spanish government doesn’t want to pay the bill they agreed to foot in the past? Can we trust the Spanish politicians anymore, then? Or is Spain becoming the next Greece. What planet are we living on, if an European and democratic government starts to cheat … or what else would you call it if they ordered the show but didn’t pay for it.
Isn’t it more that they are not willing to pay for something in advance that they have no interest in acquiring?
Jenson,
A few comments:
It was not the Spanish government, it was a local (regional) government.
I do not think, BTW, that they do not want to pay the bill. They’d love to. They simply lack the funds…they have to choose, and pressure is building up.
Can we trust politicians? Come on…we’re all grown ups. No you can’t!
They wanted to host the event, can’t afford it any more, know that if they even try it will be a huge public issue…sad but true!
Joe, do you think that the Turkish GP could be re-instated as a result of this? I think we all agree that the event there hasn’t been fully embraced, but Istanbul is a superb track and one I will certainly miss.
No
Even just this once to keep the season to 20 races (assuming Bahrain goes ahead)?
Oh well! Thanks.
rather any french gp whether it be @ magny cours or paul ricard than going back to valencia
Haha… You know a track is bad when people are clamouring for Magny Cours to replace it!
Indeed! Says it all!
That would be fantastic if true, The Valencia grand prix has never been a good
race, all the races have been very very boring!!
Which French track is Bernie trying to get as the replacement? Magny Cours or Pual Ricard?
Always like Magny Cours with that straight, loads of overtaking!! but now with kers, just imagine!!!!
If the French GP is reinstated, which circuit do you think has the biggest chance of landing the deal, Magny-Cours (where the access roads supposedly have been improved) or Bernard Ecclestone owned Paul Ricard?
Thanks Joe!
Excellent. As a live BBC race, I hope it gets replaced with a more exciting track!
Any idea what state Imola is in these days? I heard that they re-profiled the last corner and bashed down loads of the pit buildings a while ago.
I’d be happy to pay £60 to Murdoch to watch F1 round those beautiful Imola trees again.
I thought Paul Ricard (long rumoured to be the favoured venue of any revived French GP, rather than Magny-Cours) had no grandstands, though? Surely Turkey is the most obvious stand-in event?
Close, but not quite. It has a single stand if I remember correctly.
🙂
Temporary Grandstands are not that difficult put up. especially when Bernie owns the track.
As Bernie owns Le Castellet (Paul Ricard), could not the left pocket pay the right pocket. I know CVC is involved but Bernie might cut himself a sweetheart deal.
Wilson
Hi Joe,
On BBC radio a few weeks back they had a piece about Valencia’s public finances. Though they didn’t touch on the GP they did say how local schools had started asking parents to tide them over with donations and loans as their budgets had been slashed. I have to say I was amazed that the local government could still justify spending money on running the GP.
Thanks for the blog, such a shame you can’t do one of your gigs in London.
D
I really doubt that the GP can be carried out this year, and I hope that the authorities in Valencia take the right decission once for all. Both for the Valencians and for the F1 fans.
I have always thought that the Ricardo Tormo racetrack was a much better choice, but I think that some changes should be done in order to get the chance of having a GP.
It’s “funny” how challenging and well established racetracks, like Jerez for instance, are having some economical troubles, and gorgeous facilities like the Algarbe circuit are sunk with dust, and meanwile we must stand some utterly boring races in unchallenging circuits.
Bernie should introduce some clause in order to limit the amount of racetracks that does not provide nothing positive to the fans. He is paying too much attention to the money, but I am affraid that most of the us are willing to turn our heads towards something more interesting than F1 if this kind of races are still held.
There are many things BE should do, but alas, he is a businessman; not a curator.
The thought had occurred to me that if the teams bought out CVC they could, instead of taking more money out of the F1 media rights pots, slash the race fees or even (at the extreme) manage to reverse the flow of money – paying circuits to use their facilities.
If hosting an F1 race were a genuinely profit-making venture it would be a lot easier to choose race venues based on the quality of the racing and not the quality of the currency.
“I have always thought that the Ricardo Tormo racetrack was a much better choice, but I think that some changes should be done in order to get the chance of having a GP.”
Absolutely!
I went to the MotoGP at Valencia followed by the Abu Dhabi F1 in 2010.
The Ricardo Tormo track has great viewing – like Phillip Island you could see 3/4 of the track from your vantage spot – I enjoyed the place a lot.
Went to Abu Dhabi the week after and hated it – miles from the track up in the fancy grandstands- and can only see one corner because of all the expensive buildings in the way
Theres absolutely nothing wrong with concrete grandstands if the view is good.
Money?
Paul
I’m glad you enjoyed MotoGP at Valencia.
I’ve been to several MotoGP’s and what you say about seeing a lot of the circuit is spot on. Unfortunately, it’s mostly short straights and sharp corners, not good for “racing”.
Martin
Do you see more of this? Races cancelled/pulled because of the onerous finacial obligations and no track revenue other than tickets? Plus declining attendance due to high prices.
I do…..
Fully, no one will mourn Valencia, and the French could nab it cheap. Where to hold it though?
Has there ever been a ‘race’ at Valencia ?
Nice – that event was very boring. While they’re at it, perhaps they can move the Spanish grand prix to a more interesting Spanish track too.
And by ‘more interesting’ I mean of course ‘one I like better’.
Horay! No Valencia and actually decent race in replacement!
“If the French can get their act together, now is an opportunity not to be missed.”
Wouldn’t the opportunity be better if they held off and Bernie couldn’t find another venue? Then they could negotiate from a position of strength, rather than desperation.
Nice time for a holiday, too. Or some testing. I think most would be grateful for either.
Poor BBC, if they lose a broadcast. On the other hand, serves the BBC right.
They get to switch to another race if one of their live broadcasts gets cancelled, it was mentioned somewhere in an early Beeb blog piece with reference to the Bahrain race.
Right. Deffo cancel Valencia then.
Or if not how about Brands Hatch full circuit for old times sake? just down the road for most of the teams
Oh Yes.
Anywhere in france would be good for me !
Perhaps we could have 180 laps around the Brands Hatch indy circuit ? 😉
And if not the French, then Portimao! Imola! Zandvoort! A European Grand Prix at Brands Hatch like in the good old days!
Now we just need to find $100 million… Can’t be too hard, surely…
I don’t think the fans will miss Valencia! How about an extra race at Spa?! The European Grand Prix…..
Hi Joe,
I heard it too from the grapevine. The local gov doesn´t receive the revenue they were hoping for, or what?
Best news all day. Awful track, terrible racing. Viva la France.
And nothing of value was lost.
European GP at Brand Hatch anyone?!
No outside run off at braking point before paddock hill bend. Also small run off areas at several points, fine for Saloon and sports but not for F1 speeds. Shame it was my favourite circuit.
now would be a good time for france, i always thought valencia was dull !!! no offence
Hurray for that!
let’s face it, who will miss that contrived,dull place?
Can we have somewhere interesting back? (and no not Magny-Cours please!)
Why not? I quite liked Magny-Cours before they remodelled the last corner.
I wouldn get rid of the “European GP” entirely as I never liked that one country was allowed to have two races per season. That said if the French get their act together and its called the “French GP” I would support it.
I would have expected Bernie to keep the slot open for New Jersey to take up or Russia.
would*
Would be good to take it somewhere else, it was never the great GP it was promised to be, and even though I like street circuits, this one is just boring, as are the races there. France would be a better option, I’d love to see it at Paul Ricard, but Magny Cours is probably a better bet.
Whooohoo. Game on!
I seriously worry about you reporting something on Spanish interests, or should that be lack of? Joe. Can’t help but attract the rabid nutters that seem to breed in that part of the world. 😉
if they’re getting Spa’s spot next year then that means two in a row.which is precisely what i thought they couldnt afford to do
Quick question: are you implying an opportunity for a French Grand Prix this year?
This is surely good news for any non Valencian(?) F1 fan. Average harbour location, narrow characterless track, the only place I would welcome Bernie’s crazy old (publicity) sprinkers.
A French GP this year would be a bonus, if it were to happen would it definately be Paul Ricard Joe? And where would it leave Belgium? I know its clutching at straws with the financial situation, but if a 2012 French race took place and was a success, could it permanently replace Valencia on the calendar alongside Spa, or has the deal to share a French/Belgian GP already been set in stone?
I think the European GP slot will be replaced by New Jersey for 2013, I don’t think there’s room for France to take it permanently unfortunately.
I think this is potentially very worrying – not because of Valencia itself (as many have stated, it’s not a track/race that will be mourned) – but because there seem to be SO MANY events that are in serious financial trouble. A case of F1 pricing itself out of the market…?
While I have absolutely no idea of the voracity of all this, there have been reports (from I would say respected sources) of serious financial problems in Spa, Germany, Valencia (clearly), S Korea and, I think, at least 2 Asian races – at least some of these reports are very well known and Joe has already covered them. Add the potential issues with Austin and we seriously could lose a third of the calendar. Bernie can keep saying there are other places just itching to step in to “strong-arm” venues into submission, but how long does that remain credible?
Joe – do you see there being a wholesale re-alignment of race fees on the horizon, or will it all just blow over?
No.
“No” to the former, or the latter question?
Valencia, having failed, brings a question; when did the following phrase get added to the “The Basics of Good Track Design” handbook: “then the track winds along the waterfront, like in Monaco.”?
It’s two lines down in the same paragraph as “The track should then take a few sharp turns, opening out on to a short straight in front of the mayor’s offices, as it’s him (or her) who signs off such a colossal amount of the city’s money to run the race”.
Looking at the calendar in its current form, I’m guessing that any replacement race would have to be in Europe. Valencia is scheduled for 24 June; two weeks after Montreal, and two weeks for Silverstone. It’s just three and a half months away, so any replacement venue would have to come quickly. The only alternative that I can think of would be to move the European Grand Prix back to the middle of August, and bring the two-week mandatory shut-down forward to June. That might inconvenience the teams a little, but they could probably be talked around. But even if the race was moved to the middle of August, it would still have to be somewhere in Europe because it would be book-ended by Hungary (29 July) and Belgium (2 September).
As for the actual replacement event, I think there are only a handful of viable options. Joe has already shot down the prospect of Istanbul returning to the calendar, and France seems a popular suggestion. If this race is to be a one-off event (Valencia’s departure makes way for New Jersey, keeping twenty races intact), then with the short preparation period, I think the only way it is going to happen is if Bernie offers any prospective circuit a massive discount.
– Motorland Aragon has always been a popular candidate for a replacement race, and I seem to recall reading that Bernie spoke to them about standing in for Korea if Korea was not ready in 2010, but they said no. A one-off discounted event might hold appeal for them, but I don’t know if they have the appropriate circuit grading.
– Imola is another candidate, and while it has a 1T grading, I think Formula 1 has out-grown the circuit. Most of it is chicanes these days, even if they have ironed out the back section. I think the circuit is just too small.
– Like Aragon, I know there have been calls for a race at Portimao ever since the circuit was built. I know it’s also a 1T circuit, but Portugal is one of the PIIGS. That said, they don’t seem to be in as deep as Greece or Italy. If there is a discount and/or private money can be found, Portimao might be a good choice.
– The last circuit I can think of that would be in with a chance is the Red Bull Ring. Like Imola, it is perhaps a little too small; the 2003 lap record is a 1:08.337, so today’s cars could get even close to the one-minute mark. Dietrich Mateschitz has said that the circuit will not host a Grand Prix, but a discount and Red Bull’s wave of recent success could convince him otherwise.
That said, if Valencia is indeed dropped and a replacement event joins the calendar, then I imagine it would be in France. But I have the feeling that Valencia will once again pull itself out from under its woes and hold the race regardless.
Bit of a long shot, but as it’s two weeks after the Canadian GP why not an extra one-off race in the US?
No shortage of quality circuits – Indy perhaps being the immediate, obvious choice (if Bernie hasn’t burned every bridge with them).
Because that would interrupt the teams’ transport schedules, and they won’t like that.
PM
You have touched a nerve mentioning the RedBullRing, why not recreate the Osterreichring. Last used for F1 in 1987, I think, qualifying lap around 1 min 23 secs, so probably 10 secs quicker than that.
Dream????????????
martin
I believe some if it has gone.
As far as I am aware, all of it (the part that is not the former A1, now Red Bull Ring) is gone, at least for now. Red Bull had plans to rebuild parts of the old track a few years ago, but then ran into trouble with the regional government (and a select few of Spielberg’s inhabitants who were worried about noise) and went for the cheaper option of just renovating the existing track. The plans might still exist, though, and the ground is, probably, still owned by RB. So there might still be some hope.
So far though, they haven’t done much with the newly opened Red Bull Ring. Apart from the DTM race last year, and one race each by German ADAC Masters and GT Open I don’t think there have been a lot of “big” events in 2011, and even less seems to be planned for 2012.
Joe is correct; they destroyed the sections that were replaced, just like they did at Hockenheim.
Very unfortunate, as both were classic circuits that added much-needed variety to the calendar… Before Hockenheim was emasculated, it was worthwhile for teams to create a skinny-wing package for Hockenheim and Monza, and I always thought it was cool to see what innovations the teams came up with for those races. It’s neat to see a team show up one weekend with a car that looks dramatically different from the last weekend. Big wings at Monaco, skinny wings at Monza and Hockenheim.
I just hope more venues don’t go the way of the Osterriechring and Hockenheim, turned into the typical F1 point-and-shoot circuits with little flow or character.
This would be dream, they could always extend it if the lap was too short – does the new circuit not incorporate more of the old track? I know some of it has gone, the Rindt Curve and Hella Licht certainly went when Tilke ruined it, but I think new Red Bull Ring is an improvement on the A1 ring layout..
You can see the proposed redevelopment here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:A1_Red_Bull_Ring.svg
Hella-Licht might be gone, but at least it would retain that long right-hander up the hill whose name I currently forget. And even if it looks like there is a massive chicane in the middle of things, it bears a striking resemblance to the Nurburgring’s Wehrseifen, which was a pretty good corner.
And while the old Rindt Kurve might be a thing of the past, the new one is pretty nifty – a downhill double-apex right-hander.
Personally I’m a little miffed that the redevelopment of Donington was reversed when the Grand Prix plans went belly-up. I thought the track designers had done a pretty good job of incorporating the essence of Donington (Craner Curves, Old Hairpin, Melbourne Hairpin, etc.) while extending the track, expanding the facilities, and adding in a bit more of the sweeping nature that makes my old local circuit what it is. Last time I managed to make it to Donington was in 2007 and it was a dump, desperately in need of some re-invigoration. It’s a shame that rather than finish what had been started they hastily reverted to the post-1977 circuit. Had they done that, then perhaps they could have stepped in now… 🙂
Think the problem with the new track is the same one that ended its chances of an f1 GP.
No Money!
Frankly were lucky to have a Donington at all. Dump or not. The owner basically went bust after the mysterious money didn’t turn up.
Still a great place to watch a race though. watching the 09 MotoGP at the Craners was fantastic
…bring the two-week mandatory shut-down forward to June. That might inconvenience the teams a little…
More than just a little. It would trash every single F1-team-worker’s family holiday plans. There’s a reason the shut-down is when it is: to coincide with the school summer holidays.
That is not going to happen.
It could be an opportunity for Dietrich Mateschitz as well to have a one-off race in Austria. As you’ve said previously, it would be amazing publicity for him for Red Bull to possibly win at their own track in the company’s home country as world champions. Also, it’s 25 years since Red Bull was introduced to the market.
To be honest, as an outsider, I’d obviously much rather see a replacement race rather than a gap (Algarve or RB Ring would be my preferred choices), but I guess the insiders may not be so positive about another race.
Or Donnington! Well not likely 🙂
Race promoters of the world, UNITE!
Boycott Bernie Ecclestone, and his business model that consists of demanding fees and milking governments subsidizing these financially absurd models.
Let’s unite, for that F1 can return to a sound financial model for races, with happy track owners and happy race fans (paying less).
And no teams?
How much do the teams get from what Bernie Ecclestone takes from the circuits (estimations)?
50percent
CVC gets the rest
Don’t make me laugh. If all of the race promoters boycotted Ecclestone, he would do two things:
1) He would find twenty more circuits willing to replace them.
2) He would sue all of them for breach of contract. Which would probably cost them more than hosting the races.
This isn’t something that Valencia is doing out of the spirit of rebellion. This isn’t Occupy Pit Lane. Given the choice, they would no doubt have the race this year. It’s not like Bernie gave them a contract written in invisible ink – Valencia knew what they were getting into when they signed up for the race.
And while your cause might be described as noble, or even as laudable, it’s ultimately untenable. If race sanctioning fees are reduced, where is the money to pay off the debt to CVC going to come from?
Not suprised, when I was in valencia last October the whole area surrounding the track was dead, nobody around. Seemed like an ill planned location
I don’t know how many are aware that Leo Hindery said publicly that he expects the New Jersey race to make a profit without subsidy because their deal with Bernie includes a portion of “all four income streams”. While I would not trust such statements if coming from many promoters, Leo Hindery is not an ordinary race promoter. I do not think Leo is in the business of lying, but I do expect Bernie thinks he should not have said that out loud with reporters nearby.
I can think of no other sporting or entertainment event where it seems a radical idea that those hosting the event can make a buck. Yet F1 folks seem to think it’s normal. If F1 does not wish to see failed races (a trend which will only increase Bernie’s rep as a plundering pirate), the model reported by Leo is the only one I’ve heard that seems viable… unless Bernie expects gov’ts to continue to pay through the nose for money-losing events. While I can see how Bernie got away with that for years, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to see that as a viable long-term strategy.
Don’t know the details of the deal Austin wound up with, but for F1 to have any substantive future in America, the only way it will happen is if the promoter is allowed to build a profitable tradition. Contrary to Bernie’s claim, American promoters do not think it necessary that the race make a profit right away, but there absolutely must be some reasonable expectation that doing the event properly can and will lead to adequate profit. It’s amazing to me that other venues are happy to lose millions on the deal just to fill hotel rooms and restaurants for two or three days per year. Such a scheme will increasingly confine F1 to only those locations where nobody wants to go.
Go read Tom Bower’s “No Angel” and you’ll get some idea of BCE’s ‘negotiation’ strategies. Even his good friend John Coombs (he of the grey Jaguar Mk2 and Cooper Monacos in the mid-1960s) has called Bernie “a bit naughty” as “he never leaves anything on the table for anyone else”. Dealing with Bernie seems, from the outside, to require the same sort of approach as at an auction: know the value of what you want, know how much it is worth to other people, know how much you are prepared to pay to get it, and expect to pay it all.
Let the French have the Valencia slot and keep Spa every year!
But that means another race will have to go to accomodate New Jersey.
Besides, the reason why Spa is looking at moving to a bi-annual rotation is because they feel they cannot run the race yearly. A vacancy opening up that would allow France to have an annual race won’t suddenly save Spa.
The grandstand issue at Le Castellet (Paul Ricard) could be quickly solved by temporarily ones, which can be erected in a matter of weeks. There is plenty of flat grassy area round the track to put in grandstands. Car parking would be a problem – there is not much and not a lot of land around for temporary parking, as it is mainly woodland around there. Here is a link to a pic I took before landing, so you can see what Le Castellet looks like today, sadly only with a mobile as my camera was in the hold http://dl.dropbox.com/u/7999761/le_castellet.jpg
A bigger and insoluble issue is access. The roads are not good from either Marseille, Toulon or the north. There is no public transport to the area apart from the very occasional small bus. Our plane diverted to the airport at Le Castellet two years ago, when Toulon-Hyeres was closed after a military incident (whatever that is). Our cars were at Toulon-Hyeres and we had to wait an hour and a half for a taxi to turn up and the 40 odd kilometre journey through Toulon took us another hour plus.
Wilson
It is somewhat in the back of beyond. Pretty fun drive out there from Marseille though and an exciting outdoor go-karting track to buzz around.
There’s an extension to the TGV network planned from Marseille to Nice which would potentially run very close to Paul Ricard (and which would make Monaco more accessible too) but it’s not likely to be open until 2030.
Nice information and photo.
I wonder if they’ve named that runway after Nicolas Minassian yet after he landed on it in his massive 908 crash last year?
Thanks for the great photo!
It’s very… Blue…
Is there anywhere nearby where they could run a park and ride scheme from to get around the traffic problem?
Of course, if it was stop-gap then it is possible Bernie would charge (himself…) a lower fee for this year to make sure something happens, and even if not it would be a good ‘dry run’ for when the French GP starts alternating with Spa.
Re: Park & Ride :
In a word : no.
Your surrounding geography is wooded hills.
http://maps.google.fr/?ll=43.251392,5.794086&spn=0.036634,0.090895&t=h&z=14
At the extreme someone could try to pay some farmers to open up fields to the south and get a service up and running – though I can’t be sure they’re not vineyards in which case you’re done for.
Not going to happen this year. Frankly I’m not convinced by Paul Ricard being viable for spectators long-term.
This is my view: Bernie sold out to CVC years ago for god knows how many millions of $$’s. He cares not for the fans, we are at the end of a VERY long list. He only cares for money. His daughters crystal bath tub has to paid for somehow, they don’t grow on trees !
I think second on his mind is advertising that he can flog to further bolster the coffers.
Just imagine if Spa disappeared ! That would be truly, truly appalling ! But, who cares if it is a fantastic circuit with decades of history in a lovely setting with possibly the most challenging section of track on the calendar, that rises like a mountain from the base, as the red river trickles by underneath.. ?
Another vote for the return of Imola 😉
and I thought that the BBC had left all of the risky ones to Sky ..
I believe that the roads to Magny Cours have been improved and the track layout screams twin DRS zone..
One of the Spanish tracks needed to go anyway with Russia and New Jersey coming along, so even if a French race re-enters this year it would still likely alternate with Spa in the long run.
There is still one track that would need to go (even before you consider any possible addditional races in Mexico or South Africa) – any idea what tracks would be next on the cutting block? Bahrain? Korea? China? Malaysia?
Japan’s contract runs out soon, but it would be a shame to lose a Japanese race – alonside Monaco, Monza, Silverstone and Spa I’d put it as one of the key events.
Maybe they could hold a second race in Canada with one at Mosport Park a week before Montrael?!
In all seriousness though I would think that one of the French tracks or the Red Bull Ring would replace Valencia. Some of the others like Portomao, Imola and Istanbul are great from a fans perspective but sadly unlikely to happen. I hope the Valencia race is replaced and wherever that round is held instead it certainly is going to be better than the hopeless track at Valencia.
You just want to see 58-second laps around Mosport, don’t you? 😉
Modern F1 cars would be ridiculously awesome around Mosport… the surface, although still relatively new, would be far too bumpy for them; they’d catch air off the bump exiting corner one!
Seeing an F1 car flat through corner four and diving into 5A super-deep on the brakes would not look like real life.
Oh! Why couldn’t it have been one of the races Sky had, and not a BBC one? It gets worse… 😦 Mind you, if Magny Cours gets the race it’ll be an excellent result! 🙂
I’m sure I remember reading somewhere when the furore hadn’t died down and Bahrain was just becoming doubtful that the BBC-Sky deal is for BBC live coverage of half the races rounded up – that if they lose one they will get to pick another to televise live.
Great difficulty in finding that info now though.
I understand from Susan Watkins book on Bernie, that Paul Ricard is basically set up for testing but not racing. It has everything but only for 10 cars at a time. Benie spent a lot of money on it, but that was 10 years ago and standards have moved on. I would guess that stands need to be re-built too. Did Bernie keep his share after the divorce? The French election could help if the socialists win.
Le Castellet is a little bit on the narrow side for a modern F1 track as well, apart from the infrastructure issues. I assume that it has had all new tarmac since I last drove on it a few years ago, testing a Euro Hill Climb F2 Ralt. It was incredibly slippery in the damp. My brother was faster round the corners in a 1933 Alfa Monza, when it started to drizzle, than I was on Yokohama F3000 super soft slicks. It looked like it had been used a lot for truck racing from the vast amount of rubber on the track and run off areas (this was just before it was painted blue). As soon as there was the smallest amount of drizzle, the split diesel rose to the surface, mixed with the old rubber and produced instant black ice.
Given that the FIA has now fixed the calendar, if Valencia now drops out, I don’t think it meets the rules for a replacement this year. There would just be a gap in the calendar. If the FIA, CVC, all the F1 teams, the broadcasters and Bernie agreed on a replacement, I suppose it might happen.
Porker Squadron fuelled and ready for take off sir!
Wilson
@ Joe saward,
So what ever came out from the Korea GP discussions,
I thought the race was on the brink of collapse.
Didn’t Bernie say if they can’t afford it than they shouldn’t have it?
I guess they paid