What do you think? Reactions to the track haven't been particularly positive online, from what I've seen. It's another semi-street circuit running around the IFEMA conference/exhibition campus and...
What do you think? Reactions to the track haven't been particularly positive online, from what I've seen. It's another semi-street circuit running around the IFEMA conference/exhibition campus and the Real Madrid training grounds. A ten-year deal makes sense from a financial standpoint (it's hard to entice investment on the ground for something that could go up in smoke in the near future), but could come back to bite them if it's not well received. I'm not convinced Sainz has the draw that Alonso had (and still has, although not to the same extent as in his glory years) to keep the race in the popular consciousness either.
I wonder what will become of the Barcelona circuit, which seemed to have got its act together quite satisfactorily in recent times, what with the chicane adjustment, corner widening and the like.
I really don't like the idea of another semi-street circuit. While they are exciting for the actual race, the logistics of preparing the track and hosting the race seem like a complete nightmare....
I really don't like the idea of another semi-street circuit. While they are exciting for the actual race, the logistics of preparing the track and hosting the race seem like a complete nightmare. We went to Vegas in November during race week and it was an absolute mess. We purposely didn't get tickets to the race because of price and the fact that there were so many things that could go wrong (case and point, the valve cover that destroyed 2 cars during P1). It was almost impossible to get anywhere in the area during the days leading up to the race and our conversations with residents backed up the news articles that the local population was very unhappy to have the race there. Most of them are hoping that they don't renew the contract in 3 years.
I hope this doesn't affect the Barcelona circuit. The current contract is through 2026 and the US proves that one country can successfully host multiple races (even if one track does look like an upside-down pig).
I fully agree with your first paragraph. At best, this sort of race might be worth trying in its second (maybe even third) year, when the worst kinks have been worked out. As for the second, I...
I fully agree with your first paragraph. At best, this sort of race might be worth trying in its second (maybe even third) year, when the worst kinks have been worked out.
As for the second, I don't think there's enough interest in F1 in Spain for two races in a year, quite frankly. Never mind that the US population (well north off 300 million) dwarfs Spain's (which will nudge 50 million in a few years), the disparity in disposable income is huge. I'm sure this new Madrid track will charge an arm and a leg, and I expect that after the first couple years of it being a novelty, people will stop allocating their scarce leisure money to it.
I'm tending on the bitter side because, quite aside from the dull racing the circuit will engender, I'm very sure that there's a good deal of corruption surrounding the its location, snaking around IFEMA and the Real Madrid training grounds. Florentino Pérez's construction company ACS will be doing very well from this when the contracts get officially handed out, I bet.
While I agree with the population and income disparity, the races in the US are incredibly far apart (38 hours to drive from the western most track to the eastern most track) and are prohibitively...
While I agree with the population and income disparity, the races in the US are incredibly far apart (38 hours to drive from the western most track to the eastern most track) and are prohibitively expensive for the everyday fan. That being said, I don't think the local population matters in these decisions. These races aren't being added to the calendar for the general fans, they're being added to draw big spenders to the events. It would be cheaper for me to fly to Monaco, get a hotel, and attend the race there than attend any race in the States.
I don't follow football at all, but I did some quick reading about Florentino Pérez. I am floored at how everything around him is so corrupt, yet somehow he still has his government's support.
Wait, will this affect Barcelona? It seems pretty silly to get rid of it just based on there being another race in Spain when we've had multiple races in Austria at the same track in recent seasons.
Wait, will this affect Barcelona? It seems pretty silly to get rid of it just based on there being another race in Spain when we've had multiple races in Austria at the same track in recent seasons.
The multiple races at the same track was just a Covid special iirc. But yeah we have multiple races in other countries still. If this replaced one of the sportwashing Middle East races, I’d be all...
The multiple races at the same track was just a Covid special iirc. But yeah we have multiple races in other countries still. If this replaced one of the sportwashing Middle East races, I’d be all over it, but we know that won’t happen.
Yeah but I think in 2021 it was still because they couldn’t hold all the scheduled races, so they doubled up Red Bull Ring races to get the number of events back up. I want to say it was...
Yeah but I think in 2021 it was still because they couldn’t hold all the scheduled races, so they doubled up Red Bull Ring races to get the number of events back up. I want to say it was Australia’s quarantine rules at the time that made the event unrealistic to hold?
Looked it up and actually there were 5 planned races that had to be canceled due to Covid.
It was a very strange season. In 2020 there was talk of doing reverse races at Silverstone and the Red Bull Ring (I think?), although I don't remember the plans ever coming to fruition. I did a...
It was a very strange season. In 2020 there was talk of doing reverse races at Silverstone and the Red Bull Ring (I think?), although I don't remember the plans ever coming to fruition. I did a quick search and, at least for the RBR, the idea was rejected because it would cost too much to make the circuit safe for reverse racing. I assume something similar happened in the case of Silverstone as well. It would have been surreal to see reverse races!
I think it will replace Barcelona,*see edit at least that's what I'm seeing reported by the BBC, The Times and The Guardian. ETA: "F1 remains in discussions with Barcelona about the future and the...
I think it will replace Barcelona,*see edit at least that's what I'm seeing reported by the BBC, The Times and The Guardian.
ETA: "F1 remains in discussions with Barcelona about the future and the possibility remains for it to host a race in addition to Madrid, F1 president and chief executive officer Stefano Domenicali said." So while Madrid will host the "Spanish Grand Prix", perhaps Barcelona will get another creatively named race. My preference would be "Formula 1 Rolex Gran Premio Del Made in Italy Spain EDell'Emilia-romagna and Catalunya.
Oh god politically I'm very excited to see what they do... Catalonian Grand Prix would be the most sane (and would parallel the Styrian Grand Prix ig?) but idk how much Spain would like that...
Oh god politically I'm very excited to see what they do... Catalonian Grand Prix would be the most sane (and would parallel the Styrian Grand Prix ig?) but idk how much Spain would like that politically lol
What do you think? Reactions to the track haven't been particularly positive online, from what I've seen. It's another semi-street circuit running around the IFEMA conference/exhibition campus and the Real Madrid training grounds. A ten-year deal makes sense from a financial standpoint (it's hard to entice investment on the ground for something that could go up in smoke in the near future), but could come back to bite them if it's not well received. I'm not convinced Sainz has the draw that Alonso had (and still has, although not to the same extent as in his glory years) to keep the race in the popular consciousness either.
I wonder what will become of the Barcelona circuit, which seemed to have got its act together quite satisfactorily in recent times, what with the chicane adjustment, corner widening and the like.
I really don't like the idea of another semi-street circuit. While they are exciting for the actual race, the logistics of preparing the track and hosting the race seem like a complete nightmare. We went to Vegas in November during race week and it was an absolute mess. We purposely didn't get tickets to the race because of price and the fact that there were so many things that could go wrong (case and point, the valve cover that destroyed 2 cars during P1). It was almost impossible to get anywhere in the area during the days leading up to the race and our conversations with residents backed up the news articles that the local population was very unhappy to have the race there. Most of them are hoping that they don't renew the contract in 3 years.
I hope this doesn't affect the Barcelona circuit. The current contract is through 2026 and the US proves that one country can successfully host multiple races (even if one track does look like an upside-down pig).
I fully agree with your first paragraph. At best, this sort of race might be worth trying in its second (maybe even third) year, when the worst kinks have been worked out.
As for the second, I don't think there's enough interest in F1 in Spain for two races in a year, quite frankly. Never mind that the US population (well north off 300 million) dwarfs Spain's (which will nudge 50 million in a few years), the disparity in disposable income is huge. I'm sure this new Madrid track will charge an arm and a leg, and I expect that after the first couple years of it being a novelty, people will stop allocating their scarce leisure money to it.
I'm tending on the bitter side because, quite aside from the dull racing the circuit will engender, I'm very sure that there's a good deal of corruption surrounding the its location, snaking around IFEMA and the Real Madrid training grounds. Florentino Pérez's construction company ACS will be doing very well from this when the contracts get officially handed out, I bet.
While I agree with the population and income disparity, the races in the US are incredibly far apart (38 hours to drive from the western most track to the eastern most track) and are prohibitively expensive for the everyday fan. That being said, I don't think the local population matters in these decisions. These races aren't being added to the calendar for the general fans, they're being added to draw big spenders to the events. It would be cheaper for me to fly to Monaco, get a hotel, and attend the race there than attend any race in the States.
I don't follow football at all, but I did some quick reading about Florentino Pérez. I am floored at how everything around him is so corrupt, yet somehow he still has his government's support.
Wait, will this affect Barcelona? It seems pretty silly to get rid of it just based on there being another race in Spain when we've had multiple races in Austria at the same track in recent seasons.
The multiple races at the same track was just a Covid special iirc. But yeah we have multiple races in other countries still. If this replaced one of the sportwashing Middle East races, I’d be all over it, but we know that won’t happen.
They definitely did it in 2021 too iirc, but yeah. I agree with you on getting rid of those races being both better and improbable.
Yeah but I think in 2021 it was still because they couldn’t hold all the scheduled races, so they doubled up Red Bull Ring races to get the number of events back up. I want to say it was Australia’s quarantine rules at the time that made the event unrealistic to hold?
Looked it up and actually there were 5 planned races that had to be canceled due to Covid.
Makes sense, I just probably remember it more strongly bc I found it strange (and bc I'm not a huge Red Bull fan so)
It was a very strange season. In 2020 there was talk of doing reverse races at Silverstone and the Red Bull Ring (I think?), although I don't remember the plans ever coming to fruition. I did a quick search and, at least for the RBR, the idea was rejected because it would cost too much to make the circuit safe for reverse racing. I assume something similar happened in the case of Silverstone as well. It would have been surreal to see reverse races!
ooh yeah that would've been way more fun than what we got imo!
I think it will replace Barcelona,*see edit at least that's what I'm seeing reported by the BBC, The Times and The Guardian.
ETA: "F1 remains in discussions with Barcelona about the future and the possibility remains for it to host a race in addition to Madrid, F1 president and chief executive officer Stefano Domenicali said." So while Madrid will host the "Spanish Grand Prix", perhaps Barcelona will get another creatively named race. My preference would be "Formula 1 Rolex Gran Premio Del Made in
ItalySpainEDell'Emilia-romagnaand Catalunya.Oh god politically I'm very excited to see what they do... Catalonian Grand Prix would be the most sane (and would parallel the Styrian Grand Prix ig?) but idk how much Spain would like that politically lol