So Fuji is out!!

[Andy B]

Is Fuji going to be the only track to drop by the way side?
With all the tracks out there that want an F1 weekend who would you like to see there and please not more Turkey's (pun intended)
I'de like to see Silverstone and Donnington on the schedule as I believe the UK can fill both. Canada and the U.S. back too.
But do you have a track of old that you would like to see revitalised.

[Jericoke]

What makes an ideal F1 track?

Obviously a mix of twists and turns with high speed straights should satisfy most fans.

I should think a race that's on at a good time for the core audience would be ideal.  Given the TV ratings of Canada, US and Brazil, I'd say that races from the Americas would be desirable.  Bernie even recognised how important Brazil was, making it the last race of the season during evening TV viewing.

I appreciate that Bernie has been trying to grow the F1 brand in countries without a core audience.  Will the people of Turkey, Malaysia or Singapore ever become F1 fans without a chance to see it up close?  The same, of course, is to be said of the USA.

What's more important to F1 right now... a race at a good time for TV viewers?  A race at a good location that will be filled to capacity?  A great track for spectacle?

[cosworth151]

I think the Japanese race will revert to Suzuka, which is a much better track than Fuji. It's an odd situation, since Fuji's owner, Toyota, is still in F1. Suzuka's owner, Honda, is out.

[Jericoke]

I think the Japanese race will revert to Suzuka, which is a much better track than Fuji. It's an odd situation, since Fuji's owner, Toyota, is still in F1. Suzuka's owner, Honda, is out.

Actually, it makes sense... it spreads the risk.  Toyota can afford to lose money with an F1 team, but surely not an F1 team and an F1 track.

Similarly Honda is only taking a (possible) hit once a year, instead of every single race.

[david1275]

Suzuka without a doubt, if only for turn 15 one of the best corners on a race circuit in the world.

[mrkjf]

Is Fuji going to be the only track to drop by the way side?
With all the tracks out there that want an F1 weekend who would you like to see there and please not more Turkey's (pun intended)
I'de like to see Silverstone and Donnington on the schedule as I believe the UK can fill both. Canada and the U.S. back too.
But do you have a track of old that you would like to see revitalised.

Fuji isnt a good track anyway so who cares as long as we get a better one.

[SennaMan]

I would love to see Spa brought back into the F1 calendar

[cosworth151]

I would love to see Spa brought back into the F1 calendar

It is. The race there will be on 30 August this year. 

[johnbull]

I would love to see Spa brought back into the F1 calendar

Go back to sleep, Sennaman.

[SennaMan]

oops, you are so right cossie and JB - it is almost 3 am here too - have been burning too much candle - and it is showing 

hey, but happy one of the best cicuits has been retained!

[cosworth151]

Spa does seem to drop off the calender every two or three years.

I haven't heard if Suzuka has said it will fill the void left by Fuji. We've all assumed it would, but it could be like Germany. Hockenheim is pulling out and Nurburgring doesn't want to take over the date unless Bernie lowers his fee.

[Jericoke]

Spa does seem to drop off the calender every two or three years.

I haven't heard if Suzuka has said it will fill the void left by Fuji. We've all assumed it would, but it could be like Germany. Hockenheim is pulling out and Nurburgring doesn't want to take over the date unless Bernie lowers his fee.

How did Suzuka end up losing the race to Fuji in the first place?

[Scott]

How did Suzuka end up losing the race to Fuji in the first place?

Probably like usual - highest bidder to Bernie

[Jericoke]

I just had a thought... tracks aren't keen on losing a pile of cash year over year, but don't seem to mind doing it once in a while.

Why not put all F1 eligible tracks into a rotating calender?  There's probably about 25 tracks that could host an F1 race, right?  They can share the costs a little more evenly, and Bernie gets to keep charging his ridiculous fees.

There's 17 races a year still, and if your race doesn't come up this year, it will next year.

[Monty]

The only reason the tracks lose money is Bernies greed.
That has always been the issue with Silverstone. They refused to pay Bernie more money than they could make in gate money, trade pitches and corporate income. I think that is called 'good business'.
Fuji and Suzuka could run with losses because they were being sponsored by their owners. The new tracks are all being sponsored by local or national governments. It's about time Bernie reduced his demands to commercially affordable levels.