Yes, but there are Brazilian drivers in F1. Not too many Canadians or Americans. Before I start suggesting who is responsible, does anyone here know the exact reasons for the Canadian GP being removed from the calendar? Or are you basing your comments strictly on this article, which does not really give a reason. For all we know, the teams gave their thumbs up to this. Could be they were complaining all along. Irrespective of the selling cars in North America argument, the major sponsors of F1, like Santander and Vodaphone, do not do much business here. Marlboro and Bridgestone (Firestone) don't care. And for all of these companies, Asia is their new target market. It seems despite there being no USGP, we keep buying Ferraris, Toyotas, Hondas, BMW's and Mercedes anyway. The people that buy those cars generally do not give a poop about F1, and realistically, the F1 market in North America is relatively small compared to Europe, South America, and Asia. Most of the Ferrari owners I know are not die hard F1 fans. I do not think a US or Canadian GP does much to sell product. But a race in Singapore or China might. Question, I have never seen a contract for anyone involved in F1 promotion, so as long as they and the contract are in good standing, can a race just be cancelled?? Is there a penalty??
Could be a hardcore tactic by Bernie to get them to commit to putting $$ into the track. Then it magically reappears on the schedule.
I'm not supprised. If he is going to get rid of the British GP ( oh Yes, there will never be a gp at Donnington ) Canada is low hanging fruit, so he can go to Russia, or India. Some one needs to show up with a sniper scope a the next GP and do everybody a favor... this guy has finally ruined a sport that I loved since I can first remember... the only good racing now is ALMS and Le Mans in europe. F-1 is so screwed up, greed upon greed... it is really sickening... It reminds me of Europe in 1900... all the country's were greedy and that is what led to WW1... I actually hope F-1 fails... just comes collapsing around all those greedy bastards... maybe then we can have some rational racing! As for Canada, it is too bad... I've not been for a while, but used to go there in the 80's and 90's some of the best racing ... I remember in 89, standing a the hairpin bend, in the pouring rain, watching Senna run away from eveybody ... only for his car to break.... I think Boutsen won.... it rained like I've never seen it before. later in the paddock We ate dinner with the Liger guys... the food was fantastic... like being in a French bistro... Best of luck to F-1 I think they are going to need it. Tom
Well, it certainly fits. I have gone to Montreal for the last 3 years - same 3 seats in Grandstand 11. When I called to renew my tix in July, I tried to add 2 seats - my oldest son is finally at an age to enjoy a race weekend. I was told that I could not add the seats, but would be given priority after the ticketing for '09 opened up to the general public. That was supposed to happen toward the end of July...then i was told it had been extended to August...then I was told ticketing would not be opened up until further notice. How absolutely frustrating. Apparently the organisers have had some idea this was coming. Eccelstone, are you listening? Bad idea. Think about how many cars your teams sell in North America.
Time to trim the budget for Nazi hookers. F1 may be the pinnacle of world motorsports, but to me it is rapidly losing all relevance.
Apparently they forgot to tell the organisers of the race who still think they have a contract to 2011
I bet the airlines and hotels are having a fit! Everyone is stopping all of their reservations. Its going to cost millions in lost revenue.
just shows what F1 thinks of North America. I guess the manufacturers are doing so well worldwide they don't need this part of the worlds sales (not). They can all go pound sand too, good excuse to not buy a car from an F1 manufacturer. FU F1 and the dwarf you rode in on.
Now they have Asia and the Arabs scrambling to host the races and buy the road cars, your right, they dont.
Let's rush the North American Union(NAU) through and the new Amero currency and force BE to hold a race for the new amalgamated CanadUSAMexico!!! The question is where do we hold it?
+1 This "business" of F1 seems to have very poor "customer service".......... Mark my word.......We will see a Moscow GP, and an Indian GP in the future. And I imagine France and Spain to be on the chopping blocks with those additions.
I was just thinking the samething, too bad CART is not what it was in the Mid 90's definately gave F1 a run for its money.
Given the turmoil of the Russian stock market of late, I don't think they'll have one anytime soon. By the time 2010 rolls around the economic landscape is going to ber very different. I don't think Russia will have the cash that Bernie and Max will be looking for.
I honestly doubt this is a final decision. I don't think this is the first time the Canadian GP has been dropped, only to be included again some time in the future. Although this could be some kind of sick payback from Mosley, didn't Canada vote against him?
I've been to the Montreal F1 race every year since 1987 (damn I'm getting old) This happened a few years ago and the Montreal race was taken off the schedule. It was all about the money (shocker) but if my memory serves me, eventually a beer sponsor picked up the tab the race was back on. I've heard estimates that the race brings in something like a 1/2 billion dollars to the city during F1 week. The Canadian government is not going to let that go quietly. Having attended F1 races all over, IMHO Montreal is the best race of the year from a spectators point of view. Great city, great venue. Hopefully this will be worked out.
You are not going to believe this: The organisers of the Canadian Grand Prix have learned through the media of the Canadian Grand Prix's removal from the 2009 Formula One championship calendar," the two-paragraph French-language statement reads. "Consequently, no comments will be issued before speaking with the interested parties, Formula One Management (FOM) and the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA)." From F1 Live http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/081007173403.shtml FIA / Bernie... you offically suck donkey b&lls............
News of GP's demise learned through media 07/10/08 17:34 Mystery surrounding the removal of the Canadian GP In a surprising statement issued by the organisers of the Canadian Grand Prix, it was revealed that no news of plans to axe North America's single Formula One event had reached them prior to its announcement. The Canadian GP was removed from the 2009 calendar by the FIA's World Motor Sport Council earlier today, with no explanations given. "The organisers of the Canadian Grand Prix have learned through the media of the Canadian Grand Prix's removal from the 2009 Formula One championship calendar," the two-paragraph French-language statement reads. "Consequently, no comments will be issued before speaking with the interested parties, Formula One Management (FOM) and the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA)." The news hit Montreal like a storm, provoking strong reactions among fans towards the FIA, which is accused of showing disrespect towards the long-standing event. The race has taken place on the famous circuit Gilles-Villeneuve every year since 1987. In an interview with Radio-Canada, Montreal Mayor Gérald Tremblay spoke of an important loss of 75 million dollars for the local economy, adding that he was going to contact Canadian GP promoter Normand Legault to "see what we can do." In 2006, Legault stated that an agreement maintaining the Canadian round of the championship until 2011 had been reached with Bernie Ecclestone.
