New F1 owners target 2nd USGP in destination city

Monaco is completely different from any other circuit.


First of all, it's a showcase for the principality, that attracts the jet set, the uber rich and the celebrities to this part of the world for a massive social event. They are the public Monaco wants to attract. They would spend silly money to buy a balcony for the weekend, or other vantage points not accessible to most people, just to have a party during the race. Most of them have a very remote interest to F1, some don't even watch it, but like to flaunt their wealth, their fortunes, their yachts and they prize female companion.
They come to Monaco as to a convention, to bathe in luxury, media attention, brand display, and the glamour attached to it: the casino, fashion shows, jewelry, etc...

Then, there is a race on a very restricted circuit that really shouldn't host a GP if the rules imposed on other tracks were upheld there, in all logic. The paying public is not very well cared for at Monaco. Getting there is an ordeal, the tickets are very expensive, the facilities not very good, etc... It's very difficult to follow the race, I am told, because the public address is inaudible, most of the time, and the view is restricted, etc.. A friend of mine who went to Monaco and got a seat by the famous swimming pool grand stand told me he was reduced to follow the race on his iPad !! But most people try to go there once, as to tick a box on their "must do" list.

 

The Glenn in the 70s was the place to not bring kids or your girl friend. They burned a greyhound bus one year. Walking thru the garage the night before the race when the teams were prepping the cars was neat. Different times indeed!

 

1974 was the year they burned the bus in the infamous bog. I was there. It was chartered by a group of Brazilians who were there to cheer on Emerson Fittipaldi to his second World Championship. No one was hurt but all of their luggage went up in flames as well.

Anyway, there's no way Watkins Glen can pass current FIA inspections for F1, Neither can Road America or Laguna Seca.

 

I vote Vegas. Easy in, easy out from just about anywhere. You can go for the week, or just a couple days. You can stay cheap or live like a king. Lots of options for all price points and the infrastructure will easily support hundreds of thousands of fans. It already does for various trade shows.

 

I have been 7 times. Here is the cool thing about Monaco. In lots of places you can watch from an apartment, and then duck inside to watch on TV too. Not many places where there are literally thousands of apartment balconies along the raceway.

 

I know we have talked about London and the logistical nightmare and security issue:

London GP: Could it ever happen under Formula 1's new owners? | F1 News

Here's a youtube video of Santandar's(promotional) vision of what a GP in London would look like:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1Y3vYK77XI

 

With all the great tracks that the UK has, bringing F1 to the centre of London is a bit ridiculous IMO...

 

I loved it when they did it the last time. They drove right by my hotel window

 

Just hoping it is not another crap street circuit like Dallas or Phoenix or worst yet the fiasco of the parking lots in Vegas in the early 1980s. It needs to be a real circuit where real racing can occur. Austin has done a good job and the track is good (suprising for a Tilke track). I would go to Laguna Seca (went for the ALMS race years ago), but would skip a street circuit and just go to Montreal instead (a proper street circuit). Of all of the races i have attended, Monza is my favorite and then Montreal. The facilities may not be brand new, but the venues have an authenticity that is just lacking in many other venues. The fans in Monza and Montreal also make the event. Does anyone really think that LA, Vegas or Miami would really embrace Formula 1 like Montreal does?

 

Zero infrastructure (Also hotel space) in upstate NY to readily get there by car or plane. For what it would cost for a wknd, it damn well better be convenient & easy. Driving 8 or more hours & getting popped by NYS Troopers all along Rt. 79 is not my idea of fun. And more than likely it would rain or snow.

 

Looks like a nightmare, and I hope it never happens.

The E GP at Battersea is bad enough.

 

+1

The British GP has a natural berth at Silverstone; let it stay that way.

The rest is just fantasy.

 

To your point - only Indianapolis GP course and COTA are grade 1 in the US currently. FIA was just at the Glen this year after the repave and prior to Indy returning and rated it a 2, which I think is generous honestly based on their standards. The track is in good shape and is FAST, but the stakes are still very high in certain areas.

Indy can support a race for sure. They had 350k people there this year for the 100th running of the 500.

 

Singapore appears to be interested in hosting further races - https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-02-15/singapore-still-sees-formula-one-allure-tourism-chief-says

 

Here we go in Long BEach, they are going for it and think its a great chance, Downtown has become an amazing place and with Carnival expanding with so many other venues is becoming a very upcoming place.
They are also going to get rid of the breakwater to bring surfing back.

Buy Buy Buy folks it's a south facing beach that has not be re developed in a LONG time

Its going to happen sooner or later

All us here in LB want to have a month of racing, F! AND Indycar

Long Beach Considering Hosting Formula One Race - The Drive

 

Liberty wants a "destination city", which unfortunately for COTA, Austin isn't. They want a place that will open up the F1 welcome mat, have a lot of available rooms, and events and parties around the city.

So the only possibility is NYC, Miami, LA, and Vegas.

NYC has no track and traffic in the city is horrible enough without a 4 day racing event. And, it's fairly close to Montreal, which draws from the US.

My guess is LA but Long Beach would have to disappear off the Indy circuit. I can't see the people of Long Beach putting up with a race twice a year. I would look for Indy car to fight real hard to keep LB on their calendar as it's one of their crown jewels.

If I were to guess I would say Miami or Vegas, but there's no real track at Vegas the heat during the summer would be a turn off, unless it was a night race. If it's a night race then it would be an early morning race in Europe on TV. Vegas would easily draw fans from the West Coast. Miami would draw fans from the East Coast.

So, if it's Vegas or Miami I think it's a spring race with COTA in the fall.