You're right. Bernie is horrible at managing the tracks and Max is horrible at managing F1. Quite a dynamic duo!
What I don't get is why Bernie would invest money in a race located outside a city with tepid F1 interest and crap infrastructure?
Team alliance guarantees unity with $50m pledge Sun 07 Jun, 08:33 AM - F1Live.com With Williams and Force India on their own after filing unconditional FIA paperwork, the F1 teams' alliance FOTA has moved to ensure its unity is not further eroded. Martin Brundle, a former driver and now a broadcaster for British TV, wrote in his column for the Sunday Times that the manufacturers face a crippling penalty if they break ranks and pledge to the 2010 world championship before a block compromise is brokered. "Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Renault and BMW have signed a $50m bond not to jump ship and enter the 2010 championship unconditionally within the next 30 days," Brundle claimed. In the hours before the Turkish Grand Prix, a breakaway world championship seems more likely than ever. Max Mosley seems unwilling to back down over budget caps, and now boasts famous names like Williams, March, Brabham and Lotus for his 2010 grid. Theoretically in another series will be grandee marques like Ferrari and McLaren, not to mention the likely 2009 world champions Brawn GP, who for now are openly supportive of the FOTA stance. "Somebody is going to have to capitulate for the sake of the sport," Brundle insisted. Interestingly, those close to Brundle could benefit from Mosley's 'new' F1: his brother Robin is a Director of prospective 2010 entrant Lola, and his 18-year-old son is currently racing in F2, the FIA's preferred feeder category to the world championship. "I hope my son and brother can experience F1 as I have been privileged to do, but I don't want F1 diluted too much," he wrote.
Unfortunately I have to disagree with alot of what has been said so far. I think that the adoption of new tracks is not the problem with F1 today. Its all part of bigger plan to expand the sport and take it out of its niche. Bernie & co are businessmen in the end. F1 is more than just the race, its basically a holiday experience. Istanbul is in an ideal position for the Euro F1 fans to hop over on a budget flight and spend a weekend or on a private jet for that matter. With so many places to eat, a wide variety of places to stay and a ton of things to do (shopping) apart from the race, its truly a fitting F1 destination. As for the low crowd attendance, I think alot of it has to do with the fact that there aren't any drivers representing these countries that are hosting these events. Granted, this shouldn't mean that unqualified should get an automatic bye onto the starting grid but, speaking for Turkey, there are a number of promising talents up and coming. It will just take time as will the interest of people in the sport. . With a Turkish driver I'm sure those stands will fill out pretty quick. I can easily say there are alot of fence sitters who follow the race on TV and the internet, however are not yet inclined to drop hundreds for a weekends race. It'll take a bit more to pull these people in. I think thats what Bernie is betting on in the long run. Having attended the last Montreal GP for the past 3 years, I must say last years one was quite spectacular. I was fortunate enough to watch it from the Paddock Club also. It was quite moving to see the Polish-Canadian fans after Kubica won..of course the whole city's vibe is very authentic. Yet, I must say that the track itself, while technically i find very exciting, is in a dire state. The paddock club is nothing more than some makeshift tents with a buffet dinner. It was extremely hot and humid with no air conditioning it seemed to make alot of "important" people very uncomfortable A nice revamp would really have done wonders, and with the sports vital importance to the city, you would think the government would have done more to try and keep the event put. I don't know the details but it seemed along time coming to be honest. Its really sad..F1 and Montreal were one and the same. On a further note, I think this crisis too has put alot of people off from travelling to events also. If the crisis forced Honda out, i'm sure it's making alot of fans think twice about dropping a substantial amount of cash for what is a weekends worth of entertainment.
An example, even the major concours, events we all know, so far this year have hurt in attendance and in participation. When the guy with the $1 mill Bugatti decides to stay home, then you know there is an economic concern. I am curious what happens at Pebble Beach in August.
yeah, this is killing me next year is a biggie for my wife and I, and we are going to Europe, planned on hitting Monaco for the race (my 40th B-day). Need to book my tickets soon (frequent flyer!) gotta say, I'll pass if my boys in red are not there!
I absolutely agree with the general consensus. I am a big F1 fan but am growing very tired of the BS the last couple of years. If they keep it up it will either be F Done or F 3rd rate, not sure which. LOL
Don't listen to all the naysayers and doomsday prophets on here! F1 and Ferrari are unseparable. Not just by image, mystique and history, but also contractually. If you want to see Ferrari at the Monaco GP next year, make your hotel reservations now. And since you got something to celebrate, you might also take a look at these guys, who offer a F1 to drive for a day (click on the Union Jack): http://www.formula-event.com/html/startindex.html This is in Le Luc, a couple hours away from Monaco. To keep the family happy, make it a trip to the Provence. Start at Avignon and work your way to Monaco via Le Luc.
