F1 links: China doubts

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Shanghai deal likely to lapse

"Ecclestone is rumoured to be busy negotiating with better venues in China with his desire being to have a street race at night, as in Singapore. He believes that this will get the Chinese excited about F1"

China considers ditching F1 race

"Shanghai, China's biggest city, spent $240m (£161m) building a track suitable for F1 and has hosted a Grand Prix since 2004. It has a contract with F1 until 2010 and is said by F1 insiders to pay about $50m (£34m) annually for the race. But the event has not proved popular with local people and attendances have been poor – even with some spectators being transported in specifically to give the appearance of a fuller venue."

Raikkonen admits motivation struggle

'Reports throughout the season queried Raikkonen's motivation, and he now confirms: "That is the way it is; if you know you are fighting only for third place then you maybe don't have the same speed for the whole race as normal."'

Schumacher offered SBK ride

"Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher has been offered a ride in the World Superbike Championship next year by Honda."

Who will win Sports Personality?

"One sportsman who must now be considered one of the hot favourites is Lewis Hamilton, following his historic and thrilling victory in the Formula One drivers' championship. The 23-year-old will face very stiff competition from Team GB's Olympic heroes, which include gold medallists swimmer Rebecca Adlington, cyclist Chris Hoy and sailor Ben Ainslie, US Open finalist Andy Murray and boxer and last year's winner Joe Calzaghe, just to name a small selection."

Free Agents Abound

'Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing picked up the option on Graham Rahal, but not Wilson because it has only McDonald’s on board as a sponsor. “They thought they had a sponsor lined up but it fell through, so they told me I need to put my own interests first,” said Wilson, a winner at Detroit in his initial IRL season. “So, I’m seeing what options are out there and they told me to get back to them before I signed anything.”' Ex-F1 driver Justin Wilson loses his IRL seat.

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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5 comments on “F1 links: China doubts”

  1. Aha the Chinese GP Bubble finally burst. As I had mentioned post Singapore GP. Too much shouldn’t be read into “Popularity” in “State controlled” venues. Rates of Tickets are controlled by FOM. And to be honest they are exhorbitant. Locals will not turn up to the venue unless Tickets are offered to them as “Freebie”.

    So whole point Bernie makes of “Taking sports to newer audience is bunch of bull.

    I think What Bernie needs to do is make a Giant Stadium, where layouts can be changed and conduct 18/19 races per year. I know this may sound way drastic. but at least, locals race organizers are not left with a “white elephant” which doesn’t provide any return of investment in nonF1 events. and doesn’t provide any tangible profit by Hosting F1 as well (Bernie takes most the profits) leaving the hosting city with Intangible benefit of “Tourist” visiting venue generating Revenue,which can never ever be quantified

  2. I think What Bernie needs to do is make a Giant Stadium, where layouts can be changed and conduct 18/19 races per year. I know this may sound way drastic. but at least, locals race organizers are not left with a “white elephant” which doesn’t provide any return of investment in nonF1 events.

    Haha wow, would love to see something like that.

    Would love to see China off the F1 calendar, along with other similar boring venues.

  3. Too Good

    Where would you put this stadium?

  4. Too Good

    So whole point Bernie makes of “Taking sports to newer audience is bunch of bull.

    Now there’s something we can all agree on :~)

  5. @Manatcna – Bernie has varied business interests. He can buy a plot, build a multi track -layout stadium. or buy existing race tracks ( I think he already has stakes in Paul Ricard). He can buy some of these tracks (and thus the risks).Currently the risk is all owned by the local promoters/governments and all the profits by Bernie/FOM.

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