Jean Todt has said the 2012 F1 calendar will not have 21 races, contrary to the provisional calendar published by the FIA on Friday.
The addition of the United States Grand Prix to the 20-race schedule planned for 2011 would increase the championship to an unprecedented 21 rounds.
But Todt told Spain’s Diario Sport there would “absolutely not” be 21 races in 2012:
“There are 21 dates, but the championship will be with 20 Grands Prix.
He added he did not know which race would be dropped to cut the calendar down.
However the Turkish Grand Prix was listed as “subject to confirmation” when the calendar was published. Its original seven-year contract with FOM expired this year.
View the 2012 F1 calendar.
2012 F1 calendar
Image © Renault/LAT
Icthyes (@icthyes)
7th June 2011, 10:09
Then why didn’t they say that in the first place?
BasCB (@bascb)
7th June 2011, 10:22
Yeah, these guys seem to have really meaninfull discussions in the WMSC.
Macca (@macca)
7th June 2011, 13:59
Is Todt trying to **** people off at the moment, because he is doing a good job of it.
Fixy (@)
7th June 2011, 14:32
The decisions they get are so meaningless because after the decision of placing the Bahrain GP now they have to place the Indian GP, and the calendar shows 21 races but Todt is sure there will be only 20…
Eggry (@eggry)
7th June 2011, 10:10
Turkey should be first to out.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
7th June 2011, 10:29
Why? It’s a great circuit. Sure, the crowd numbers might be down – but it’s a better layout than a few of the circuits we’ve got. On the basis of their circuits, you could reasonably drop Valencia, Catalunya, Abu Dhabi, Singapore and Bahrain before Istanbul. Though with a few easy changes, you could make Valencia and Singapore very good.
Eggry (@eggry)
7th June 2011, 10:58
I’m not saying I hate Turkey or Turkey is bad circuit. just based on business principle and current situation. If not Turkey, Where else? probably this is why Bernie asked them more money. to cut them.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
7th June 2011, 11:12
Actually, it’s a standard Bernie tactic. Once the original contract expires, the fee to renew is double the original cost. This is to weed out a) countries who want a quick profile boost by hosting a Grand Prix, and then disappearing, and b) countries who commit to a second contract, but lose interest. The terms of the second contract will generally see lower fees in subsequent years than on the first contract; the organisers pay for two Grands Prix the first year of the new contract, which is then subsidised by all subsequent Grands Prix on that contract. When the second contract expires, they’ll still have paid the same amount as they did on the first contract, but the payment plan is structured differently. Doubling the fee for the first race of a new contract is a sign of commitment.
Does that make sense?
Mouse_Nightshirt
7th June 2011, 16:18
Where’s that from?
Romesh82 (@romesh82)
7th June 2011, 12:12
I think Baharain shouldbe drpped first.such a boring race…
then Valencia….
Turkey for me is a gud track with that awsome turn 8. we will miss this track if in case this is dropped from the calender…
Lew Numba 1 (@lew-numba-1)
7th June 2011, 21:10
For sure… these would be my two votes as well. Bahrain and Valencia should go. And as others have said, Abu Dhabi could go too. Turkey, as a circuit, is a far better destination.
Fixy (@)
7th June 2011, 14:33
Should as in will probably be.
Otherwise Turkey should remain.
wasiF1
7th June 2011, 10:16
I think Turkey will be axed if that stay then they should definitely should drop Valencia.
Raunaq Kumaran (@raunaq-kumaran)
7th June 2011, 10:34
i dunno, i like Valencia. its Bahrain and Abu Dhabi that i hate and i think should be kicked out before Valencia
beneboy (@beneboy)
7th June 2011, 12:03
You like Valencia ?
Do you suffer from insomnia or some other form of sleep deprivation :-)
Zadak (@thezadak)
7th June 2011, 12:44
it’s better than Catelunya
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
7th June 2011, 12:46
Valencia is alright. Sector 3 is good.
wasiF1 (@wasif1)
8th June 2011, 5:00
I don’t understand why some like Valencia, except for Webber Flying last year & some drama with Ferrari in the pit over the years there isn’t too much to talk about this event.
Bahrain is good with the old configuration & watch out for this year Abu Dhabi will be good too.
Sherlock
7th June 2011, 10:22
Maybe better drop the summer break and make the season more compact – it would allow some extra time off between the seasons.
Or realign the races so the all “european”,”asian + AUS” and “americas” are together – would be more logical.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
7th June 2011, 10:47
The problem with that is the races are in direct comeptition with one another. If you put Sepang and Singapore together, and fans can only go to one, the other can lose crowd numbers. The trick is to make a route that startes in Australia, goes up through Asia and into Europe, then across to the Americas before doubling back to Europe for a second stint and the final away leg through Asia. Something like this:
1 – Australia
2 – Malaysia
3 – Korea
4 – China
5 – Bahrain
6 – Turkey
7 – Monaco
8 – Spain/Europe
9 – Britain
10 – Canada
11 – USA
12 – Brazil
13 – Belgium
14 – Germany
15 – Italy
16 – Hungary
17 – Abu Dhabi
18 – India
19 – Singapore
20 – Japan
Sherlock
7th June 2011, 10:57
I see your point, but doubt that there will be many people who would go to two GP in year (like Malaysia on March & Singapore on October)
Besides F1 wants to be green – i can’t even theorize how many cargo in terms of units they need to haul from place A to place B. So on 2030. F1 season cars will go on AA batteries but still will take ships to carry it around.
Icthyes (@icthyes)
7th June 2011, 11:25
Agreed. The way I see it, the Malaysian Grand Prix is for Malaysians to go to, the Singapore Grand Prix for Singaporeans, etc.
Maybe a tiny minority will go to Korea early in the year, save up and then go to Japan later but we’re really not talking about that many people.
BasCB (@bascb)
7th June 2011, 11:25
Hm, wouldn’t that put the US GP right into August, when temperatures will be sweltering?
I do agree with the principle of it though.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
7th June 2011, 12:05
Well, the exact dates aren’t really the point. The idea is to go east to west and back east again to think out the number of local races rather than just going east to west.
Besides, bring the sweltering termperatures on. Formula 1 drivers are the best drivers in the world. Make them work for they pay.
hohum
7th June 2011, 14:40
you’r a cruel man pm but you’r right it gets hot in europe in August and it is always hot in Malaysia, Singapore.
brendant (@brendant)
8th June 2011, 1:50
Night race!
Wallbreaker
7th June 2011, 10:22
For me they could drop Valencia and Bahrain…
silencer
7th June 2011, 10:45
drop bahrain this year for good… there’s no way to have bahrain back to back within 3 months.
as for next year… i guess turkey will be drop eventually but man.. the circuit there is great I think.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
7th June 2011, 10:49
Except that it’s not three months. Bahrain has been scheduled for October 2011, and March 2012. That’s five months, not three.
Rocky
7th June 2011, 11:55
With a possible change to December
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
7th June 2011, 12:07
True, there is a possible change to December. But even then, the infrastructure is still in place. It’s not like they will have to do anything different.
verstappen
7th June 2011, 10:48
Now I’m lost.
What an utter disgrace, these WMSC publications.
Everything gets turned over, contradicted or rebuked.
Knowing Bernie, it’ll turn out to be political / negotiating / Concorde-related, but what a mess, what a mess.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
7th June 2011, 10:52
How is it a contradiction? Bernie has always said there will be a maximum of 20 races. Todt agrees. The only reason why a provisional calendar was 21 races was released is because the WMSC always produce the first working draft of the calendar at their June meeting. I suspect they’re obligated to. The difference in this case is that they need to axe one race, but there is currently no clear candidate. So they produce a calendar with 21 races, and trim one back. It wouldn’t be the first time this has happened – in June 1982, a calendar was produced with a race in Moscow to be called the “Grand Prix of the Soviet Union” for the 1983 season. But it was removed from the 1983 calendar before the end of the year.
US_Peter (@us_peter)
7th June 2011, 19:33
I agree. I think there’s been a ton of over reaction to what is clearly a PROVISIONAL calendar. The final calendar is never the same.
vickyy (@vickyy)
7th June 2011, 10:57
I don’t know what happened that day in FIA meeting, seems like all were high
andy.price (@andy-price)
7th June 2011, 12:02
I have been to two races this year – Malaysia and Spain. Last year I was at Bahrain and Silverstone. I know that I am very lucky in being able to take the time to travel and to be able to afford to do so.
However it is possible, with some careful research, to get flights and accomodation at reasonable prices. The main expense is the cost of the race ticket! My ticket for Barcelona cost me more that scheduled flights with BA from Scotland – fortuately my wife and her friend wanted a few days in the city so it worked out great.
I had flights to Bahrain and as that was cancelled ended up going to Malaysia or lose the money. Having been bitteny that and seeing Bernie simply move India I will be very reluctant to plan expensive trips again. What will happend to those people who had flights etc for India?
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
7th June 2011, 12:44
Argh!! Not brilliant news from Todt, just after I got excited about the prospect of a safe 2012 for Istanbul Park.
Surely the amount of races is down to the Concorde Agreement so it should be the teams disagreeing with the idea of 21 races rather than the FIA?
paolo (@paolo)
7th June 2011, 12:54
Surely Valencia should go. It makes no sense having 2 tracks in the same country and no sense that there should be a European GP when there is already lots in Europe.
I imagine that it’s quite lucrative so its position is safe though..
US_Peter (@us_peter)
7th June 2011, 19:36
I’d get rid of Barcelona before Valencia. At least Valencia has some potential. Barcelona has no overtaking, even with DRS. Make Valencia the Spanish GP and keep Barcelona as a test track only…
mike77 (@mike77)
7th June 2011, 21:47
Yep. The teams are too familiar with Barcelona for it to be a F1 race.
Chippie
7th June 2011, 13:10
This one thinks that Bernie’s probably just posturing to keep all the circuits on their toes.
Neil
7th June 2011, 13:32
Barcelona (yawn) should be axed and the Spanish Grand Prix should move to Valencia Street Circuit.
PJA
7th June 2011, 13:51
I would drop Valencia first.
Partly because I don’t think any country should regularly have two Grand Prix and partly because it is not that good a circuit.
hohum
7th June 2011, 14:02
FIA sco
David-A (@david-a)
7th June 2011, 14:33
CO td?
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
7th June 2011, 21:25
For sure-ly not?
zark
7th June 2011, 14:22
“There are 21 dates, but the championship will be with 20 Grands Prix”
Maybe he is hinting at the return of non-championship rounds? :)
Klon (@)
7th June 2011, 17:07
That was what I was thinking. Won’t happen, but I would love to see it.
Tom
7th June 2011, 17:34
If we want affordable non-championship races, I think FP2 should be turned into a short race for reserve drivers only.
hawkfist
7th June 2011, 14:51
When’s the next Jean Todt approval rating due Keith? ;)
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
7th June 2011, 15:01
Just under two weeks:
http://twitter.com/#!/f1fanatic_co_uk/status/77692120164605952
Mouse_Nightshirt
7th June 2011, 16:20
I can’t wait to see it!
Toro Stevo
8th June 2011, 3:25
Really looking forward to the next “How do you think Todt is going?” poll…
Alisha Eve
22nd March 2012, 1:09
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