Start, Hockenheimring, 2016

New F1 races will be replacements for current events – Carey

2018 F1 season

Posted on

| Written by and

Formula 1 CEO Chase Carey says the sport’s calendar is “full” and Liberty Media’s new races will be added as current rounds drop from the schedule.

The 2019 F1 calendar has not yet been announced but three of this year’s races do not have contracts for next season.

Speaking exclusively to RaceFans at the FIA Sport Conference in Manila, Carey indicated there are “three or four” races per season whose contracts will expire over the next few years. Those which drop off the schedule could be replaced by races at new venues.

“Ideally we want our relationships to be long-term partnerships,” Carey explained. “That being the said it’s a reality of life that there are changes.

“We expect there continue to be a limited level of change per year but that opens up opportunities to bring in some new races that we thing would really be exciting new platforms for fans and for the sport.”

“We’ve got a full calendar,” Carey added. “Our focus really is quality not quantity.”

While the proposed Miami grand prix is the only likely new race for next year, Carey said further additions are possible for subsequent seasons.

“For ’19, it’s getting pretty well-baked. As you get out to ’20, ’21, there’s certainly discussions we’re having which could lead to new races.”

The sport’s management is “quite excited about the degree of interest from places round the world” in holding F1 grands prix, according to Carey.

“We have interest from locations in Africa, South America, the US, Europe. While we have a pretty full slate of European races this year, we have places in Europe that want races.

“We’ve got places that want to have races that probably wouldn’t work for us. But we’ve got a large number of places that would be interesting and we’re in discussions and we’ll see where those discussions take us.”

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free

2018 F1 season

Browse all 2018 F1 season articles

34 comments on “New F1 races will be replacements for current events – Carey”

  1. Feels bad man.

  2. As far as I’m aware, there are 3 Grands Prix that don’t have contracts for next year.

    Belgium, Japan, and Germany.

    I doubt many people (myself included) would trade any of those for a new street circuit in a ‘destination city’.

    1. @zazeems: Agree.

      No Spa? No Suzuka? Carey, you might be fully baked, but shake off your media maven stupor and keep F1’s great tracks on the calendar.

      1. Agreed, Don’t care too much about Hockenheim but spa and Suzuka are basically my favorites of the calendar.

        1. Spa and Suzuka are many driver’s favourites too. What a shame.

    2. @zazeems – thanks for sharing that list of tracks.

      Like the others above, with tracks like Spa and Suzuka at risk, Mr. Carey must be focused on getting them renewed in a sustainable and mutually-beneficial manner. They are among the circuits I look forward to in the season, and losing them will be a good and easy way of losing a lot of interest amongst old fans.

      1. Maybe he can find replacement new fans for the old one’s that drop out too while he is at it?

    3. Good point indeed @zazeems, although I am afraid that we are quite likely to lose Germany.

      1. @bascb Yes, indeed. Germany not being part of the Championship next season is basically next to guaranteed as Hockenheim is set to drop again as it did after 2014 and ’16.

  3. Vettel fan 17 (@)
    7th June 2018, 11:12

    Not many races need axing, Russia and abu Dhabi are the only ones that come to mind right now. If they get rid if a good circuit like Suzuka or Spa I’m going to hit someone, because that is pure stupidity to get rid of the best tracks

    1. @vettelfan17 And even then, Russia and Abu Dhabi are perfect purpose build facilities ready to host the premier championship in the world of racing. What others would you replace them by, and I’m not inquiring on ‘circuits which you’d love’ but ones that could realistically do it next year. It’s not like there’s many left, Estoril perhaps, the Moscow raceway, Mugello, Sepang and that’s about it that is grade 1, but I don’t know about the correct facilities at the track.

      1. Vettel fan 17 (@)
        7th June 2018, 12:15

        Sepang is always available sinve it just hosted a f1 race for the last 19 years and is a great track, but they’ll have to lower the price

        1. I agree get malaysia back but twin it with singapore. That could help to lower the price. I don’t see why it wasn’t twinned before being only 4 or 5 hours away by road.

          1. I think because when races are close, the crowd tends to choose one over the other – when the races are spaced out, they might attend both.

            But logistically it makes no sense.

  4. We need to replace Suzuka with a race in a Las Vegas parking lot, we need to replace Spa with a “SuperBowl-like festival” and street race in Miami, and we need to replace Silverstone with a street race in Hanoi.

    1. In a way it would be more interesting, f1 needs more entertainment involved… that would certainly add an x factor

  5. Here’s the problem. The classic circuits such as Spa, Silverstone, Hockenheim, Suzuka, etc., need relief from the userous, extortionate and unsustainable race sanctioning fees, which force promoters to beg for public sector funds and/or lose money. Liberty Media needs to retain these fees near present levels as they need earn a cost of capital return (ROIC) on the legacy payoff to Bernie and CVC. People think Bernie and CVC are “gone away” but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The sport is run, and always will be, in part to earn a ROIC on their legacy.

  6. “We’ve got a full calendar,” Carey added. “Our focus really is quality not quantity.”

    He’s right, but 20 races a year should be the ideal number for the Formula One World Championship, and it should consist of a diverse range of circuits, and definitely stay away from the boring monotone calendar ideas Formula E uses.

    I believe Liberty should invest more in getting healthy yearly-change deals like Hockenheim and Nurburgring running.

  7. Tracks that I personally would love to be replaced: Monaco, Barcelona, Paul Ricard, Abu Dhabi, Sochi

    Tracks that I wouldn’t mind to be replaced: Hungary, Hockenheim, Baku, Melbourne, Mexico, Singapore and Monza (races mostly aren’t that exciting there imho)

    Tracks that should never be taken off the F1 calendar imho: Silverstone, Spa, Suzuka, Montreal, COTA, Interlagos

    Tracks that should ideally stay on the calendar: Bahrain, China, Austria.

    Tracks that I’d like to return to the calendar: Nurburgring, Imola, Fuji, Turkey, Kyalami, Watkins Glen, India and Malaysia.

    New to F1 tracks/places that I’d like to see: Kymiring Finland, Mugello, Algarve circuit, revised Argentina track, Road Atlanta, Belle Isle Detroit and a north African race in a place Tunisia for example.

    1. Tracks that I wouldn’t mind to be replaced: Hungary, Hockenheim, Baku, Melbourne, Mexico, Singapore and Monza (races mostly aren’t that exciting there imho)

      I have seen plenty of boring races in great tracks, so Spa, Silverstone and Suzuka fits perfectly in that category.

      1. Yes, a boring race is always possible at any type of track, but the difference is that I wouldn’t want those tracks replaced period.

    2. I’d add Macau to the last list

      1. Macao would be even more professional than Monaco I think. Both classic tracks that should definitely be raced on by other series, just not F1 imho.

        I will add that Imola isn’t terribly exciting in terms of layout and the racing it produces but I think the tamburello chicane (T1 & T2) could be altered as there is plenty of space there to work with. OR F1 could go to Vallulenga, Rome. A great track to drive imho (in sim) with super fast flowing sections, incredibly technical sections and plenty of overtaking opportunities for F1 cars

        1. But Macau has a genuine overtaking spot at the end of the mainstraight, and it’s a long one, almost Baku-like.

          I would love an F1 race at Macau. It could combine the challenge of Monaco with the chaos of Baku. Could be absolutely bonkers.

    3. @jeffreyj
      That’s a nice long list of tracks.
      I am intrigued about Istanbul Park. Remember Bernie praising it. Unfortunately fell out of the calendar because of him. Don’t remember the race being boring as such.. 2011 saw a lot of overtaking (i think that was the year DRS was introduced)
      Nevertheless, i am quite surprised that Carey and Co aren’t considering the circuit anymore (or maybe they have; am unaware).

    4. @jeffreyj You’d already want to get rid of Paul Ricard before a single wheel has even been turned there, LOL. Too early to jump to definite conclusions on the quality of racing-aspect concerning this particular circuit.

    5. Belle isle you must be kidding.

    6. The new Kyalami track is pretty poor and spectator view is pathetic so I wouldn’t like that one to come back.

    7. Sweet post! Let me interact, haha. Mine are:

      Tracks that I personally would love to be replaced: Monaco, Barcelona, Paul Ricard, Abu Dhabi, Sochi

      Abu Dhabi, Barcelona, Paul Ricard, Sochi, Hermanos Rodriguez.

      Tracks that I wouldn’t mind to be replaced: Hungary, Hockenheim, Baku, Melbourne, Mexico, Singapore and Monza (races mostly aren’t that exciting there imho)

      Melbourne*, Bahrein, Shanghai, Monte Carlo*, Silverstone, Hockenheim, Monza*, Singapore, COTA.

      Tracks that should never be taken off the F1 calendar imho: Silverstone, Spa, Suzuka, Montreal, COTA, Interlagos

      Montreal, Spa, Suzuka, Interlagos*.

      Tracks that should ideally stay on the calendar: Bahrain, China, Austria.

      Spielberg*, Hungaroring.

      Tracks that I’d like to return to the calendar: Nurburgring, Imola, Fuji, Turkey, Kyalami, Watkins Glen, India and Malaysia.

      Imola*, Nurburgring, Magny-Cours, Estoril, Brands Hatch.

      New to F1 tracks/places that I’d like to see: Kymiring Finland, Mugello, Algarve circuit, revised Argentina track, Road Atlanta, Belle Isle Detroit and a north African race in a place Tunisia for example.

      Macau, Road Atlanta, Daytona Road Course.

      * Here are the tracks which I’m very keen to see some reformulations:
      Melbourne: Just transfer the main straight to that one behind the actual paddock. I believe it’s a simple solution, and would resolve the lack of overtaking there.

      Monte Carlo: since that disgusting Swimming Pool complex, this track can go to limbo for all I care. But, if for some miracle that sector could be overturned, oh man, bring it on! I’d also go back with the hairpin instead of La Rascasse.

      Monza: easy. Just remove that insulting 1st and Ascari chicanes without butchering Curva Grande and restore the good old Banking.

      Interlagos: very easy as well. Just restore the original layout, which is still intact. Easily the best track of the calendar IMO.

      Spielberg: restore the original layout (Österreichring). Easily the 2nd best track of the calendar IMO.

      Imola: the most elementary of all. Install some softwalls and bring Tamburello and Villeneuve back. My personal favorite track of the calendar.

  8. Monza should be in “Tracks that should never be taken off..” Just like the others historic gp

  9. I agree with most of the comments here, Suzuka and Spa are ‘must haves’ for F1. I add Silverstone, Monza and Monaco in there, I know some not keen on Monaco, but that’s ok, we all have different opinions.

    But I do think if Spa and Suzuka go for a gimmick street circuits F1F’s will vote with their feet and Liberty will regret it.

  10. I think it would be a real blow to F1 and to people’s view of Liberty if places like Spa and Suzuka were dropped. There are however a few dull circuits that should definitely be on the list for review e.g. Sochi and Abu Dhabi. I am not sure a German GP can be saved bearing in mind it’s recent history.

    I wonder which circuits are out of contract in 2020 or 2021? There might be more races which are vulnerable in the short term.

    Whatever happens it sounds like we can look forward (or otherwise), to more street circuits.

  11. You are letting your imaginations run wild. He was quoted in the article that the schedule was “pretty much baked” so that just means Miami will be added next year and Spa and Suzuka will get new contracts. Everything I hear from Liberty is they want to preserve the best things about the sport. I don’t think anyone wants to go back to Bernie’s backroom arm-twisting deals with promoters in places that have never heard of F1. That was horrible for F1, but those contracts have to run their course as Liberty transitions to better sources of revenue (like fans at tracks).

Comments are closed.