Which Grand Prix are we likely to lose for 2006 and the next couple of years?

[beau1]

well with the season as long as it has ever been and many countries wanting to join the Championship! Means that we are more than likely to lose some Grand prix. So who are the most likely candidates? Imola? Brazil? I think silverstone i most probabaly safe for the next few years! So who do you think we are most likely to lose and why?

[Knowlesy]

Hopefully Imola and Nurburgring.

USA must be a doubt, although I suspect it'll stay.

[Kicking-back]

I don't see the USA in doubt - it got plenty of publicity to raise awareness of the sport this year.

[Marbot]

I agree with Knowlesy.With Ferrari and TGF on a downward slope,demand for two German and two Italian Gps will not be there.It's a shame MS and Ferrari aren't Hungarian.

[BSchneiderFan]

Likewise, I think Imola is in real danger. With Mercedes, BMW and the Schumachers continuing to be involved, and if Heidfeld can continue to shine, I think the 'Ring may be safe for the moment. Magny-Cours's future must be shaky, especially with no French drivers on the grid.

[luke]

Originally Posted by Kicking-back

I don't see the USA in doubt - it got plenty of publicity to raise awareness of the sport this year.

Yeah but it was bad so I doubt it it will be a successfull event, and the attendances would have again dropped a lot more..So I would expect 2006 to be the last race there.

The reason why the Nurburgring holds a race because it is a great event, popular, and run very well, and Imola is smiliar and has history behind it.

[Louis B.]

I suspect it won't be long before we see alternation with some of the venues (for instance, one year at the Ring the other at Imola, etc.).

[luke]

Yeah, as it is the European Grand Prix it would be nice to alternate it each season, infact why not hold a second race in Spain, that would be popular, then the next year maybe a race at the A1-Ring again, they would offer a lot of money and as with Spain they big F1 fans, then the next year maybe to Brno...

[BSchneiderFan]

But can a circuit afford the expense of staging a GP in return for revenue every other year? If so, it would be great to see a few alternating pairs, but I have my doubts.

[Kicking-back]

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

Magny-Cours's future must be shaky, especially with no French drivers on the grid.

From a historical perspective, dropping the Grand Prix of France would be appalling.

[BSchneiderFan]

It would, but I think few would mourn the loss of Magny-Cours per se.

[Knowlesy]

From a historical perspective, losing the GP of britain would be appalling. That never guaranteed its place.

History no longer holds precedence in track selection.

[Kicking-back]

There was never any danger of Britain losing its Grand Prix.

There's an FIA rule that Britain, France and Italy must have a grand prix anyway

[Knowlesy]

As with all FIA rules, there will be acres of grey area.

[Louis B.]

...but, if this rule requires unanimity to change it, those GPs are safe.

[BSchneiderFan]

I'd love to see the French GP move, but where? Bernie doesn't seem interested in promoting Paul Ricard as a race venue (which really surprises me), and I doubt Dijon-Prenois is F1-standard. Le Mans is sacred (and the Bugatti track would be a bit tight anyway, wouldn't it?), so there aren't many options left.

[TomS]

how many other countries have another track which could be used for a gp? Britain only really has Silverstone as a gp venue, maybe Rockingham could be used i dont know but Brands etc would all need extensive mods to qualify?

[chillibowl]

with the reopening of the fuji speedway there's a chance toyota may want to oust suzuka as home of the japanese gp.
imo, id like to see both, one japanese gp and one asian gp

[Gerben24]

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

Magny-Cours's future must be shaky, especially with no French drivers on the grid.

From that point of view Zandvoort should be back on the calendar, with 2 Dutch drivers in F1, for the first time in history. Me like Zandvoort

[Big-O]

There where some serious talks about a track in Iceland, both for tyretesting and racing ... Now that would be fun, we'd have all kinds of weather going on ... Skip one in Itali for that, or Germany.

[903cc]

What about Australia. Hasn't Bernie or the FIA said this was in doubt due to the legal system?

[thejester]

My picks:

Imola will go. So will Hungary. Germany will have to pick one or alternate.

No others on the chopping block. Bernie will try and add before taking any others away, but if he is forced to, I would worry for Magny-Cours, Interlagos and Barcelona next. But likely the backlash over these three will be too strong.

As some have suggested, a rotational system might be a viable compromise.

[Kicking-back]

Originally Posted by 903cc

What about Australia. Hasn't Bernie or the FIA said this was in doubt due to the legal system?

That was a bit of bluster, as far as I can see.

Melbourne boss Ron Walker is a close associate of Bernie - so Australia is as safe on the list as anywhere else.

[Peter Mallett]

Wait until the end of the season when the Silverstone renegotiations start again!

[Raglanparade]

Australia is about as safe as a house, the GP won't leave Albert Park for a while yet.

Didn't Imola and Nurburgring both sign contracts to around 2008-9 this year ?

I personally would love to see alternating venues:

The German GP alternates between Nurburgring and Hockenheim.

The Euro GP alternates between Imola and Jerez/Valencia

The Japan GP alternates between Suzuka and Fuji

The US GP alternates between Indy and (insert US venue here)

Apart from the historical circuits like Silverstone, Monaco, Monza, Spa and Montreal - i get sick of seeing the same circuits on the calender year in year out... variety is good.