F1Rejects.com

by **Pommy Barsteward** » 11 Feb 2011, 04:55

I don't know about everyone else, but I am hacked off with us starting the championship in Bahrain. I used to love getting up early in the morning to watch proceedings at Albert Park - it was alway a ritual of mine every March to get up at some ungodly hour. And nine times out of ten, we have had a great race in Oz. There have been some good races in Bahrain, but it is one of those bland tilkified kind of places that does nothing to excite me.

Whilst I am at it - bring back Adelaide at the end of the season! Or start the season there. I used to love that race. The same is true of Suzuka - finishing the season there was always good, though I have kind of accepted Interlagos as an end of term venue - we have had some good races there in the past few years.

Does anyone else have an opinion?

Gaz

by **James1978** » 11 Feb 2011, 05:21

I think I'll reserve judgement until the race has been on. Bahrain last year well and truly sucked, but I quite liked it in 2006. At least they're not using that stupid and pointless extension this time!

I am pleased the finale is back at Interlagos - it's way better than Abu Dhabi, and good in the evening in Europe rather than really early for Suzuka/Adelaide where traditionally championships used to be decided!

by **JeremyMcClean** » 11 Feb 2011, 07:38

How's the Nurburgring as the season starter? That would be interesting.

by **eagleash** » 11 Feb 2011, 08:11

JeremyMcClean wrote:How's the Nurburgring as the season starter? That would be interesting.

A) Why?

B) Early March would be decidedly Winter still, which is why the "flyaway" races top & tail the season.

by **F1000X** » 11 Feb 2011, 08:25

JeremyMcClean wrote:How's the Nurburgring as the season starter? That would be interesting.

Both this and Hockerheim are meh. Go to Oschersleben.

by **LucaPacchiarini** » 11 Feb 2011, 09:13

Lausitzring Oval ftw

by **Phoenix** » 11 Feb 2011, 09:35

Bahrain's not great, but I've marked myself as an objective for my F1 fanatic side to take all races with a positive mindset. Including Bahrain, both Spanish races and Abu Dhabi.

And I agree that Australia was a nice place to kickstart the season

by **AndreaModa** » 11 Feb 2011, 10:15

LucaPacchiarini wrote:Lausitzring Oval ftw

Not with a name like EuroSpeedway, I mean jesus who thought of that one?!

by **Captain Hammer** » 11 Feb 2011, 11:02

Eh, I don't mind Bahrain as the first race. I wouldn't say it's my favourite circuit, but the first race of the year always feels like it's got a few teams trying to test the waters and get a feel for where everyone else is. The second race of the season is when the championship really begins.

by **DanielPT** » 11 Feb 2011, 20:50

Captain Hammer wrote:Eh, I don't mind Bahrain as the first race. I wouldn't say it's my favourite circuit, but the first race of the year always feels like it's got a few teams trying to test the waters and get a feel for where everyone else is. The second race of the season is when the championship really begins.

Still, since for casual fans it is the first race anyway, a lot of people will look into it, thinking about seeing if F1 has changed for better. They will then see a borefest and will move on to NASCAR (or even other sport). The first race should be on a circuit that, given the possibilities, better advertises our sport (or show, if you are Bernie).

by **Mister Fungus** » 12 Feb 2011, 00:26

F1000X wrote:
JeremyMcClean wrote:How's the Nurburgring as the season starter? That would be interesting.

Both this and Hockerheim are meh. Go to Oschersleben.

That tight and twisty track? Even touring cars can't overtake there.

by **Glennerz** » 12 Feb 2011, 00:57

Not sure why, but I would love for someone to seriously shake up the calendar. Start the season somewhere stupid like Canada or something, just for fun!

by **James1978** » 12 Feb 2011, 03:55

Silverstone!!!!

by **Pedestrian** » 12 Feb 2011, 03:55

Hey, look at the bright side! Being the championship opener will add at least a bit of excitement to what would otherwise be a race unworty of watching.

by **AndreaModa** » 12 Feb 2011, 04:55

And at least we get it out of the way right at the start of the season! :lol:

by **dr-baker** » 12 Feb 2011, 04:59

James1978 wrote:Silverstone!!!!

It happened in 1950!

by **Cynon** » 12 Feb 2011, 05:01

AndreaModa wrote:And at least we get it out of the way right at the start of the season!

Exactly what I was thinking. At least Bah!rain gets out of the way early... I don't mind it being the first race, but I'd rather have it the second or third.

by **JeremyMcClean** » 13 Feb 2011, 04:18

Glennerz wrote:Not sure why, but I would love for someone to seriously shake up the calendar. Start the season somewhere stupid like Canada or something, just for fun!

I remember the season ending in Canada one year... that would be very entertaining.

James1978 wrote:Silverstone!!!!

Brilliant!!! :mrgreen:

Silverstone FTW!

[And I'm talking about the edition without the rubbish "Arena" Complex near the end of the circuit.

by **mario** » 13 Feb 2011, 05:01

Cynon wrote:
AndreaModa wrote:And at least we get it out of the way right at the start of the season!

Exactly what I was thinking. At least Bah!rain gets out of the way early... I don't mind it being the first race, but I'd rather have it the second or third.

Not a bad thing when everybody tends to focus on the closing races anyway - Bahrain is there to help fill in the gap, and CVC's wallet, between the opening flyaway races and the start of the European season when the conditions are much milder.

P.S. Cynon, as an aside, I take it that you've seen that Mclaren has won the contract to supply a standard ECU for the 2012 NASCAR series?

by **Collieafc** » 13 Feb 2011, 05:32

I have to admit I prefered Melbourne as an opener as it usually gives a decent race anyway. But why not rearrange the calander where F1 goes west, as in starts in Austrailia and ends in Brazil? So the first races are Australia, China, Malasya, Japan, then to Bahrain and Abu Dhabi then the European ones before The US and Canada. Imagine a potential title crunch race at Montreal!

To cut down on trips to and from Team Hqs you could have it divided into 3 parts = East, being Japan, Austrailia etc, Central being Europe and maybe Middle East and West with Brazil and Canada. Just have one week between each race so teams can only go from one track to another and have a long break, say a month, between each "part"

by **Tealy** » 13 Feb 2011, 06:03

Collieafc wrote:To cut down on trips to and from Team Hqs you could have it divided into 3 parts = East, being Japan, Austrailia etc, Central being Europe and maybe Middle East and West with Brazil and Canada. Just have one week between each race so teams can only go from one track to another and have a long break, say a month, between each "part"

Sounds like it could work. There's probbaly more to it than that though because if it was that easy you would imagine they would be doing it already.

by **Stramala** » 13 Feb 2011, 07:07

Start the season at Interlagos and end it in Monza!
OK, so Interlagos never had the opening round of the championship, but why not start now?
It's quite sad to see that two oil-rich states can buy two of the most important races of the year, while building mediocre tracks.

by **Klon** » 13 Feb 2011, 07:13

kostas22 wrote:OK, so Interlagos never had the opening round of the championship, but why not start now?

1994 and 1995 would like to have a word with you. :mrgreen:

by **Stramala** » 13 Feb 2011, 07:24

Klon wrote:
kostas22 wrote:OK, so Interlagos never had the opening round of the championship, but why not start now?

1994 and 1995 would like to have a word with you.

Oops. thought it was Pacific and Buenos Aires that came first...

by **Jeroen Krautmeir** » 13 Feb 2011, 11:44

My calendar that would never work because of weather/location etc:

1) Brands Hatch
2) Paul Ricard
3) Spa
4) Monaco
5) Zandvoort
6) Nurburgring (ideally the Nordschleife, but since this is the 'safe' edition..)
7) Monza
8) Jerez
9) Algarve Portimao
10) Mont-Tremblant
11) Road America
12) Hermanos Rodriguez
13) Interlagos
14) Durban Street Circuit
15) Guia Street Circuit
16) Suzuka
17) Adelaide
NC) Vanuatu

Start in Europe, move down to America, then to Africa, and end in Asia/Oceania. Oh, and that non-championship race in Vanuatu of course. Perfect...

by **Yannick** » 13 Feb 2011, 22:42

The only problem that would turn the Sakhir Circuit of Bahrain into a rubbish place to start the season would be a sandstorm on the actual race weekend. Remember a few years back when there was one during F1 pre-season testing? That test was a huge money dump.
Yet, a sandstorm during the weekend of the season opener could have some reject-worthy novelty value.

by **Alianora La Canta** » 14 Feb 2011, 09:57

Apparently the Bahraini people are planning a "Day of Wrath" protest against their governance tomorrow. If this is the first step in a revolution we might get the 2011 championship starting somewhere else after all...

...assuming the revolution affects parts of the country F1 needs to do its bit. Otherwise I can see Bernie shouting "The Show Must Go On!" come what may.

by **JeremyMcClean** » 15 Feb 2011, 07:32

As long as we don't have lunatics running on the track requesting freedom, I really don't mind...

by **watka** » 15 Feb 2011, 07:32

Alianora La Canta wrote:Apparently the Bahraini people are planning a "Day of Wrath" protest against their governance tomorrow. If this is the first step in a revolution we might get the 2011 championship starting somewhere else after all...

...assuming the revolution affects parts of the country F1 needs to do its bit. Otherwise I can see Bernie shouting "The Show Must Go On!" come what may.

Bernie would get the F1 cars to mow down all the protesters. :evil:

by **DanielPT** » 15 Feb 2011, 07:36

watka wrote:
Alianora La Canta wrote:Apparently the Bahraini people are planning a "Day of Wrath" protest against their governance tomorrow. If this is the first step in a revolution we might get the 2011 championship starting somewhere else after all...

...assuming the revolution affects parts of the country F1 needs to do its bit. Otherwise I can see Bernie shouting "The Show Must Go On!" come what may.

Bernie would get the F1 cars to mow down all the protesters.

He could put to good use the Ferrari F150. Being a pickup truck it is easier for the job!

by **mario** » 15 Feb 2011, 09:46

Alianora La Canta wrote:Apparently the Bahraini people are planning a "Day of Wrath" protest against their governance tomorrow. If this is the first step in a revolution we might get the 2011 championship starting somewhere else after all...

...assuming the revolution affects parts of the country F1 needs to do its bit. Otherwise I can see Bernie shouting "The Show Must Go On!" come what may.

The New York Times is reporting that riot police were deployed onto the streets earlier, and were using tear gas against those on the streets. At the very least, it indicates that the Bahraini Government was concerned enough about these protests to resort to using more force than normal to quell the protesters - although these reports seem to have been overshadowed by the larger scale protests in Tehran.

Either way, though, we should find out if there is sufficient public discontent to cause problems - the Asian GP2 series are due to be heading to the Shakir circuit on the 17th, and will be there from the 17th to 19th. It would depend, though, whether these protests are sufficiently focussed and sustained for long enough for there to be any long term ramifications - it's unclear yet whether there really is enough momentum for the current protests to have a long term impact.

shakey hillclimb/race footage · by **patrick** » 15 Feb 2011, 23:00

Protesters target bahrain grand prix

I hope Bernie is looking at alternatives to both the testing and race at this stage, we don't want the same sort of uncertainty like what we saw with Korea (although for different reasons). If a race can't take place, then it can take place somewhere else.

by **Henrique** » 16 Feb 2011, 02:45

http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/252746/ecclestone-worried-by-bahrain-protest-danger/

Serious business.

by **Ed24** » 16 Feb 2011, 02:49

It seems there may have been more deaths today, and more protesters attacked. Saudi Arabian troops are also now moving in, in support of the Bahrain government. It seems to be deteriorating fast. (Source: Joe Saward and other sites).

F1 is an obvious symbol of government money, and it isn't a surprise that it is a target of these protests. These protests aren't going to stop overnight, so I hope Bernie sees some sense and changes the plans, despite any money the Bahraini government might throw at him.

I suppose the F1 race can be postponed to November, twinned with Abu Dhabi, if needed. This would cause a bit of a pain for the teams of having three races in three weekends, but Bahrain and Abu Dhabi aren't too far away, so it's probably manageable.

As for the test, they should go to Algarve, or Abu Dhabi - which the teams may like as they can have the option of one day/afternoon of designated wet testing if they all agree.

by **P_Friesacher** » 16 Feb 2011, 03:18

Careful, though, about the news of Saudi troops on their way to Bahrain. As of now that has only been reported by Iranian news agancies - who might have interest in destabilizing Bahrain as well as Saudi Arabia.
Still, this does increasingly sound like a bad place to hold a GP in two weeks time, and much less the GP2 Asia Race this weekend.

by **F1000X** » 16 Feb 2011, 03:25

P_Friesacher wrote:Careful, though, about the news of Saudi troops on their way to Bahrain. As of now that has only been reported by Iranian news agancies - who might have interest in destabilizing Bahrain as well as Saudi Arabia.
Still, this does increasingly sound like a bad place to hold a GP in two weeks time, and much less the GP2 Asia Race this weekend.

Sounds like a great time to go back Imola.

shakey hillclimb/race footage · by **patrick** » 16 Feb 2011, 05:50

in light of this situation, does anyone know, and would like to list, the circuits suitable for F1 (as deemed by the FIA) that are not currently on the calendar?

by **Aerond** » 16 Feb 2011, 05:55

patrick wrote:in light of this situation, does anyone know, and would like to list, the circuits suitable for F1 (as deemed by the FIA) that are not currently on the calendar?

I don´t think it would be substitued with another GP, but tracks I can quickly think of include Magny Course, Hockenheim, Imola, Fuji...

shakey hillclimb/race footage · by **patrick** » 16 Feb 2011, 06:02

Aerond wrote:
patrick wrote:in light of this situation, does anyone know, and would like to list, the circuits suitable for F1 (as deemed by the FIA) that are not currently on the calendar?

I don´t think it would be substitued with another GP, but tracks I can quickly think of include Magny Course, Hockenheim, Imola, Fuji...

Probably not, but teams also need somewhere to go for the final test if Bahrain is a no-go, right? And wherever they go, if they're there for the test, they might as well do a race there.
I suppose it comes down to Bernie and how much money he can make out of this situation. I for one won't be happy if the start is postponed till Australia, I can only do without F1 for so long :cry:

by **P_Friesacher** » 16 Feb 2011, 06:09

I'm not sure it's that easy: Team only go to tests with one car rather than two. There are far less track marshals at tracks for testing - additional personnel would have to be there. A lot of race relevant-equipment has been sent to Bahrain weeks ago by ship. The same goes for timing, scoring and TV equipment. And a track would also need a few weeks to prepare at least for the number of people an F1 race would need to turn a profit.

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