Formula 1 Circuits

[Penfold]

Three more years at Spa: https://www.racefans.net/2018/06/16/spa-extends-f1-race-deal-to-2021/

[Chrill]

Well, that's one piece of good news.

[Penfold]

Hopefully Suzuka will be able to haggle a new deal with Liberty; and Silverstone would be handy if they don't want British interest in F1 to completely disintegrate, although sod all people will be watching in 2019 once it drops off free-to-air TV.  Canada 2018 viewing figures: https://f1broadcasting.co/2018/06/11/f1-slumps-to-lowest-uk-audience-of-modern-era/  Just think, the 2015 race pulled in about five million British punters in what was its most recent (and last) FTA broadcast; F1 will be lucky to attract 1.5 million pairs of eyes next year.

[Penfold]

Another tweak to the Miami GP track: https://www.racefans.net/2018/07/19/another-new-track-layout-proposed-for-f1s-miami-grand-prix/

Well, at least it's an improvement on the first two layouts.

[Chrill]

It is that, but it's also "decision postponed until September" at which point inclusion in the 2019 calendar seems rather late.

[Penfold]

As you said, all too late for Miami 2019: https://www.racefans.net/2018/07/23/formula-1-abandons-plans-to-hold-miami-race-in-2019/

[Chrill]

Yes. And for 2020, we have a lot of venues interested. Miami, for sure, but also Copenhagen in Denmark and Assen in Netherlands. Plus we've heard whispers of Vietnam. Add to that the German GP was rather a success and if a fair deal can be negotiated with Liberty then that may well remain too.

[Matt]

The Dutch fans seemed like a big part of the success though, so if they add a race there, not sure if Germany will be viewed as necessary. Even though I think a German GP should always be necessary.

Granted, if all of that came true, there would be races in Denmark, The Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Austria, so German fans would have plenty of options.

[Chrill]

Hockenheim agrees a 1-year contract for 2019, securing a 21-race grid (most likely) for next year:

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/german-gp-agrees-deal-to-stay-on-formula-1-calendar/3167196/

[Penfold]

Now we know that the Vietnamese Govt. backs a race on the streets of Hanoi: https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-motor-f1-vietnam/vietnam-gives-green-light-to-f1-race-in-hanoi-idUKKCN1LG0L0

No clue as to when the race would be held, or even when a deal might be agreed, but it's certainly another one to add to the list of serious candidates.

[Penfold]

We can scratch Copenhagen from the list of possible venues: https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-motor-f1-denmark/copenhagen-scraps-plans-to-host-formula-one-race-idUKKCN1M11CU

[Chrill]

That's a shame. I was looking forward to visiting Copenhagen, a beautiful city, in 2020. Ah well, I guess I'll have to go to somewhere boring like Spa.

[Penfold]

Don't forget your wet-weather clobber.

Another day, another potential venue falls by wayside; today we seem set to wave goodbye to Miami: https://www.motorsportweek.com/joesaward/id/00308

Well, it was a truly horrible layout so I can't say I'm sad to see its demise.

[Chrill]

Oh shame.

[Penfold]

Hanoi has been approved for 2020, and Zandvoort has reportedly been offered a deal for the same year - they need to build some massive grandstands to accommodate all the Verstappenites.