Azerbaijan? Really??

[grouch]

What's next, Cuba? North Korea?

[iotar__]

What's next, Cuba? North Korea?

Did you miss "a lot of money" part? Next one is Quatar. I completely don't understand outrage or surprise.

It's no different to Bahrain or Abu Dhabi and everyone got used to them Especially with helpful endorsements from journalists taken care of in nice hotel on nice pre-race promotional trips. Unlike India no one was worried about public attendance at those races or racing culture, weird. You buy yourself a GP, like Red Bull did with Austria, for extra cash you get the last race of the season and double points.

As for the state paying for it, it's kind of necessary with F1 prices, doesn't matter if you're Euro classic or new race; from horse's mouth:
"The German Grand Prix is in trouble because they haven't got any money. It is in trouble because it used to be supported by the council but now the European Commission has said that people can't use that sort of money for this sort of thing."

[Holm86]

What's next, Cuba? North Korea?

Did you miss "a lot of money" part? Next one is Quatar. I completely don't understand outrage or surprise.

So Azerbaijan is a rich country now?

[Richard]

Azerbaijan has been spending a lot in the last few years to buy influence in the west. Anyone reading Private Eye will have seen references to UK politicians and the usual consultants promoting the virtues of the oil rich country. Actually I'm surprised Kazakhstan hasn't popped up, they'll also be somewhere on Bernie's hit list.


Anyway who says it'll actually happen? It could be another Bernie red herring to help people make money from talking about the possibility. Those people will be grateful for Bernie creating that opportunity.

You can imagine them sitting in a Mayfair bar working out who's going to be the next oligarch or plutocrat in search of a vanity project to helpfully create opportunities for his (oligarch's) friends.

I'm sure all that patronage will be repaid when needed. The plutocrat/oligarch's power base will be bolstered, the F1 gravy train will thank Bernie. Especially when faced with the prospect of Bernie being replaced with someone who might not throw out these lucrative opportunities for a bit of consultancy and speculation.

[Italiano]

It's no different to Bahrain or Abu Dhabi and everyone got used to them

Speak for yourself.

[MOWOG]

What's next, Cuba? North Korea?

Don't be silly, Grouch. Even Bernie has SOME standards. Oh, wait......

[SilverArrow10]

What's next, Cuba? North Korea?

They would only have a race in North Korea if Kim jong un would be able to win it

[RZS10]

What's next, Cuba? North Korea?

They would only have a race in North Korea if Kim jong un would be able to win it

In a car he built himself with his bare hands relying on nothing but his genius and everlasting greatness [read: no computers, cfd, wind tunnel etc.]

[Pup]

Anyone reading Private Eye will have seen references to UK politicians and the usual consultants promoting the virtues of the oil rich country.

As well as references to the bribery which purchased that promotion.

[astracrazy]

I don't think there will be a race here. I think Bernie is up to his old tricks. Its rare anything comes out of Bernie's mouth without an agenda. Hence here in the same article/interview his mentioning Germany. Before long there will be talk of another track and he'll be mentioning New Jersey again.

Bernie has always had the attitude and used the threat "there are plenty more countries who want a race" attitude. He uses this to, in a way, bully circuits. Look back, everytime a race is close to not being able to afford what bernie wants, theres always a new track that could hold the race in a years time and is close to signing the deal

[R_Redding]

How far away from the Ukraine is it?..

If its not too far it could probably be run as a night race in the afterglow of what may happen in the Ukraine if thing deteriorate badly..

but..I think Bernies pulling someones leg.

Rob

[Manoah2u]

when i read about Azerbaijan F1 race:

expectations:










reality:












i'm corrected - i'm quite impressed with azerbaijan after a little research.
still, prefer to see mexican GP, argentinian GP, [german GP], south african GP, Dutch GP, New Yersey GP, etc

[WillerZ]

The teams have been pretty resolute in saying they will not do more than 20.

…at least one team would be happy with any greater number of races and a further 5 of them would be happy with more as long as the total is over 26.

But what about the drivers? They already push themselves to the limit of human endurance for 20 race weekends. How is it justified to make them race 26 times a year?

Since when has anything in F1 been justified, beyond commercial considerations?

In the same press conference Franz Tost pointed out that they'll do more cockpit hours this year with 19 races and the in-season testing than they would do if there were 26 races and no in-season testing.

Here are some of other ways to address the problem:

• With 27 races you could have teams with 3 drivers, each doing 18 races. Tragically this would make double-points for the last race unworkable.
• The tyres could be made less grippy, reducing cornering g-forces.
• The races could be made 20% shorter.

[iotar__]

What's the big deal? As long it's not gimmicky night-city race and layout is decent. Tracks look the same on TV.

It's not only about greedy CVC/FOM, you can't blame everything on Ecclestone. The same, nice oil money (or rather portion of it) is going straight to your favourite teams and drivers for yachts and hair. Then they complain it's not ideal because they love classic anything including tracks yet they wouldn't take a penny off their pay-checks/profits to save them .

You wouldn't want less pinnacle, saving on luxury F1, it would be like GP2. Comparisons to Afghanistan or Norh Korea (Amus bloke) are random and only showing ignorance even if he's worried about German GP , Quatar is better. I wonder what he'd do if AMuS (or anyone's company) was bought by money from Azerbaijan, Quatar or "international" corporation (the worst ones, you don't even know where the money comes from ).

[MOWOG]

gimmicky night-city race

Like Sochi will be if Bernie gets his way......