Can those tracks handle modern-day safety requirements? Laguna Seca may be the best choice of those you mentioned, possibly. How about Mid-Ohio? Would that track work with modern F1 cars?
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Road America would be awesome!
That said, I like COTA, for a modern track.
Run up the hill at the start is always interesting. A great first lap. Unfortunately, after that it often devolves into the parade that 21st century F1 has become.
Fun when it rains, though!
Hi there! Been on the forum a few but just now branching out from learning all things technical to the fun threads lol. Huge F1 fan, I have a few things. First I like to say I was there when the last F1 race was run at the glen, we live 30 minutes from there, it's just that I was 1.5 years old with my parents lol and I don't remember a thing. We go to the vintage race there every year and watch the Trans-am series vintage cars and the F1's from the 70's as well now. IMSA is off on and on with their contract but I love going to those and literally being able to get right in the pits for the then GT40's and Corvettes.
Anyway there is no way the Glen would be able to host an F1 venue. The safety stuff alone would be multi-millions and the track layout is not conducive to expansion for run offs and safer barriers they would need. As much as it kills me to say that the sport has outgrown that track.
Second the hold out thing for Hamilton and Mercedes is a bit off. I have no idea how it could be about money at this point but who knows. Is he trying to prove a point I don't understand?
Anyway there is no way the Glen would be able to host an F1 venue. The safety stuff alone would be multi-millions and the track layout is not conducive to expansion for run offs and safer barriers they would need. As much as it kills me to say that the sport has outgrown that track.
Second the hold out thing for Hamilton and Mercedes is a bit off. I have no idea how it could be about money at this point but who knows. Is he trying to prove a point I don't understand?
I suppose your right, F1 has changed drastically since it was held at the Glen, RA would make more sense as a F1 venue. I dont know if they would draw enough fans to make it financially viable, it is out in the sticks. Chicago and Minneapolis the two largest cities closests to the track are 200 miles away respectivly. Series like Indy car and IMSA probably dont need the kind of draw F1 would, they dont race around the globe like F1.
At 4 miles in length RA has plenty of spaces for passing and the elevation changes make it a great venue, though I would love to see how a modern F1 car would handle the "Cork Screw" at Laguna Seca.
At 4 miles in length RA has plenty of spaces for passing and the elevation changes make it a great venue, though I would love to see how a modern F1 car would handle the "Cork Screw" at Laguna Seca.
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COTA and Indy are the only U.S. tracks that are ready to host Formula 1. Indy would need a few improvements, but their biggest issue would be the lack of an interesting track. I think F1 raced there 20 years ago to 1) check the U.S. box and 2) to merely say they raced at Indianapolis. But c'mon, the road course at Indy is a dud by today's F1 standards.
I'd absolutely love to see F1 cars at Road America, as it's my favorite track in the States. It's a grade-2 FIA facility... but holy cow, unless the FIA lessens their requirements, RA would need to build garages, media room and other facilities and I just don't see that happening. Another strike -- the track isn't close to a major metropolitan area. Yeah, I know Milwaukee is an hour away, but that's simply not good enough for super-chic F1. But again, Road America is a tremendously cool track. I encourage anyone to pay it a visit.
Mid-Ohio and Barber Motorsport Park near Birmingham are interesting as both are grade-2 FIA tracks and provide great racing. Mid-Ohio doesn't currently have the garage facilities. Barber was recently built (comparatively), but I don't think the garage facilities would be enough.
Laguna Seca is okay. A grade-2 track although its facilities are questionable -- that place is super-old and many of its buildings are crummy add-ons that have been created over the past few decades. It might've been good enough for MotoGP a few years ago, but I think it would need a major facelift to be considered for F1. Plus, I've heard the folks who run the track are constantly locking horns with the county government regarding a myriad of issues... and that's never helpful.
I don't see the course in New Jersey along the Hudson River coming back to life anytime soon. That one got royally screwed up by the folks trying to put it together 10-12 years ago and the FIA will have a bad taste in their mouth for a while. Yes, they ran a Formula E race in Brooklyn recently (yawn), but there's a massive difference in what's good enough for those cars vs. where the bar is set for F1 vehicles.
All other major road and street courses in the States probably won't and shouldn't be considered (Lime Rock Park, Long Beach, Sonoma, VIR, Watkins Glen) as they don't have what it takes, be it the track or the facilities.
I cannot envision one of the current U.S. ovals cutting the mustard. While they might have many of the required facilities, a part-oval/part-roadcourse layout is lacking.
Would someone be willing to build an all-new U.S. circuit in an attempt to draw in F1? Other nations certainly pony up and do it... but with the hunger to watch motorsports in the States on the decline, I simply don't see this happening right now. 25-30 years ago, it may have been a different story. But hey, with more roadcourses on the 2021 NASCAR calendar, maybe tastes are about to change... but I doubt it.
Personally, I don't think there's enough U.S. fans to justify building an all-new, F1-caliber facility. And yes, I think one stop in the U.S. is enough given everything at play.
I'd absolutely love to see F1 cars at Road America, as it's my favorite track in the States. It's a grade-2 FIA facility... but holy cow, unless the FIA lessens their requirements, RA would need to build garages, media room and other facilities and I just don't see that happening. Another strike -- the track isn't close to a major metropolitan area. Yeah, I know Milwaukee is an hour away, but that's simply not good enough for super-chic F1. But again, Road America is a tremendously cool track. I encourage anyone to pay it a visit.
Mid-Ohio and Barber Motorsport Park near Birmingham are interesting as both are grade-2 FIA tracks and provide great racing. Mid-Ohio doesn't currently have the garage facilities. Barber was recently built (comparatively), but I don't think the garage facilities would be enough.
Laguna Seca is okay. A grade-2 track although its facilities are questionable -- that place is super-old and many of its buildings are crummy add-ons that have been created over the past few decades. It might've been good enough for MotoGP a few years ago, but I think it would need a major facelift to be considered for F1. Plus, I've heard the folks who run the track are constantly locking horns with the county government regarding a myriad of issues... and that's never helpful.
I don't see the course in New Jersey along the Hudson River coming back to life anytime soon. That one got royally screwed up by the folks trying to put it together 10-12 years ago and the FIA will have a bad taste in their mouth for a while. Yes, they ran a Formula E race in Brooklyn recently (yawn), but there's a massive difference in what's good enough for those cars vs. where the bar is set for F1 vehicles.
All other major road and street courses in the States probably won't and shouldn't be considered (Lime Rock Park, Long Beach, Sonoma, VIR, Watkins Glen) as they don't have what it takes, be it the track or the facilities.
I cannot envision one of the current U.S. ovals cutting the mustard. While they might have many of the required facilities, a part-oval/part-roadcourse layout is lacking.
Would someone be willing to build an all-new U.S. circuit in an attempt to draw in F1? Other nations certainly pony up and do it... but with the hunger to watch motorsports in the States on the decline, I simply don't see this happening right now. 25-30 years ago, it may have been a different story. But hey, with more roadcourses on the 2021 NASCAR calendar, maybe tastes are about to change... but I doubt it.
Personally, I don't think there's enough U.S. fans to justify building an all-new, F1-caliber facility. And yes, I think one stop in the U.S. is enough given everything at play.
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I'm hoping Seb and AM can challenge for some wins this year. Sad that many dismiss him because of his Ferrari run but he is a 4x WDC.
I would think that that by the high standards F1 is use to, anything less than a made to order facility probably just wont fly. My nephew was just telling me recently that he has a friend in San Antonio and wants to go COTA this year if they hold the race.
Not sure whats happening out at Laguna Seca, I know its just one part of a much larger recreational area. Seems motorsport Facilities are always having some kind of issues with local goverment, There use to be hundreds of Drag strips around the country back in the day, maybe a third of those still exist. It wasnt because of lack of enthusiasm by fans and racers either.
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I want to see F1 do the first two turns at Brainerd. 1.5miles (2.4km)at full throttle. Longer than Baku's full throttle section.
Lions, OCIR, Irwindale , OMS, San Gabriel, Carlsbad...etc. Just in California alone thats an extensive list.
We go to Bakersfield for the Nostalgia racing, its one of the oldest continually operated tracks in the country, it started in the in the mid fifties some time. The only reason its still there is its out in the middle of a vast agricultural area, nothing to annoying but fruits and vegetables
We go to Bakersfield for the Nostalgia racing, its one of the oldest continually operated tracks in the country, it started in the in the mid fifties some time. The only reason its still there is its out in the middle of a vast agricultural area, nothing to annoying but fruits and vegetables
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When I was a kid we went to BIR alot, it was called Donnybrooke in those days. Watched all the great drivers of the day compete in the Can Am series, I still have some of the programs from like 71', 72'
yeah they had a full head of steam into those first couple sweeping corners coming off that long straightaway, I've ridden my bike around there trying to imagine what it would be like to go blasting through there at almost 200 mph
That was my first thought as well, its very much like what the NFL does, however there are still many variables that depend on the individual teams in terms of them having ...or not having success.
Having one or two dominant teams and then everyone else ( also ran) gets old in a hurry.
Having one or two dominant teams and then everyone else ( also ran) gets old in a hurry.
I like this as it's an attempt to have more parity, and that's always a good thing for the fans. However, keep in mind that Formula 1 is a sport that involves technology, engineers and design... not one that chiefly deals with human physical ability and play calling. Different sports, very different factors at play.
A major factory team like Mercedes is going to have the budget (due to big sponsors after they see excellent performance) to hire the nerdiest engineers, the smartest strategists and the quickest drivers. They outspend the other guys. It's been taking place in auto racing for decades and this won't change anytime soon. Roger Penske does the same thing in IndyCar and his team's results echo that. Great teams in racing are most often gonna stay great for a while regardless of who or what is taking place at other teams (ex. Mercedes or Ferrari in F1... Penske Racing or Chip Ganassi Racing in IndyCar... Hendrick Motorsports or Joe Gibbs Racing in NASCAR... John Force Racing in NHRA... Audi in sports cars, etc.)
How many times have we seen a weak team land a great athlete and quickly rise to the top (ex. Peyton Manning with the NFL's Colts)? The Colts went from worst to first in eight years. Michael Jordan was drafted by the bulls in '84... first title in '91. While a stick-and-ball team can suddenly get hot... they usually don't stay hot as long compared to a hot racing team does. It's just how it is, which is the one of the things I like about regular sports.
Yes, I wish there were more F1 teams with a chance to win on Sunday as what we currently have is sub-optimal. My favorite years of CART/IndyCar were the early 90s... not because of who won the titles... but because there were so many teams which realistically stood a shot at winning a race during those seasons, and that was fantastic as the fans never knew what was gonna happen... you wanted to tune in and watch! As much as I like watching F1 every weekend (and I do), we all usually know how things are gonna end up and it's been that way for a long time. If the most exciting moment of a weekend was that Danny Ricciardo podiums with his mid-pack Renault, that's crummy for the viewers.
So in the end, I envision that helping teams like Williams and Haas will have far less of a positive impact than if teams like the Jaguars or the Jags get the #1 pick in the draft.
A major factory team like Mercedes is going to have the budget (due to big sponsors after they see excellent performance) to hire the nerdiest engineers, the smartest strategists and the quickest drivers. They outspend the other guys. It's been taking place in auto racing for decades and this won't change anytime soon. Roger Penske does the same thing in IndyCar and his team's results echo that. Great teams in racing are most often gonna stay great for a while regardless of who or what is taking place at other teams (ex. Mercedes or Ferrari in F1... Penske Racing or Chip Ganassi Racing in IndyCar... Hendrick Motorsports or Joe Gibbs Racing in NASCAR... John Force Racing in NHRA... Audi in sports cars, etc.)
How many times have we seen a weak team land a great athlete and quickly rise to the top (ex. Peyton Manning with the NFL's Colts)? The Colts went from worst to first in eight years. Michael Jordan was drafted by the bulls in '84... first title in '91. While a stick-and-ball team can suddenly get hot... they usually don't stay hot as long compared to a hot racing team does. It's just how it is, which is the one of the things I like about regular sports.
Yes, I wish there were more F1 teams with a chance to win on Sunday as what we currently have is sub-optimal. My favorite years of CART/IndyCar were the early 90s... not because of who won the titles... but because there were so many teams which realistically stood a shot at winning a race during those seasons, and that was fantastic as the fans never knew what was gonna happen... you wanted to tune in and watch! As much as I like watching F1 every weekend (and I do), we all usually know how things are gonna end up and it's been that way for a long time. If the most exciting moment of a weekend was that Danny Ricciardo podiums with his mid-pack Renault, that's crummy for the viewers.
So in the end, I envision that helping teams like Williams and Haas will have far less of a positive impact than if teams like the Jaguars or the Jags get the #1 pick in the draft.
It's no secret that a decent driver can win if given an opportunity to drive the best car on the grid... and Russell nearly proved this last year. If Russell had Bottas' seat the past couple of seasons, there's NO DOUBT he'd have multiple victories under his belt.
Look at the different drivers that drove for Williams when they had the magic car in the 90s...
1992, Nigel Mansell -- World Champion with Williams
1993, Alain Prost -- World Champion with Williams
1996, Damon Hill -- World Champion with Williams
1997, Jacques Villeneuve -- World Champion with Williams
Certainly an exceptional group of drivers, but Williams was on a roll with their car during this time. A guy joins a new team with a new car and they go out and win the title in their first or second year? What does that say?
And by the way, if Alex Zanardi had shown up at Williams a few years earlier, would he be a World Champ? You better believe it. That guy had more raw talent and determination than any of the above-listed drivers. Yup, I wrote it.
Look at the different drivers that drove for Williams when they had the magic car in the 90s...
1992, Nigel Mansell -- World Champion with Williams
1993, Alain Prost -- World Champion with Williams
1996, Damon Hill -- World Champion with Williams
1997, Jacques Villeneuve -- World Champion with Williams
Certainly an exceptional group of drivers, but Williams was on a roll with their car during this time. A guy joins a new team with a new car and they go out and win the title in their first or second year? What does that say?
And by the way, if Alex Zanardi had shown up at Williams a few years earlier, would he be a World Champ? You better believe it. That guy had more raw talent and determination than any of the above-listed drivers. Yup, I wrote it.
Its a sport ruled my cubic dollars and technology, not that it never was its just so much more these days. Is it better racing because theres "more" ? thats always debatable. Try and imagine what it will look like 20 years from now.
Yes the driver can give a team an edge but at the end of the day he still needs a thouroghbred underneath him.
Yes the driver can give a team an edge but at the end of the day he still needs a thouroghbred underneath him.
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Heck -- it's hard for me to even imagine what it will be like in five years.
The situation with manufacturers going carbon neutral is going to be interesting, especially seeing that under the current FIA agreement, Formula E gets the right to be the top-tier electric open-wheel series within the sanctioning body.
Where will that leave Formula 1 when all the manufacturers decide to stop making and promoting combustion engines?
The situation with manufacturers going carbon neutral is going to be interesting, especially seeing that under the current FIA agreement, Formula E gets the right to be the top-tier electric open-wheel series within the sanctioning body.
Where will that leave Formula 1 when all the manufacturers decide to stop making and promoting combustion engines?
I saw one of those Formula E races....Yawn
The sound of a knarly snarly racing motor is something that just cant be substituded. Going fast is only one component of the attraction of motor racing.
Drag racing would collapse if they decided to go all electric, the viscreal experience of massive horsepower being transfered to the ground is what makes the sport what it is
The sound of a knarly snarly racing motor is something that just cant be substituded. Going fast is only one component of the attraction of motor racing.
Drag racing would collapse if they decided to go all electric, the viscreal experience of massive horsepower being transfered to the ground is what makes the sport what it is
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