Russia set to announce race from 2014

Russia set to announce race from 2014

Russia is set to announce a five-year deal to host a Formula 1 grand prix from 2014, according to a government source in the country.

Formula 1 commercial chief Bernie Ecclestone is meeting prime minister Vladimir Putin in the city of Sochi, reports the Reuters news agency.

Putin was quoted as saying: "We have reached an agreement with the principal owner of Formula 1 that Sochi would host the Russian Grand Prix from 2014 to 2020."

Sochi is on the south west Black Sea coast of Russia, near the Georgian border, and will also host the Winter Olympics in 2014.

Russia has had its first Formula 1 driver this year, with Renault's Vitaly Petrov 13th in the standings with 19 points. Though his place at the team beyond the end of this season is yet to be confirmed.

SOURCE: Autosport.com

Now I can tell my friend that there's a Russian driver driving at a Russian track!dabest2500

If Petrov even makes it beyond 2010 :lol:

[QUOTE="dabest2500"]Now I can tell my friend that there's a Russian driver driving at a Russian track!Redders1989

If Petrov even makes it beyond 2010 :lol:

Ah damn.
Forgot about that.
Good luck Petrov!
2014 is a long way away!

I wonder what classic track they will replace with this -_-SchumiF1

Don't say that!

Valencia? :PGarfield360UK

Nah, has to be one that's been on the calendar for a long time.

...who votes Hungary?

I was joking, I dont really put Valencia in my good track list. On the F1 game its good but when I watch it it feels like very little is going on there.

Hungary hopefully stays as with Monaco and Spa. Oh and Montreal needs to stay as that is a fantastic circuit. I just dont feel its fair Spain has two Grand Prix's now and it was the same when Germany had two although I can forgive it then as few circuits were ready when the European and German grand prix were held there. Hopefully the European Grand Prix just gets dropped as the title as there is no Asian Grand Prix or North American Grand Prix so why there is a European one is beyond me.

But yeah hopefully a solution to having the Russian grand prix means the tracks that brings the most entertainment to fans are spared from being dropped (again).

Ya there are a lot of new tracks coming up in the next few years that they need to make room for, Rome, USA, India, and now Russia. Unless they come to an agreement to have more than 20 GPs in a season, but we've already heard that the teams don't want more than 20 so that'll be another mess.

Even though it's one of the better new tracks I think Turkey will get the axe, just cause the fact they seem to have terrible ticket sales. Empty grandstands never look good for any major sporting event. A shame too because Turkey is a really awesome track :(

Given the way things are going wouldn't it make sense to have say 30 usable tracks of which 10 feature every year (silverstone, monaco, spa, austin, suzuka, singapore, monza, brazil, Montreal and Malaysia for example) and are spread far enough for everyone to have access to them rotate the other 20 there by having a 20 race calendar that over the course of 2 years cover most of the globe.

Yeah maybe a rotation thing so say spain can have Valencia or Barcelona or another track each year (I say another as I heard Madrid were after a street circuit) and say the same with Britain, Germany, China etc. Then maybe say have a maximum ammount of races in each continent so the countries basically have to decide between themselves over who should get a race on each year so we avoid having to drop countries races out for permanent.

Ideally the FIA should support the tracks that are not being used or some sort of system to allow more circuits to be utilized better than they are currently.

Ditch Barcelona and Valencia for starters.. nothing against Spain, but these tracks are just horrible for producing any kind of race. The only problem is that Spain needs a Grand Prix to cater for the huge Spanish fan base generated by Fernando Alonso. If a Madrid street circuit was the only option then I'd happily let that replace Barcelona.

Scrap the European Grand Prix and shove the Russian Grand Prix in its place.

Ditch Barcelona and Valencia for starters.. nothing against Spain, but these tracks are just horrible for producing any kind of race. The only problem is that Spain needs a Grand Prix to cater for the huge Spanish fan base generated by Fernando Alonso. If a Madrid street circuit was the only option then I'd happily let that replace Barcelona.

Scrap the European Grand Prix and shove the Russian Grand Prix in its place.

cjek

The Madrid Street Circuit in GT5?

[QUOTE="cjek"]

Ditch Barcelona and Valencia for starters.. nothing against Spain, but these tracks are just horrible for producing any kind of race. The only problem is that Spain needs a Grand Prix to cater for the huge Spanish fan base generated by Fernando Alonso. If a Madrid street circuit was the only option then I'd happily let that replace Barcelona.

Scrap the European Grand Prix and shove the Russian Grand Prix in its place.

dabest2500

The Madrid Street Circuit in GT5?

I haven't seen it to be honest, but a Madrid street circuit was rumoured for F1 before, and anything would be better than Valencia at least. 4 overtakes in 2008, and zero in 2009. Literally a procession. Barcelona also seems to suffer from a lack of racing action and it's a real chore to watch.

[QUOTE="dabest2500"][QUOTE="cjek"]

Ditch Barcelona and Valencia for starters.. nothing against Spain, but these tracks are just horrible for producing any kind of race. The only problem is that Spain needs a Grand Prix to cater for the huge Spanish fan base generated by Fernando Alonso. If a Madrid street circuit was the only option then I'd happily let that replace Barcelona.

Scrap the European Grand Prix and shove the Russian Grand Prix in its place.

cjek

The Madrid Street Circuit in GT5?

I haven't seen it to be honest, but a Madrid street circuit was rumoured for F1 before, and anything would be better than Valencia at least. 4 overtakes in 2008, and zero in 2009. Literally a procession. Barcelona also seems to suffer from a lack of racing action and it's a real chore to watch.

Valencia is apparently great for the fans to watch but boring for the drivers.
Catalunya is fine for me, a good circuit and just an average track to watch.
But Valencia needs to go along with the European GP.

Valencia is the European GP... But, Hungary, Barcelona, Valencia are for definite that need to go, there is just nothing with them.

China and Malaysia are also ones I would look at, But Malaysia is quite alright if the cars were less aero reliant. Singapore as much as I'd hate to say it should go, unless these cars again were less aero reliant

But the first 3 Definetly need to go.

Valencia is the European GP... But, Hungary, Barcelona, Valencia are for definite that need to go, there is just nothing with them.

China and Malaysia are also ones I would look at, But Malaysia is quite alright if the cars were less aero reliant. Singapore as much as I'd hate to say it should go, unless these cars again were less aero reliant

But the first 3 Definetly need to go.

kipi19

What the heck is wrong with Hungary and Singapore?
Also, get rid of the European GP then like Garfield360UK said.

Hungary is boring without rain, its same thing year in year out, there is just nothing special about that place Monaco without the the barriers, we already have a Monaco, so get rid of it, and Singapore? besides it being a night race, i don't like the circuit that much, it requires mechanical grip not aero with these cars are too reliant on, means a more processional race than a REAL race.kipi19

Hungary is a challenging track for the drivers where as I enjoy Singapore :S

I can tell you now, Hungary is boring, hardly any of the drivers like it, it doesn't promote a fast motor race we expect for Formula One, Barely any overtaking whatsoever, its BORING

I can tell you now, Hungary is boring, hardly any of the drivers like it, it doesn't promote a fast motor race we expect for Formula One, Barely any overtaking whatsoever, its BORING

kipi19

There are several other tracks that are worse than Hungary.

Any examples of these tracks on the current Calendar?kipi19

Valencia, China, Abu Dhabi, and maybe Bahrain.

[QUOTE="kipi19"]Any examples of these tracks on the current Calendar?dabest2500

Valencia, China, Abu Dhabi, and maybe Bahrain.

1. Valencia has the prospect of being actually quite a fantastic circuit, but as I've said before, the way these cars are so aero reliant prevents the cars following each other, look back at the days when the cars went to Adalaide in Australia and it being a similar circuit you can see what I mean.

2. China, Hmmm, I can see your point there, but again, my point of aero is still holding true a this circuit, you've got a great back section that would reward mechanical grip.

3. Abu Dhabi, same opinion as Valencia.

4. Bahrain, Hmmm, Nope, Still holding my opinion true

Hungary in itself has never produced any really exciting racing, sure we've seen a few accidents, Klien in 05 rolling over etc, Hill's near win in 1997, and Piquet's seemingly nearly impossible overtake around the outside of Senna in 86, But... thats honestly about it, only time it actually produced anything really worth while was 2006............because it rained.

But hey lol, I've only been watching F1 16 years :)

[QUOTE="dabest2500"]

[QUOTE="kipi19"]Any examples of these tracks on the current Calendar?kipi19

Valencia, China, Abu Dhabi, and maybe Bahrain.

1. Valencia has the prospect of being actually quite a fantastic circuit, but as I've said before, the way these cars are so aero reliant prevents the cars following each other, look back at the days when the cars went to Adalaide in Australia and it being a similar circuit you can see what I mean.

2. China, Hmmm, I can see your point there, but again, my point of aero is still holding true a this circuit, you've got a great back section that would reward mechanical grip.

3. Abu Dhabi, same opinion as Valencia.

4. Bahrain, Hmmm, Nope, Still holding my opinion true

Hungary in itself has never produced any really exciting racing, sure we've seen a few accidents, Klien in 05 rolling over etc, Hill's near win in 1997, and Piquet's seemingly nearly impossible overtake around the outside of Senna in 86, But... thats honestly about it, only time it actually produced anything really worth while was 2006............because it rained.

But hey lol, I've only been watching F1 16 years :)

So you base your opinion on whether a circuit is good or not depneding on the level of mechanical grip used?
The options I chose above were of boring tracks.

Hungary imo is probably the worst track on the calendar. I remember in 04? the most exciting thing they showed was Ross Brawn eating a banana as Ferrari cruised to a 1-2.

And I agree with kipi. I would love to see in the new rules set if they gave the cars more mechanical and less aero dependant grip. We would see a lot more excitement on the track. But I don't even think this would fix Hungary's level of boringness.

IOC MAY DELAY RUSSIAN GRAND PRIX

Russia's inaugural Formula 1 race planned for Sochi in 2014 could be delayed if the International Olympic Committee (IOC) feels it will hamper preparations for its own winter games that year.

Although Russian GP organisers stated at the end of last year that the 2014 Winter Olympics would not interfere with their preparations, the IOC has made it clear that it has the power to delay the race if it wants to.

Speaking to the media after receiving an update on Sochi's Olympic preparations, IOC executive director Gilbert Felli said that if there was any danger of the F1 event impacting on his games then he would force a postponement.

"It is good to have the F1 grand prix in Russia and Sochi," he was quoted as saying by the Reuters news agency. "However, we do not want the facility built for the grand prix to put construction or preparation for the games at risk.

"When we learned the GP could be organised in 2014 we wanted to know if it is an issue. In the contract they [Russian race organisers] signed there is an escape that if the IOC decides it is not feasible then it could be rescheduled in 2015."

When asked who would decide if the F1 race was to be postponed, he said: "It is the IOC."

Russia announced a seven-year deal to host the grand prix from 2014 towards the end of last year, with the country having long been linked with hosting an F1 race.

SOURCE: Autosport