Alex Holowczak's Ideal Formula One 2007 Schedule
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by user Alex Holowczak
I am an F1 fanatic. I always drop everything I'm doing on raceday Sundays to watch the various Grands Prix.
I am a bit annoyed that Bernie Ecclestone, F1 supremo (and to be fair to him, his predecessors) have kicked off some great races and race-tracks from the F1 calendar. So I decided I could do better, and came up with my own, sticking to a few rules:
- The traditional time of the Grands Prix must be maintained as far as possible
- There is a balance between financial hotbeds and good race tracks
- Only one Grand Prix per country unless coming up with original names for a Grand Prix to bend the rules a little
- Put the Grands Prix in good times climatically, e.g. not put the Canadian Grand Prix in January, or the Australian Grand Prix in June
- Fit as many Grands Prix into the calendar year as humanly possible
The red tracks I do not have copyright allowance to use. If you are interested in their configuration, click this link to see the layout.
Round 1 - Argentine Grand Prix - January 15
The government in Argentina doesn't want a race, but there are so many great tracks in Argentina, not just the two mentioned, that a return to Argentina would be ideal for Formula One. January 15 is roughly the traditional date of the old Grands Prix too. Tied with Round 2, this race is a case of "Whilst we're here (for Round 2)..."
Round 2 - Brazilian Grand Prix - January 22
Interlagos is a mainstay of the schedule, and going to there a week after the Argentine race makes sense geographically.
Round 3 - Bahrain Grand Prix - February 5
A new, but welcome addition to Formula One, I have moved it earlier in the year (there was nowhere else to put it).
Round 4 - Qatar Grand Prix - February 12
"Whilst we're in Bahrain..." The track has actually hosted MotoGPs, and the facilities are excellent, and would be a welcome addition to the schedule.
Round 5 - South African Grand Prix - February 26
A week earlier than it's traditional early March date, South Africa deserves a Grand Prix. It would be principally held at Welkom, a great new facility that held MotoGP for a couple of seasons. What about Kyalami? The modern track may have destroyed the history of the old, great Kyalami. Still the modern version isn't that bad, so perhaps, every five years, the circus could go back to Kyalami.
Round 6 - Turkish Grand Prix - March 12
The quatruple-apex Turn 8 at Istanbul has become one of the most recognised corners in the Formula One world, despite only being on the calendar for a year. Turkey is moved way earlier in the year as climatically it can, and there is no room later on!
Round 7 - Pacific Grand Prix - March 26
An anonymous race, held at a rotation track of Japan or Australia. This will give tracks that deserve F1 the chance to host races more often than the rotation allows.
Round 8 - European Grand Prix - April 16
The same logic as the Pacific Grand Prix, this is a European equivalent of it. Note the three week break to mark the start of the European season.
Round 9 - San Marino Grand Prix - April 30
The over-chicaned Imola still deserves a spot in the Formula One calendar, but perhaps not every year. This is the traditional date of Imola's races.
Round 10 - Monaco Grand Prix - May 13
The jewel in the F1 crown is held in it's traditional May date, and leaving this off the calendar would be the worst decision in the sport's history.
Round 11 - United States Grand Prix - May 27
The traditional mid-European season tour to North America would start in the USA, at either Indianapolis or Road America. Indianapolis isn't that great a track to host a race every year, whereas Road America will struggle to finance the race, but is a better track. At Indianapolis, there may be a clash with the Indianapolis 500, which may boost attendances to both events.
Round 12 - Canadian Grand Prix - June 3
Montreal is a favourite track of many drivers, and going there a week after the North US races is enough.
Round 13 - Mexican Grand Prix - June 17
Dumped from a regular calendar spot twice (unfairly), this is a case of "Whilst we're in North America..." The track is good, and can cope with an F1 circus. In reality, it is bidding for a 2007 race.
Round 14 - French Grand Prix - July 1
The traditional date of first Sunday in July goes to the French Grand Prix, but there are no decent tracks in France any more! Magny-Cours is good but not my favourite and Le Mans has history (albeit not in F1), so they could share the honour. Le Castellet is France's best track, but is now closed to racing, and is only a test track. This is not an option.
Round 15 - British Grand Prix - July 15
The traditional date. Brands Hatch is Britain's Number 1 track, but Silverstone has the history to be on the calendar. I also like Donington Park, so put that as a rare rotary venue, and may even put Oulton Park on it.
Round 16 - German Grand Prix - July 29
Again, the traditional date. The Nurburgring and Hockenheim would share the race, as neither can afford one per year in reality. The tracks have been modified as such that they don't deserve to host one race each per year, so this arrangement is the logical conclusion.
Round 17 - Czech Grand Prix - August 5
A new Grand Prix, a week after Germany due to it's closeness, the track at Brno should have hosted F1 for the last twenty years. It hosts successful MotoGP races each year. This is the last race before the traditional three week summer break. I dropped the Hungarian Grand Prix to put this in, but since the Hungaroring is the worst track ever built, I think this is justified. Also it replaced Round 18 (see below). I may have put the Austrian Grand Prix at the A1 Ring in here, but awkwardly, there is a 20 metre deep trench on the home straight, and the track modifications began but have stopped. A sad end to one of the great tracks (but not an uncommon one).
Round 18 - Dutch Grand Prix - August 26
The Dutch Grand Prix was ditched for the Hungaroring, but now justice is done. The track resembles it's old self, and is still great to drive. I would put this on the schedule in a heart-beat, due to it's history. Also, Round 19 is a must, so "Whilst we're in Belgium..."
Round 19 - Belgian Grand Prix - September 2
Spa Francorchamps is the best track on the calendar usually, but it is not on it in 2006 due to lack of facilities. Ideally these would be brought up to scratch, but in the case of a replacement, Zolder is more than adequate to fill in, or rotate with once every five years or so.
Round 20 - Italian Grand Prix - September 16
Monza has hosted a race every year bar 1980 when it was being "upgraded." It deserves a race, but there are other great tracks in Italy such as Mugello and Misano (these have hosted MotoGP and World Superbike races). These would be once every ten year rotation races, and could host European Grands Prix.
Round 21 - Portuguese Grand Prix - September 30
Estoril has facilities, but is a bit of a poor track. This is included, because "Whilst we're in Spain..."
Round 22 - Spanish Grand Prix - October 7
Catalunya is a great modern track, but with Jerez and Valencia capable, they can be rotation races every eight years, and can host European Grands Prix. This marks the end of the European season, and a three week break follows.
Round 23 - United States Grand Prix West - October 28
This could be the "Californian Grand Prix", or "North American Grand Prix", I couldn't decide which of the three was best. Laguna Seca deserves a race every year, "The Corkscrew" is a brilliant downhill chicane. Long Beach could host one for history's sake every ten years or so.
Round 24 - Japanese Grand Prix - November 11
Suzuka is a unique figure of 8 track that inspired Skalextric. 130-R is a great corner, and deserves to be on the calendar. Fuji is also a contender, and bought the real-life Japanese Grand Prix in 2007. I propose they share, but only Suzuka gets to host the Pacific Grand Prix if not hosting the Japan race. Suzuka is just too good for Fuji.
Round 25 - Chinese Grand Prix - November 18
A double header, Shanghai is a great modern track. Macau could also host one race in the two-way rotation. It hosts a Formula Three special race, and has adequate facilities. This is called the Macau Grand Prix, but I'm sure as long as it is called the Chinese Grand Prix, neither party will be too concerned.
Round 26 - Malaysian Grand Prix - December 2
Sepang is not a good track, but it does allow for overtaking. And where else can host a Grand Prix in December!
Round 27 - Australian Grand Prix - December 16
Adelaide is the Number 1 Australian track, but Melbourne has the fan base. These can rotate hosting of the Australian race, but Phillip Island and perhaps Surfers' Paradise can host the Pacific Grand Prix. Obviously it depends on Japan and other factors.
Date
Tue 07/25/06, 9:33 am EST
