The Formula One World Championship is currently expanding into new markets and the Grand Prix season is changing dramatically. The number of races outside Europe has almost doubled in the last ten years and there are more events on the way in India, South Korea, Russia, and the Middle East.

Some of the changes to the F1 calendar have come under criticism because many of the new races have failed to attract any local support. Others are upset that traditional venues are being lost and that generic Tilke-drome circuits are starting to dominate the championship.

However, the world is changing and it’s important for F1 to change with it. Finding the balance between new markets and historical value is one of the biggest challenges for Formula One Management in the years ahead.

With that in mind, it can be a lot of fun to consider where the ultimate Grand Prix season would travel. Here then is my own fantasy F1 calendar which has been created so that it offers a mix of cool venues and cool racetracks, and is spread evenly across the globe.

Have a think about what circuits you’d include in your own fantasy championship and, as always, feel free to post your comments below.

I think it would make for a fantastic season of Formula One racing.

Round 1. Argentine Grand Prix – Potrero de los Funes Circuit
South America is the ideal place to kick start the Formula One season. The weather is fantastic and the fans are always highly charged, but perhaps most significant is the prime time television slot the race would have in Europe. In 2006 the sport’s TV ratings were higher than usual at the start of the year because the first race was in Bahrain and the mass of casual fans in Europe could follow the season from the very first round. FOM would love to bring the first race out of Australia and F1-mad Argentina would be a great substitute. In addition to all that, the new Potrero de los Funes circuit is an absolute cracker and is South America’s answer to the Nurburgring. The racetrack opened in 2008 and the long layout winds its way up and down a mountain and around a lake. It is kind of like a fast and modern version of the Bathurst touring car circuit. It was used for the first time by the FIA GT series in November and would be the perfect venue for Grand Prix racing also.

Round 2. South African Grand Prix – Johannesburg Rand Airport
The temporary Burke Lakefront Airport circuit in Cleveland was a highlight of the Champcar World Series when it featured in the championship because the mega-wide runways gave the race a very distinct and individual setting. There aren’t many other tracks in the world where the field can steam into the first corner eight abreast, which helped make the ‘Grand Prix of Cleveland’ a rather unique event for motorsport. Formula One could certainly benefit from something similar and has a great opportunity to do exactly that in South Africa. Rand Airport just outside of Johannesburg is largely unused and has four long runways that could be configured into a great racing circuit. The airport owners are also keen to develop the land as much as possible and are trying to up-sell the nearby business park, so the idea would fit as nicely with them as it fits with FOM who desperately want a Grand Prix on the African continent. A temporary airport circuit would also be a cheap option for the South African authorities, which would be welcomed since the nation’s funding is better directed at more humanitarian related projects.

Round 3. Australian Grand Prix – Perth
If you could take a carbon copy of the race at Albert Park and drop it into Perth you would have in incredible Australian Grand Prix. The long sunny afternoons and crisp dry weather fresh off the Indian Ocean make Perth one of Australia’s most loveable cities, and anyone who has worked there will tell you it is also one of the most relaxed places in the country. It is almost like a small rural town with a lot of skyscrapers, and a Grand Prix there would be run with the same enthusiasm that Adelaide produced over ten years ago. Perth is also a few hours behind Melbourne which means a late afternoon race would be telecast at a decent time for European viewers. The city is currently featured in the annual Red Bull Air Race World Series, and although it is one of least glamorous venues on the Red Bull calendar, it is one of the most popular rounds and is host to the season finale. Its appeal is thanks largely to the locals that have got totally behind the event. There is plenty of parkland around Perth and the Swan River so there are ample possibilities for a semi-urban racetrack in the heart of the city. The local Government recently shot down the idea of a touring car street race, and also cut the WRC off its events list, but Formula One might just be enough to lure international motorsport back to Western Australia. A Perth Grand Prix would roll the best bits of Adelaide and Melbourne into one.

Round 4. Chinese Grand Prix – Shanghai Street Circuit – night race
2008 gave proof that a night race in Asia is a great spectacle for the sport and the Singapore round is now one of Formula One’s flagship events. However, the race would even more significant if it was run in China, which is a crucial market for both Formula One and the manufacturers within it. If just 2% of the people in China followed Grand Prix racing they would easily have the largest fan base of any country in the world, and a night race around the neon streets of Shanghai could be just the thing to get the world’s most populous nation excited about the sport. If you could take the excitement and magic of Singapore to a country with 260 times the population, Formula One would benefit hugely.

Round 5. Monaco Grand Prix – Monte Carlo
A Formula One World Championship without the Monaco Grand Prix is unthinkable. The world’s richest city and the world’s richest sport complement each other perfectly and will continue to do so for as long as they both exist.

Round 6. Austrian Grand Prix – Osterreichring
The abandoned sections of the great Osterreichring circuit are still in existence today and could neatly be resurrected to host the return of Formula One to Austria. The smaller A1 Ring was not that bad despite its low popularity, but its older brother was one of the greatest racetracks that F1 has ever visited. The circuit is owned by Red Bull who are not exactly short of cash, and although a few tweaks would be necessary in the name of safety, many parts of the old superfast circuit would be a valuable addition to the F1 calendar.

Round 7. Indianapolis 500
Forget about the Mickey Mouse road course at Indianapolis, Formula One could set its sights on the biggest prize in American racing. The Indy 500 is one of the oldest and greatest spectacles in motorsport which is why it was originally included in the World Championship during the fifties. Although there are countless sporting, technical, and commercial barriers preventing it from ever being a part of Grand Prix racing again, the rewards for the sport would be huge. Formula One would instantly have the massive US following that it has long been yearning for and would be a part of the biggest single day sporting event in the world. There would be plenty of background problems to be sorted for both F1 and the IRL, many of which fly against the FIA’s vision to cut costs, but the event would be simply fantastic. The IRL would benefit from the extra F1 attention as well. Although some purists might be against the idea of running Formula One races on ovals, one round per year is not enough to upset the applecart and a precedent has already been set by circuits such as Brooklands and Avus. The Indianapolis 500 would be a different  test for the drivers, the teams, and would have a unique place on the Formula One calendar.

Round 8. German Grand Prix – Nurburgring Nordschleife
It would cost an unthinkable fortune to upgrade the majestic Nordschleife circuit to Formula One standards but the race would instantly have a very special place in the heart of all motorsport fans. There might be some traditionalist against the idea of taming the fourteen mile circuit so that it could host a Grand Prix once again, but surely the sight of modern F1 machinery tackling the green hell would be worth it. Along with the sheer cost, the logistics would also be a nightmare, notably for marshals and TV crews, but with enough money anything is possible. The Nordschleife is a must in anyone’s fantasy championship.

Round 9. British Grand Prix – Silverstone
Much of the Formula One industry and governance originates from England so it could arguably be considered the sport’s home country. The British Grand Prix is an integral part of F1 and, despite the upgrades at Donnington, Silverstone is still the best Grand Prix circuit in the UK. It is also a nice historical throwback since the very first World Championship race was held there in 1950.

Round 10. Indian Grand Prix – New Delhi
In 2009 there will not be a single circuit in Formula One that allows spectators to line every stretch of tarmac. For example, most racetracks don’t have any crowds in the infield areas, and most of Herman Tilke’s designs group all of the fans in specific grandstand locations where they can see most of the action. Monaco comes close but even then there are still some corners where buildings and other obstacles, such as a tunnel and harbour, make it impossible for fans to get all around the racetrack. Wouldn’t it be fantastic to have a circuit in Formula One where the cars were constantly surrounded by thousands of screaming fans in every direction? It would be tremendous, and where better to do it than one of the biggest metropolis’ in the world, New Delhi. The circuit itself doesn’t have to be a thriller but the golden rule is that fans must be able to cover every part of it. Organisers could sell the tickets for a nominal amount and would easily get hundreds of thousands of people to the race. Even better, wouldn’t it be great if Formula One could host the first sporting event in the world to get over a million people through the gates? That would be a great experience for F1 as well as sport in general – and can you imagine the atmosphere!? Formula One Management is desperately hoping to cash in on the lucrative Indian market where a massive population of young adults is starting to find wealth. The sport of Cricket survives almost entirely on the income it generates from India, and F1’s bosses would love to tap into that. A race with a million fans might be just the thing to get them going.

Round 11. Middle Eastern Grand Prix – Dubai Street Circuit – Night Race
The Middle East is becoming a major power in the world’s economy so it’s only fitting that F1 has more of a presence in the region. However, Bahrain has been a little disappointing over the past four years and can barely be considered a showcase F1 event, so perhaps the ultimate Middle Eastern Grand Prix is a street race around the UAE’s biggest city. The wealth in Dubai is almost as insane as the wealth in F1, so a Grand Prix around the 7 star hotels, indoor ski slopes, and the world’s tallest building would be great for the sport. Holding the race at night would make it even more special, and you can assume the cost of lighting would not be a problem.

Round 12. United States Grand Prix – Road America
Many of the F1 manufacturers were surprised and disappointed last year when the United States Grand Prix was dropped from the calendar because they are all after as much exposure stateside as possible. The country could easily support two races, and a potential Grand Prix at Road America would be great for the casual US fans after they got excited about F1 earlier in the year at Indy. The brilliant Elkhart Lake circuit is probably the best in America, so the teams would get their extra race in the US whilst doing justice to the sport’s purists.

Round 13. Canadian Grand Prix – Circuit de Gilles Villeneuve
The Circuit de Gilles Villeneuve is a fantastic track that always produces exciting races, and the city of Montreal embraces Formula One like few others. It will be sorely missed in 2009 so hopefully the Canadian Grand Prix is reinstated sooner rather than later.

Round 14. Russian Grand Prix – Murmansk
There are a number of races on the current F1 calendar that stress the cars and drivers in extreme heat, such as Bahrain and Malaysia, but there aren’t any Grands Prix run at the opposite end of the scale in the bitter cold. Silverstone can be a pretty chilly and miserable place in the rain, but if Russia is going to join the World Championship they can take it to a whole new level. The Russian Federation covers more than an eighth of the world’s total land area so there are plenty of possible locations for a Grand Prix, but maybe the city of Murmansk is one of the more interesting options. Murmansk can be found in the very top right hand corner of the country and is the largest city north of the Arctic Circle. Although its seaport is strategically located for shipping and the Russian Navy, Murmansk is not particularly large and probably does not have the infrastructure required to host a Grand Prix. However, a race in the frosty conditions would give the sport a little extra variety and would be a real challenge for the F1 engineers. The water might be ice-free in Murmansk thanks to the warm ocean currents, but the average temperature in September is still down around nine degrees Celsius which would give the calendar another unique event.

Round 15. French Grand Prix – Le Mans Circuit De La Sarthe
Le Mans would be a terrific new venue for the French Grand Prix and it wouldn’t take much work to bring the existing sportscar facilities up to F1 standards. The unimaginative Bugatti layout at Le Mans was used for F1 in back 1967 but it would be great to see modern cars tackling the full eight mile circuit used for the celebrated 24 hour race. FOM could also do well to cash in on the circuit’s famous name, and hype up the possibility of someone winning races at Monaco, Indianapolis, and Le Mans all in the one championship. Now that would be something special.

Round 16. Belgian Grand Prix – Spa Francorchamps
Spa is undoubtedly the best circuit on the calendar today and it would be a crime to get rid of it. The track might be in the middle of nowhere and can be a very tricky venue to reach, but who cares when it has corners like Eau Rouge, Pouhon and Blanchimont. The circuit is a real test of driving skill and is possibly the best place in the world to see Formula One cars in action.

Round 17. Italian Grand Prix – Monza
Long live the Autodromo Nazionale Di Monza.

Round 18. Brazilian Grand Prix – Interlagos
A race around the slums in Sao Paolo contrasts perfectly with the wealthy and glamorous Grands Prix at Monaco and the Middle East. It is great for the sport to be in the country so passionate about F1 and Interlagos is one of the most colourfully vibrant places the sport visits. The racing isn’t bad either because the circuit is almost as exciting as the fans.

Round 19. Mexican Grand Prix – Cancun
This would be Formula One’s equivalent of the Champcar race at Surfers Paradise where the Grand Prix is just a part of a much larger party. A blast along the beach at Cancun would be a real cool novelty for F1 and the pumping nightlife in the tourist haven would ensure the weekend is exciting, even if the race is not. The event would be great for F1’s younger audience and fits in well at the end of the year when everyone is keen to let their hair down.

Round 20. Japanese Grand Prix – Suzuka – Sunset race.
Suzuka is a classic venue to wrap up the season and I cannot think of anything more romantic than finishing the year with the cars disappearing into the sunset. I was once intrigued that a NASCAR race could start in the day but finish at night, and Formula One could benefit from the same concept. The final race could also be made just a little bit longer than usual to make it a special Grand Prix to close the season. At the end of the race, fans are permitted to run onto the circuit in front of a temporary stage on the main straight, and the World Champion is formally given his trophy to the backdrop of a fireworks display. Why something like that doesn’t happen already is a mystery to me.

It would be a very fitting way to celebrate a great year of racing.

Post a comment