FIA Confirms 2011 F1 Schedule

[donskar]

I'm for 18-22.

Let's not forget that the enjoyment we receive from F1 is provided by human beings. They deserve time off and time with their families. F1 is very demanding physically (I've been a business "Road Warrior" -- travel can be exhausting). Add to that the stress on each member of every team. Let's not burn them out.

And -- monetary value aside -- too great a supply of anything can reduce its exclusivity and therefore perceived value.

I also think testing has value for:
tracks without an F1 race to prove themselves
young drivers to prove themselves
engineers to see their simulations in the real world

Finally, back to testing and perception: I think it's important to at least suggest to the non-obsessive F1 fans that the cars are designed by fallible humans and therefore NEED to be run to be proven and improved. I WANT the teams to have the time to push the envelope as far as possible. With budget restraints and even more races, development could suffer.

[D'Leh]

WB, I know it's doable. Purely mathematically speaking 24 races would be roughly a 40% increase in engine mileage compared to 2009. If I remember correctly in 2009 each engine had a mileage target of some 6 race distances - or about 1800km. That would be sufficient for 48 race distances all together or 24 race weekends - if every single one reaches it's target. Obviously they don't.

We learned from Red Bull today, that in 2010 the new mileage target for engines is about 2100km or 7 race distances. Going by that rate they would have to increase the target to roughly 3000km per engine if they want to compete in 24 races. That's a long distance.

Andrew could be right here. This might force drivers to drive economically, especially if they already lost engines that were far off the target mileage yet. It could be counterproductive. How expensive is a 9th or 10th engine? If you calculate that against the additional income from 7 or 5 additional races, is it worth it? I mean the limit of 8 engines never was about safety or for the show. It's a cost reduction thing.

[WhiteBlue]

Te engine restrcitions should be lifted. I want to see proper racing, not economy drives.

I'm afraid the conventional wisdom of the teams and the PTB stand against your desires. Cost cutting will probably stay on the agenda for quite some time and that means no return of the 1 bil $ engine bills in F1.

WB, I know it's doable. Purely mathematically speaking 24 races would be roughly a 40% increase in engine mileage compared to 2009.

To extend the milage usually takes a development step away from the frozen engines for all. All manufacturers would simply get the opportunity to apply upgrades. Has been done in the past and represents no fundamental problem which would force a rethink of engine policies.

[WhiteBlue]

The 2011 Formula One World Championship calendar is confirmed as follows:

13/03 Bahrain
27/03 Australia
10/04 Malaysia
17/04 China
08/05 Turkey
22/05 Spain
29/05 Monaco
12/06 Canada
26/06 Europe
10/07 Great Britain
24/07 Germany
31/07 Hungary
28/08 Belgium
11/09 Italy
25/09 Singapore
09/10 Japan
16/10 Korea
30/10 India*
13/11 Abu Dhabi
27/11 Brazil

* subject to track homologation

Again there is a four week summer break. Boring! The season will run longer with the six fly away races showing only one back to back event. Brazil surprisingly takes the last race from Abu Dhabi. Spain and Monaco are back to back again which is less than ideal.

[MikeFromCanada]

13/03 Bahrain
27/03 Australia
10/04 Malaysia
17/04 China*
08/05 Turkey
22/05 Spain
29/05 Monaco
12/06 Canada
26/06 Europe
10/07 Great Britain
24/07 Germany
31/07 Hungary
28/08 Belgium
11/09 Italy
25/09 Singapore
09/10 Japan
16/10 Korea
30/10 India*
13/11 Abu Dhabi
27/11 Brazil

Looks like the championship is going to go on until nearly December next year! Also there will be 4 back to back weekends. Also, being in mid November, the Indian GP should have no problem to be completed.

Note: China's license is expired, and Autosport claims the facility needs to complete some upgrades prior to being granetd a new license. This incldues a better drainage method for the track surface.

[astracrazy]

i was under the impression china expires 2012. Along with Turkey and Suzuka...

might be wrong

[GTO]

20 races, Great! Only 3 months & 2 wks to wait between race seasons. =D>
Longer development window for 2011 cars & shorter window for 2012 cars. Or does this force teams to stretch the 2nd window & begin development of 2012 cars earlier? I'm guessing it will.

Also noticed & wonder why Brazil has moved to last race?

[mach11]

Is the Indian circuit actually going to be finished on time, though?

Yep, according to the recent news, i have a fried who lives there... says that... the work on the pit area and the grandstands have started... also work on a 100 km highway from the airport to the race track has also begun....

[GTO]

Has anyone seen Indian circuit layout?

[andrew]

Has anyone seen Indian circuit layout?

Here you go:

[EightM]

If China's contract runs out before 2012 then the new race in Texas may take it's place, but I was kind of hoping that the new Austin Race would replace some of the more dreary races like Valencia or Bahrain.

[ESPImperium]

Also noticed & wonder why Brazil has moved to last race?

Logistical reasons, its costing nearly $8m to go from Korea to Brazil to Abu Dhabi this year, and is creating major nightmares with equiptment etc... Ferarri are seemingly the ones behind it as this year with their engine situation on 4 of the 6 Ferarri powered cars is meaning they are having to take 4 engines for Alonso, Massa, Kobiyashai and Heidfeld cars; they are taking the usual 3 for both STR cars.

Where if you go from Korea to Abu to Brazil the teams would have spent arround $3.5M in total.

Not sure about how they are gonna do the young driver tests next year, early in the season there was rumors that every team would have to feild a young driver in every FP1 next year, unless the track is less than 2 years old to the F1 callander or Monaco or Singapore as those races are very critical to driver performance.

China needs to get its F1A licence back as it has lapsed, they need to change the drainage arround turn 10 seemingly, not to mention from turn 6 to turn 11 grind out the bumps that cuircit has simply because of the conctruction methods used at this track (40,000 concrete pillars that support a polystyrene base) as its on a natural marsh the size of New York seemingly.

After Korea, the Indian track is having almost everything thrown at it so it makes it now.

Personally id like to see Valencia done away with for a Europena GP that moves to a new (or old) unused Europen track every year like Imola or Magney Cours. Bahrain im glad that track is back to its old layout, and Singapore needs a slight re-jig of its layout.

Otherwise im happy with the callander.

[godlameroso]

Instead of making that right hairpin to the left turn before the singapore sling they should just make it a left hand turn, this would probably shave 10 seconds off the lap and make it a much more bearable 1:35 second lap