Why Did F1 Take Away Spa's Calendar Spot?

[@kendlyv8]

I have that bad feeling that F1 is going down the same path as nascar did in the 90s and early 2000s

[@yannickvogel791]

What happend after?

[@kendlyv8]

@ the large amount of the core fan base left and nascar chased the new fans and money

[@94nolo]

This is a good shout honestly

[@recarsion]

​​@@kendlyv8 that's exactly what's been happening in F1 ever since Liberty took over

[@Lsr7102]

This. I don't understand why Liberty is favouring short term gain over longevity. Long term fans should always be put first, if you keep them on side they'll provide a stable revenue source in perpetuity. These new fans will leave in 5-10 years, especially if there's a bad set of regs that lead to bad racing for several years (2026...)

[@94nolo]

The US gets 3 races, but we're cutting Spa 50%?! This is like selling your soul, I'm sorry. Spa is such a great track.

[@Demios101]

How big is the US compared to most countries? What is the population of the US compared to most countries? Don't get me wrong, I think Miami and Vegas are trash tracks, but the number of GPs in the US isn't the issue.

[@arthurwijnants2662]

@@Demios101with that logic, you should have 3 tracks in canada, russia, china, india, maybe 2 in algeria, sudan, turkey.

[@Demios101]

@@arthurwijnants2662 If you're going to talk about logic, maybe understand what I said first. I mentioned the size of the landmass AND the size of population. Maybe, just maybe the logic behind what I'm saying recognizes that AS A BUSINESS, F1 needs to consider profitability along those metrics. If there is money to be made at adding multiple Canadian, Russian, Chinese, Indian, Algerian, Sudanese and Turkish GPs then yes, do it. You and I both know however, that it's not actually viable or profitable. The US has a population that is over 60% of The EU and has a landmass that's over twice as large with the money to spend. Tell me, what's the disposable income of the average member of population of Sudan like? How many hours does someone living in New York have to spend on a plane to get to Miami, Austin, or Vegas? Still takes more time to get there than it does driving from the Belgian GP to the Dutch GP. The American GPs are not the problem. The problem was literally mentioned in the very video you're commenting on, but sure whine about a large landmass and population having more regional events in a global sport.

[@Dr_Dirk_Diggler]

@@Demios101your logic China should 15 races, seeing it dwarfs the US by near 5 times

[@Demios101]

@@Dr_Dirk_Diggler k, so what's the disposable income of the average Chinese citizen then?

[@michaelalmasian4710]

How ‘bout we take away Monaco instead?

[@darren2514fv]

Mexico could scrap their race with the loss of Sergio Checo Perez which could free up a slot

[@ArturoDrives]

😔 It probably will happen at some point soon without Checo. I dont think any other series other than F1 and Nascar Mexico, its like Nascar and their superspeedways. Literally only them and their support series go there a couple times a year.

[@mrbungle3310]

I mean the only good thing about that track nowdays is the altitude,as a track it sucks

[@I_Evo]

​@@ArturoDrivesInteresting comment on the weekend that Formula E are racing there.

[@MrLion1]

Great video, thanks Alex. Excited for more real life F1 content mixed in with the usual stuff. Cheers

[@lacari0805]

I’ve been wanting real life f1 content from you for a while so definitely looking forward to this

[@nnema95x]

I thought Hockenheim and Nurburgring were two previous rotational races??

[@WildGalago]

And now we have none of them

[@julia-6195]

All a country has to do is have a lot of oil revenue with which to pay the FIA.

[@waynec3563]

FOM. The FIA does not make the calendar.

[@venom5968]

According to Jack Plooij (former dutch stream F1 host), the management of Zandvoort already said that it's not possible. As they do not have any government funding and it's hard to pay the fee to host it and actually profit from it. Afaik, we won't see Zandvoort back unless politically something changes.

[@mrc0a124]

I think them rotating will be a good thing because you don't need to add more races and for countries like Italy that have 3 tracks you could keep Monza permanent and then rotate between Imola and Mugello as an example

[@victorlucena988]

I would like to see Fuji and Suzuka doing the same.

[@ERT_Timo]

One detail you missed or forgot is that Zandvoort will not be hosting any f1 races after its current contract so they definitely wont be rotating with spa

[@AlexGillon]

Yea it's unlikely, but it would be good to see Zandvoort come back under rotation, because maybe they couldn't afford a race every year like Spa?

[@isaiahlarsen4365]

6:09 I think it depends less on which tracks you drop and more about what gets subbed in. Nobody wants Suzuka dropped/rotated for Miami, but I think more would be in favor if the FIA dropped/rotated Suzuka for Fuji

[@WolfAbarth]

It should rotate with Zandvoort

[@SquidgyPixel]

If anything, I'd rather lose Imola to keep Spa. There surely is a case to be made for at least 8 tracks to be permanent. Spa, Monza, Silverstone, Suzuka, Interlagos, Monaco, COTA and Marina Bay. Hear me out. Singapore is the original Night Race and has the allure of the Singapore skyline. With how Liberty want to keep pushing street tracks, COTA should always be THE US Grand Prix, its become a favourite track after all. Honourable mention: Red Bull Ring Stunningly beautiful backdrop

[@louneissen1603]

To many real fans sitting in the mud and rain. That no longer fits with the posh glamour fake fans they aim for now.

[@M00se08]

What about having it rotate with Zolder, would be interesting to see f1 race at that track🤔

[@ernestpresents]

welcome to the grieving process. RIP V12s V10s V8s soon ICE power units and in time your favorite circuit.

[@thatoneguy7191]

It's not the first, remember Nurburgring and Hockenheim?

[@AlexGillon]

Yea fair point, but this feels like the start of a new era of multiple rotational races

[@thatoneguy7191]

@@AlexGillon 100% agree with you, but you should probably put "first new rotational circuit" in the title

[@zerogo40]

Greater chance of race being cancelled due to rainfall,TV money rules

[@MlCROPIZZA]

I would have put those street circuits to rotation. Less street races in a season✅️ Less stress on city itself✅️ Different calendar each year✅️

[@Gamurboi]

but street circuits are a lot cheaper to run than purpose built ones, which is why they are so popular for FOM

[@guilhermes.pereira1671]

They did stuff the fans didn't aproove back in 2014 and several times before with F1 going through tough times after that, hope it happens again so the Liberty Moneydia stops doing the sh8 they're doing

[@94nolo]

I would rotate Suzuka with Fuji honestly. The US needs to rotate Miami and Vegas. We don't need 3 races.

[@94nolo]

We need the German duo back too as you stated.

[@maxb148]

​@94nolo Good luck with that, Nurburgring and Hockenheim were off the calendar due to costs and that was some years ago when F1 fees were even lower so doubt they will be back with fees increasing

[@greg_63]

Spa does not deserve to being a rotational race. Imho CotA - LV - Miami has to be rotational, but there is 2 races each year (so each year a different racetrack drops out of a calendar)

[@timjennings8152]

if its rotated with anything other than the nurburgring then its not good

[@giantwaddles9478]

Hear me out Instead of the new regs and ruining the performance of the cars, we just have f1 at real tracks instead of street circuits For example get rid of monaco and vegas and bring back India Germany Malaysia and even the European gp

[@legendslayer98]

if its just another middle east track that is dull, or another street circuit, then I am not sure if I can be bothered with F1 anymore

[@michaeltelfer3483]

The races at Spa recently have been really bad. European races will be rotated more due to being more efficent when planning a calender. PLus Mexico will be gone so that hopefully frees up a spot for another race in south America

[@I_Evo]

What makes you think Mexico is going to go?

[@michaeltelfer3483]

@I_Evo 25 is the last year of its contract. With Perez gone no need for them to pay to stick around

[@I_Evo]

@@michaeltelfer3483 By that logic they'd have left Interlagos when Massa retired

[@michaeltelfer3483]

@@I_Evo Interlagos wasn't there for Massa like Mexico was for Perez.

[@WildGalago]

Yeah lets scrap Spa for Turkey every other year i wouldnt have a probl.... Oh wait another shit street track will take its place. I get its a business but its also a sport for entertainment.

[@mrbungle3310]

Wouldn't change if they rotate it with anything...they should rotate street tracks not classics...what a bunch of clowns

[@rexthewolf3149]

Spa is being rotated because it doesn’t have the money to buy a permanent spot, the street tracks do.

[@Ta5.]

I think we as the F1 community should NOT watch the 28 and the 30 season why? because spa is the goated circuit

[@Bexmade]

Understandable decision by f1

[@mohammadhosainusofimotlagh6295]

F1 has always been about business. Do tracks like Bahrain and Jeddah and even Qatar make better races than the likes of Spa and Suzuka? Yes and they pay more money. Can't blame them. Spa being the most beautiful track doesn't gain F1 any more viewer when the races are aren't great. So imagine the views are low and they pay less money.

[@mrbungle3310]

Its all subjective,if you are a sim driver or a retro head you know a dull spa/suzuka gp is much more exciting to watch than a chaotic jeddah/qatar gp...the quality of driving the classics circuits require and the beauty of the corner profiles doesn't replicate at all in the flat runoff lame modern tracks

[@mohammadhosainusofimotlagh6295]

@mrbungle3310 i'd say Qatar and Jeddah are amongs the most challanging tracks to drive. They may not have the character of likes of Spa, mainly duo to them being in the middle of a flat desert, but that doesn't mean they're less of a challange for the drivers.

[@omerosman1280]

​@mrbungle3310 nope no way it's more exciting...dull is dull, maybe fun for the drivers not the fans.

[@justinburley8659]

@@mrbungle3310Yeah, but the majority of viewers aren’t