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That's the final turn I thought.

I'll say it again, if they can run Monaco they can run there. I don't care if Monaco is "grandfathered in." The fact they're running there now means they can run anywhere. They obviously feel like the track is safe enough to run on, or else they wouldn't.

That and if they're being pussies about it, there's that shit chicane on the outside of the straightaway.

Racing is about danger and excitement. What's more better to see who has the biggest balls in the field and excells above the rest? At this moment I feel F1 isn't as dangerous as football and drivers are starting to be pussies about safety (hello Fernando). The charisma of motorsports is the fact something COULD go wrong.

Yes, I was under the effects of "racing tradition pills" I've taken in the morning.

I think the speeds at Monaco will be much lower than imola, and the fastest section has good run off, which will have a major effect on safety.

Imola isn't coming back because
- The first turn is fucking ridiculous
- Italy's economy is still buggered

France isn't on the calendar because
- Magny Cours and Paul Ricard can't agree
- The Socialist government won't fund it

Korean GP is on because they have a 7 year contract. It is still provisional, but F1 is going. Bernie won't cancel the race because he has a contract. It will only be cancelled if the race promoters decided to pull the can

Regarding Austria, Red Bull always said it would just be for events such as DTM, not F1.

Also, I wonder what fans want. Lots of people seem to go ZOMG Barcelona is shit, ZOMG Valencia sux, Silverstone is crap, Hungaboring. And then go 'WE NEED MORE EUROPEAN RACES!!!!1111'. Yeah, ok.

A lot of European races are struggling because the majority are funded privately and sponsors are hard to come by. A lot of the Asian countries see F1 as a way of promoting the country and governments are willing to throw money at the sport. In 10 or 15 years time, that situation might be a whole lot different and the calendar might become more European again. Who knows.

Great post Phil By the way, in your avatar, is that Will Buxton at Monza 2012 just in front of the main grandstand? If so, would you have a higher res version of that pic? I wanna see if I can spot myself in it

Magny Cours was universally hated by everyone except for Ligier/Prost because it's in the middle of fecking no where, and the track was somehow unrealistically smooth, so suspension setup was strange to work on.

The president wanted it there to bring some money and attention to that area.
It was a real bitch to get there because of the narrow two-lane highway, but they finally extended the freeway until the circuit in... 2011, just about 20 years late.

As for the suspension setting, it's not a relevant argument. It's their job to set their cars for whichever track they race on, and it brought some novelty from the bumpier tracks.

I still think Bernie would prefer the Paul-Ricard for his millionaire friends, as it's closer to the French Riviera. I'd much rather prefer Magny-Cours' gravel traps instead of that colored mess of a track that makes me want to stab myself in the eyes.

China? 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 were all very good Chinese GPs. In fact, only 2004 and 2008 Chinese GP have really sucked.

Monaco has the fastest corner in F1 in the tunnel.

Maggots, Eau Rouge, Curva Grande, the final corner at Interlagos ring any bells?