Liberty will offload F1 pdq if they losing money, if they can find a buyer ....(Bernie anyone?)
Possibly, you are right. If F1 proves too hot to handle, or loss making, I can see Liberty getting rid of it. Bernie is too old to be a possible buyer; interestingly he has said he wouldn't have tried running a championship this year !
All true but the tourism promo part of a race is not only about filling hotel rooms with drunk Dutchmen but also about getting TV time. The Chinese GP or Bahrain's have been running for years with empty grandstands. And even with full grandstands many races have been failing to do money for years and still are being held.
Those are examples of state sponsored races to improve the image of a country . These places use F1 as a window, but it could be any large public event they could attract. When they have enough exposure, they quit: Turkey, Malaysia.
Fresh doubt cast over British Grand Prix http://www.gptoday.com/full_story/view/717761/Fresh_doubt_cast_over_British_Grand_Prix/ New restrictions expected to be brought in by the UK government have cast doubt over the viability of a British Grand Prix. Chase Carey admits F1 may not return for 2020 season http://www.gptoday.com/full_story/view/717707/Chase_Carey_admits_F1_may_not_return_for_2020_season/
I'm pretty sure that at some point in the future the Bahrain GP will disappear like Turkey, etc, but we're talking about a hypothetical 2020 season. I actually think that Bahrain would be a good candidate to host a coronavirus GP: they have the funds, always has been run without spectators, it's in a country not severely hit by the pandemia and it's not European.
Buy - at a severe reduction in price. No season potentially, no sponsors that matter now at all. They are gone. Uncertainty is the death of a deal. This F1 season is uncertain and so is the next. Social distance will not allow for full grandstands depending on location. That assumes anyone will fly to a great degree or actually feel comfortable to do it routinely. NO vaccine or proven treatment will limit ALL major sports and events.
Things are looking up: The UK will allow sports without audience this summer. Boris Johnson's govt released a lengthy paper with all the rules etc. Therein it also mentions that F1 teams are exempt from the travel ban/quarantine if they provide recent medical tests. July 5 in Spielberg looks better every day. I can't wait.
British GP under threat due to financial dispute https://www.gptoday.net/en/news/f1/255437/british-gp-under-threat-due-to-financial-dispute The British Grand Prix is under threat due to an ongoing dispute between Formula 1 and the circuit owners. F1 has asked Silverstone to hold races on consecutive weekends this year in order to try and fit as many races on the calendar as possible, on 19 and 26 July. However, it is rumoured that the circuit owners are demanding £15 million to host the races, which is the same price as what it usually pays Formula 1 as a race fee. F1 has offered to make sure that Silverstone is not losing money in the deal, but the £15 million is far higher than the cost of hosting the race behind closed doors. This figure is too high for F1 to stomach even when the compensation for the loss of ticket sales is accounted for, but it is said that the two parties are still negotiating. Silverstone gave this statement: "Silverstone and F1 remain in close dialogue with each other and the relevant authorities to try to make a British Grand Prix happen behind closed doors." If a deal cannot be reached, it is suspected that Hockenheim will be the replacement. However it has also been mooted that Imola has an outside chance of hosting a race this season. A few F1 teams have reportedly expressed their annoyance at Silverstone's demands, especially at a time where F1 itself is struggling financially after seeing their profits cut dramatically. On a call with investors last week, although not directly mentioning Silverstone, it was clear to see what Chase Carey was talking about. "Whether it's the teams or promoters or sponsors, we're not going to be handing out candy to everybody. "We're going to expect to be treated fairly, but we're going to deal with it as adults and with the expectation that 2021 is going to look like the business that we all knew four months ago."
As I’ve said over and over... the finance for the track is going to be a big hurdle. And,... 2021 will not look the same as 4 months ago...
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/149421/provisional-2020-f1-calendar-takes-shape Formula 1 looks set to begin the season with two double-header rounds in Austria and at Silverstone, as a provisional support category timetable hints at 2020's condensed European leg. Autosport has learned that teams from FIA Formula 2 and Formula 3 were given a draft provisional calendar in an online meeting on Monday of this week - with all rounds in support of F1. Furthermore, Autosport understands that the provisional calendar kicks off with the two Austrian events at the Red Bull Ring, which Formula 1 is hoping to run on the 5 July and 12 July weekends, followed by rounds at Silverstone on the last weekend of July and the first weekend of August. The two Silverstone rounds would be part of a triple-header of rounds and held without any fans in attendance, with the third currently set to be between the Barcelona circuit and Hockenheim - which is known to be in discussions with F1 about a late reprieve to the calendar. A second triple header provisionally consisting of races at the Hungaroring, Spa-Francorchamps and Monza is set to span the end of August and the start of September, before F2 heads with F1 to Baku and Sochi. Any rounds in Hungary would be held behind closed doors as the government has put restrictions on large gatherings - while Belgium is currently under a similar ruling. However, rumours suggest Spa could be moved to a later 13 September date, which could push back the Baku and Sochi rounds touted on the following weeks. Further sources suggest that the tentative Barcelona/Hockenheim slot may switch places with Hungary, given the latter's flexibility. The two junior series would reunite in the Middle East in December, as F1 looks set to end the 2020 season with rounds in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi. There has also been speculation of a second Bahrain race. As a result, the Macau Grand Prix looks set to lose its status as an end-of-season FIA Formula 3 showcase due to the coronavirus-enforced changes.
Friday or Saturday the govt in Austria will make a crucial first decision as to whether to proceed with the Spielberg GP. Fingers crossed. Since the UK made an exemption for F1 teams from the 2 weeks quarantine (reduced to 5 days), the two Silverstone races might actually happen thereafter. However, if travel remains an issue then there is a good chance that the third race will be in Hungary, which is just 200 miles down the road. Also depends on how soon Hungary will be reopening its borders. Bottom line of all this is, that while there are many problems, I applaud F1 for trying to find a way and I'm becoming increasingly more confident that it will actually happen. About time.
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-52659194 It’s looking rough for F1. Looks like McLaren is entertaining mortgaging it’s historic collection. Ricciardo better get a good down payment
Well some hope that Silverstone will happen...I think...Gov is looking at allowing football to start in June. If they allow that I can’t see why they wouldn’t allow F1 in July.
Now there is the financial issue to solve. Silverstone wants $15 million from Liberty to host a GP !!
Great news: The Belgium government just approved the Spa GP on August 30 to take place. No audience. Now Liberty can start working out a deal with the organizers.
Perhaps his wife could take the helm? She doesn't seen to be stupid and wasn't she part of the Brazilian GP organization? Bernie might ask his loyal friends to help her when he is not here anymore.
Just the usual social distancing, hygiene etc. The organizers of the Spa GP said they will go to the Spielberg GP and see and learn how to do it. Makes all sense to me.
Did they just pull dates out of a hat? Looks like utter nonsense: July 12 is Spielberg II and July 24 is likely Silverstone 1 and Belgium wants to keep its August 30 date Oh wait, it's from Renault. Nevermind. They're not even in F1...