F1 told to drop ‘historic’ European track from calendar
Former F1 driver Karun Chandhok has suggested the famed Imola
circuit should be dropped from the race calendar. Imola was once a
long-standing fixture on the F1 schedule but tumbled off it
following the 2006 season. During the COVID-19-impacted 2020
campaign, Imola returned and has been present ever since, running
under the banner of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Its current
contract runs out at the end of 2025. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali
recently stated rotational European events would soon be included
on the calendar, placing Imola’s permanent presence at risk. When
asked what track on the current calendar he would sacrifice,
Chandhok told Sky F1 : “I would drop Imola. “It’s a fantastic
venue to go to, it’s obviously historic. In qualifying, it’s a very
exciting track to watch and for the drivers [to take part in]. “But
it’s too narrow for the racing nowadays, with the size of the cars
we’ve got, I think F1 has outgrown it. We’re not seeing much
overtaking there.” Chandhok reveals pick for F1 race return While
suggesting Imola’s time has run in F1, Chandhok highlighted his
desire to see the German Grand Prix return. The event has not been
held since 2019, however, the Nürburgring hosted a round in 2020 –
albeit under the Eifel Grand Prix label. Nurburgring and Hockenheim
rotated races yearly before both departed due to financial
constraints. Chandhok, though, feels F1 is lacking a race in
Germany. “Which one would I replace it with?’ queried Chandhok. “I
feel like we need a German Grand Prix back on the track. “It feels
really strange to have an F1 calendar without a German Grand Prix
and a French Grand Prix. “There’s obviously Mercedes, and we have
such a long lot of German influence in the sport, the time with
[Sebastian] Vettel and [Michael] Schumacher and all that sort of
stuff. “It feels a bit odd not to have a German Grand Prix.” Which
race would you drop from the F1 calendar? Vote below in the latest
poll by RacingNews365 .
circuit should be dropped from the race calendar. Imola was once a
long-standing fixture on the F1 schedule but tumbled off it
following the 2006 season. During the COVID-19-impacted 2020
campaign, Imola returned and has been present ever since, running
under the banner of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Its current
contract runs out at the end of 2025. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali
recently stated rotational European events would soon be included
on the calendar, placing Imola’s permanent presence at risk. When
asked what track on the current calendar he would sacrifice,
Chandhok told Sky F1 : “I would drop Imola. “It’s a fantastic
venue to go to, it’s obviously historic. In qualifying, it’s a very
exciting track to watch and for the drivers [to take part in]. “But
it’s too narrow for the racing nowadays, with the size of the cars
we’ve got, I think F1 has outgrown it. We’re not seeing much
overtaking there.” Chandhok reveals pick for F1 race return While
suggesting Imola’s time has run in F1, Chandhok highlighted his
desire to see the German Grand Prix return. The event has not been
held since 2019, however, the Nürburgring hosted a round in 2020 –
albeit under the Eifel Grand Prix label. Nurburgring and Hockenheim
rotated races yearly before both departed due to financial
constraints. Chandhok, though, feels F1 is lacking a race in
Germany. “Which one would I replace it with?’ queried Chandhok. “I
feel like we need a German Grand Prix back on the track. “It feels
really strange to have an F1 calendar without a German Grand Prix
and a French Grand Prix. “There’s obviously Mercedes, and we have
such a long lot of German influence in the sport, the time with
[Sebastian] Vettel and [Michael] Schumacher and all that sort of
stuff. “It feels a bit odd not to have a German Grand Prix.” Which
race would you drop from the F1 calendar? Vote below in the latest
poll by RacingNews365 .
Fergal Walsh
Go to seatrade maritime