Jordan's Track Talk

Tag: Calendar 2022

  • F1 to host 22 races in 2022

    The 2022 Formula 1 calendar will now run 22 races rather than the originally planned 23, following the decision not to replace the Russian Grand Prix.

    The Russian GP was due to be the 17th race of the season on September 25th but was cancelled back in February following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

    F1 had planned to fill the slot to keep a record 23 race calendar with Qatar and Turkey as options. The sport already has a tight calendar for the rest of the season and the Russian GP was set to kickstart one of the two triple headers after the summer break, instead it will now be a weekend break before a Singapore-Japan double header.

    One of the reasons for there being no replacement despite plenty of options, is that European round would not have been possible because of logistical issues around EU freight rules.

    As well as this, a fly-away race also could have had complications; a Qatar round for example would’ve been in the soaring heat in September and also just two months before the nation hosts the World Cup.

  • How long are the ’22 tracks on the calendar for?

    Seeing as some tracks have renewed their contracts already this year, lets take a look at the tracks in the race calendar for this year and see when their contract runs until.

    Bahrain- 2036

    The Sakhir International Circuit signed a huge multi-year contract last month, which makes it the longest contract currently in F1.

    Saudi Arabia- 2031

    With Jeddah making its debut last season, Saudi Arabia has a deal for a decade, if not longer. But the race will be moving from the Jeddah Corniche Circuit to another new track in Qiddiya for 2023.

    Australia- 2025

    Imola- 2025

    The historic Italian circuit, signed a new deal last month to stay on the calendar until 2025, after coming on the calendar during the 2020 season.

    Miami- 2031

    The newest addition to the calendar has bagged a 10 year deal before they have even race their!

    Spain- 2026

    Monaco- Expired

    Monaco’s contract, expired last year and no agreement has been announced yet, but the iconic circuit has already been confirmed for this season with an altered weekend format.

    Azerbaijan- 2024

    Canada- 2029

    Great Britain- 2024

    Austria- Multi year deal

    The Red Bull Ring, has a “multi-year deal” according to Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s Advisor, but no confirmed year.

    France- 2022

    The Paul Ricard circuit, could be under threat for not being on the calendar next year as their contract runs out this year.

    Hungary- 2027

    The Hungaroring could potentially be extended for another five or ten years as their are talks already on going.

    Belgium- 2022

    Another track which could be under threat, but I very much doubt it will be as the track has been updated which could see a new deal on the table.

    Netherlands- 2023

    Monza- 2025

    Singapore- 2028

    The Singapore GP, was renewed in January, after being absent for the past two years.

    Japan- 2024

    USA- 2026

    Mexico- 2022

    The last out of 4 tracks which contracts are running out or have run out. I have not heard of any talks going on to renew at this time, but things are always changing!

    Brazil- 2025

    Abu Dhabi- 2030

    China- 2025

    Even though its not on the calendar this year, it still has an contract till 2025, could we see a return soon?

    Qatar- 2033

    After an debut last year for Qatar, it is not on the calendar (at the moment) due to the FIFA World Cup, but it could make an appearance to take over Russia’s spot this year.

  • Russian GP cancelled

    Formula One’s Russian Grand Prix, has been cancelled following the invasion of Ukraine, a military attack by Russia on Ukraine began on Thursday after a long period of escalating tensions.

    This was then met with unease in F1 paddock about the planned September race in Sochi, which was meant to be the final year racing their ahead of moving to a new venue next year near St Petersburg.

    Meanwhile Haas stripped its car of the branding of Russian sponsor Uralkali for the final day of testing in Barcelona, this comes ahead of meetings planned next week to resolve legal matters in the wake of the attack. Nikita Mazepin’s position at Haas “needs to be resolved”, team principle Guenther Steiner admitted.

    Formula 1 has released an announcement on the Russian GP saying: “The FIA Formula 1 World Championship visits countries all over the world with a positive vision to unite people, bringing nations together. We are watching the developments in Ukraine with sadness and shock and hope for a swift and peaceful resolution to the present situation.

    On Thursday evening Formula 1, the FIA, and the teams discussed the position of our sport, and the conclusion is, including the view of all relevant stakeholders, that it is impossible to hold the Russian Grand Prix in the current circumstances.” The statement appears to leave the door open to the race being held if the “current circumstances” change…

    My Opinion-

    Right decision and the only decision, which was justified after Vettel said he will not race their if F1 continues to. What I don’t understand is why are they leaving the door open, to possibly go to Sochi this year even after this statement? It is rumoured that Turkey is set to replace the Russian GP.

  • F2, F3 announce ’22 calendar

    So with Formula One announcing their calendar for next season, Formula Two and Three have announced theirs!

    Formula Two will have a total of 14 rounds, which will see two races each round, so a total of 28 races, it will make the most sizeable calendar since the launch of the championship in 2017.

    The season will kick off in Bahrain on the weekend of 18th March and with it finishing on the weekend of 18th November in Abu Dhabi. F2 will be going to two new tracks which are Imola and Zandvoort.

    CEO Bruno Michel said: “I am pleased to present the largest calendar we have ever had in Formula 2, with 14 rounds and 28 races. This results from a strong will from our stakeholders to have F2 race alongside as many Formula 1 Grand Prix as possible.”

    F3 will have a total of nine rounds, which makes it an 18 race championship. Again F3 will start in Bahrain on the same weekend as F1, it will end on the weekend of 9th September in Monza, just like this year. Also F3 will be at two new circuits next year and they are Zakhir, Bahrain and Imola, Italy.

    CEO Bruno Michel said: “Our 2022 Formula 3 season will start at the Bahrain International Circuit, at the opening round of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship and the new Formula 2 campaign. It will be very exciting to start all together.”

    My Opinion-

    I’m very much looking forward to both F2 and F3 next year, especially with both series racing at new tracks and both of them being on the same weekends as F1.

    With F2 this year there has been pretty big gaps, the season started end of March and then the next race weekend was 20th May. And then again currently we are on our 4th week of a 10 week break until the season comes back for the last two rounds. So they have planned it well so there isn’t as big of breaks.

    With F3 they started quite late this year compared to next, they started in May where as next year they will be starting in March. They have been able to bring a couple more races in to make the season a bit longer without big gaps.

  • 2022 F1 Calendar

    Formula One has finally revealed the 2022 calendar, with a record-breaking 23 Grand Prix schedule.

    The season will begin in Bahrain on 20th March, for the second year in a row it is the season opener. The season will end in Abu Dhabi as usual but its been brought forward to the 20th November.

    With the ongoing pandemic conditions, China is not included in the 2022 calendar, however it will be restored to the calendar as soon as the conditions allow it to.

    “The 2022 season follows an unprecedented two years for Formula 1 in which the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in revised calendar of 17 races in 2020 and 22 races in 2021 – a huge achievement given the international nature of the sport,” said F1 in a statement.

    President and CEO of Formula 1 Stefano Domenicali (above) said: “We are excited to announce the 2022 calendar as we prepare to enter a new era for the sport with brand new regulations and cars for next year that are designed to create closer racing. This season has been incredible so far with great battles on the track, large audiences tuning in and fans returning to the races after the impact of the pandemic. We look forward to welcoming more fans back next season and hope 2022 feels more normal than the life we have all experienced in the past two years.”

    My Opinion-

    I’m looking forward to seeing how next season goes with the new changes etc, but also the new tracks which are being brought into F1 next year. It will be a tough season considering we are starting mid-March and finishing mid-November, but considering we are currently having a 22 race season, even though some of the races having a two week break, its still a long and hard season for everybody involved in the sport.

    I am sure there are many tracks waiting to jump in if some races are cancelled due to Covid e.g Turkey, Mugello and many others.

  • 2022 Calendar set for 23 races

    So with only 7 races left of this season, the talks for next season has started on how it will look calendar wise.

    For 2022 they are expecting and wanting to run a 23 race calendar, starting in mid March and finishing in mid November. Where as currently this season started end of March and finishing in mid December.

    Even though Covid-19 has changed the calendar quite a bit this year for the second year in the row, this years championship is still set for its longest ever season, with 22 races on the calendar and 15 already completed, F1 wants to go one better next year.

    The 2022 Calendar is set to revealed later this month. Some races have already confirmed when they will be holding their event, as newcomers Miami have confirmed the weekend of 6-8 May for their first F1 Race.

    “I can anticipate that, for sure, the calendar will be done with 23 races,” said Domenicali in an interview with Sky Sports “Of course we will be very respectful towards the Covid regulations issued around the world from the different governments. But that is our aim that F1 can give this sign of hope and to go to normal things to enjoy.”

    “The idea is to make sure there is the right rhythm to the calendar,” he said. “There are of course considerations related to periods to make sure logistically the flow has to be right. “One thing I can tell you, without discovering too many things is that next year the season will start in the middle of March and will finish in the middle of November.”

    This year F1 introduced the Sprint format, in three different weekends, the first being at Silverstone, the second in Monza and the third which is yet to come in Brazil. In Stefano Domenicali’s interview he has said that: “I can say we will not go everywhere with the Sprint format. It is something we want to keep for one third of the races more or less and to connect with a certain different way of giving rewards and points and to connect with specific circuits that as you know would make the difference.”

    So its looking roughly like about 7/8 race weekends next year with the Sprint format, after positive feedback from promoters.

    My Opinion-

    I’m 50/50 on the Sprint format, it gives you three full days of action which I and everyone loves but its not the traditional F1. Being at the first weekend they trialled it at was good, the atmosphere was amazing all weekend, and it was so busy, it definitely attracted more people to come for the full weekend!

    But with them adding it to 7/8 races next year i’m a bit sceptical about, I think personally they need to try it at either 3 different tracks next year, to see how it goes their. Or do it at Silverstone and Monza, then either one/two completely new ones as-well.