Traditionally, the calendar is agreed so that, after a few flyaway races, the sport tours Europe for the summer (albeit with one weekend in Canada), and then heads additional afield for the concluding few events.
But while five years ago, ten of the eighteen races were at European track – this year present is one more race, but just seven are in Europe.
Some would dispute that this is progress, and that a global sport should not have the popular of its races in one continent. Others argue that, by initiate new races in Asia and the Middle East at the expenditure of traditional European circuits, the sport is rotating its back on its roots and disaffects its most excited fan base.
Whatever your view, it seems improbable that this trend will invalidate. According to Bernie Ecclestone, a lot of countries are queuing up to host races, and many are eager to pay a lot of money for the benefit. That unavoidably means all but the most recognized European races (like Monaco and Monza) are likely to come under menace when their current contracts are up for regeneration.
If it was determined that another European race had to go to make way for a race up a mountain anywhere, or in Antarctica, or even on the moon (who knows what Bernie has intended), what would be the subsequently race to go?
