Melbourne gets new 10-year F1 deal plus F2 and F3 support races

34 comments on “Melbourne gets new 10-year F1 deal plus F2 and F3 support races”

1. 

   Ciaran (@ciaran)
   15th June 2022, 23:49

   Great news. Though I’m a bit surprised that F2 and F3 are going all the way to Australia. Is keeping costs low not a priority for them any more?
   1. 

      MacLeod (@macleod)
      16th June 2022, 7:44

      I think all cars are send in 1 big shipment (ship) that isn’t so expensive with a good deal.
      1. 

         Armchair Expert (@armchairexpert)
         16th June 2022, 7:54

         What? Cars are always transported by cargo planes. But don’t worry, this time planes will be powered by virtue signalling, so no costs and no carbon emissions. Thank you Liberty, I will eat bugs instead of meat, because we are in this fight against climate change together.
         1. 

            anon
            16th June 2022, 13:05

            No, they are not all transported by air freight – most stuff for the long haul events is sent via container shipping, because that is significantly more cost effective.
            1. 

               Armchair Expert (@armchairexpert)
               16th June 2022, 17:52

               Are you illiterate? I said all cars are moved by cargo planes – show me any source stating otherwise.
   2. 

      Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
      16th June 2022, 14:47

      @Ciaran

      I’m a bit surprised that F2 and F3 are going all the way to Australia. Is keeping costs low not a priority for them any more?

      My sentiments entirely – fun though I’m sure those races will be around that track and in that setting, you have to wonder what that’s going to do to the price of a season in both.
      1. 

         Ciaran (@ciaran)
         16th June 2022, 16:33

         @keithcollantine After the 2021 seasons went to such lengths to reduce costs for F2 and F3 it’s a surprising decision for sure. Not that I mind too much as they should put on a great show on the revised layout!
      2. 

         Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
         17th June 2022, 0:50

         Speaking of renovations it looks like the reason for f2/3 absence was always related to the infrastructure, I’m sure all teams and drivers always wanted to travel to Australia.
2. 

   Tristan (@skipgamer)
   16th June 2022, 2:26

   Kinda can’t believe it after the last 2 years, could it be, that despite international ridicule, Melbourne and Australia’s harsh covid response was the correct one?

   At the very least it shows that there’s no burnt bridges or bad blood after the 2020 fiasco, which is great to see. Super happy, was worried Australia would get lose out with all the talk of expansion to new locations.

   Maybe with Piastri over the next decade we’ll get to see an Aussie win the Australian race 🤞 With that in mind, great move to bring F2 and F3 as well, if there’s an Aussie racing in those fields no doubt the crowd will get behind them and grow an interest.
   1. 

      Hosford90
      16th June 2022, 18:28

      Yes duh, of course it was. As an Australian who has spent my last two years feeling eminently safe and literally doesn’t know anybody in person who has caught Covid, of course it was the right thing, and everyone sensible here understands that. Only anti-vax, anti-lockdown Florida-style crazies through otherwise (essentially, it’s never quite that simple of course and some elements could have been managed better and the federal and state governments in my state broadly do suck, but the broad sentiment of ‘we can keep Covid under control’ was obviously always the right ideas in our circumstances, one we’ve somehow give up on now but we’re through the worst of it with vaccines now robustly in place).

      There wasn’t really ‘international ridicule’, like not amongst…educated observant people who actually understood and observed the nuances? The ‘international ridicule’ you speak of was like most things in the media now, over-simplified inaccurate tabloid nonsense driven by the Murdoch machine.

      Speaking as someone from a vaguely functional country, I can assure you, if you want ‘international ridicule’ look at somewhere like America and how they handled Covid (as well as most things generally).
      1. 

         Hosford90
         16th June 2022, 18:30

         thought otherwise*
3. 

   Armchair Expert (@armchairexpert)
   16th June 2022, 7:47

   Nothing screams sustainability and reducing the carbon footprint better than bringing junior categories and their cargo from Europe (or Middle East) all the way to Australia and back to Europe. I have no pity for fools who buy into their virtue signalling haha. Consuuume the product, don’t ask questions!
   1. 

      Proesterchen (@proesterchen)
      16th June 2022, 8:12

      +1
   2. 

      Corsair
      16th June 2022, 11:59

      Except they are looking at adjusting the calendar to do races in groups based on location, which will actually reduce transport costs because they wouldn’t be going back and forth across the globe.

      So that kind of negates your point entirely.
      1. 

         Proesterchen (@proesterchen)
         16th June 2022, 12:23

         Liberty are also apparently contemplating adding a grade-2 circuit a 12h-flight away from any of the team’s basis and with no other venue even on the same continent to their calendar.

         Because CO2.
         1. 

            Jere (@jerejj)
            16th June 2022, 13:41

            @proesterchen The Kyalami would get upgraded to G1, so this aspect is a non-issue.
   3. 

      mrfill (@mrfill)
      16th June 2022, 12:19

      Doesn’t really matter where you start, Australia is always a long way off….
      1. 

         Proesterchen (@proesterchen)
         16th June 2022, 12:24

         Don’t forget boring, at least since 1996.
   4. 

      Hosford90
      16th June 2022, 18:41

      Fundamentally yes, and obviously no functional person is naive enough to sincerely believe the FIA are some beautiful progressive climate angels, like all business they’re just keeping up appearances, literally everybody knows that. But you’d do well not to use the phrase ‘virtue signalling’, especially so flippantly here. It’s like ‘woke’ or ‘cancel culture’ or ‘snowflake’ etc, it’s basically become a meaningless, vapid buzzphrase conservatives use to try and paint liberals (aka decent, reasonable people) as some monolithic evil because how dare anyone have contradictions?

      Caring about some things inconsistently is still better than caring about literally nothing but oneself. Nobody can just follow every single problematic thing on Earth to its logical conclusion, there’d be nothing left above board, nothing to enjoy (and nobody reasonable does that however conservatives might try to paint that picture). All being liberal is is caring about various causes (which ones over which others depend on the individual’s circumstances and what is most connected to their lives and backgrounds). All we are about is caring about the world, about other human beings but ourselves, about actually being compassionate and wanting the most access to fair, livable life to the most people. That is virtue. It is conservatism that is the ultimate virtue signalling in that the very nature of being conservative involves twisting narratives and ideologies in such a way that it appears the conservative in question has any particular virtues…and they don’t, or at least they have few, that’s inherent in conservatism.

      Virtue signalling (on any mass scale, as some sort of supposed ideological trend) isn’t real. Just like cancel culture isn’t (it’s called consequences for actions). Snowflakes are, they’re called conservatives, apoplectically getting offended at every single simple, common sense liberal notion that ever comes up (partly because they’re knowingly, deliberately baited by Uncle Rupert and friends framing those common sense things as some grand attack ON ‘common sense’).

      I’m sure you know and agree with all this. I don’t know you so can’t assume you’re a conservative. It’s just…nobody left in the world of any true virtues still unironically says ‘virtue signalling’ lol. I stopped about 5 years ago. It’s a meaningless irrelevant phrase, one that somebody anybody who uses doesn’t realise the inherent irony of (because in rushing to judge the apparent outward virtues of others as somehow fake, or artificial, or lesser than your own…you’re literally virtue signalling by definition) and which, just to provide information and context (you may sincerely not have known this, fair enough), is pretty much at this point a red flag that automatically infers far more about the person who says it than the person they’re trying to talk about.
4. 

   Jere (@jerejj)
   16th June 2022, 7:51

   I don’t mind, but F2 & F3 are surprising choices.
5. 

   Sam
   16th June 2022, 12:12

   I kind of wish F1 would give Surfer’s Paradise a chance instead. Based upon simracing at least I find it to be a more interesting track than Melbourne (or Adelaide) and I do not think it would be more dangerous than places like Jeddah.
   1. 

      Johnny
      16th June 2022, 12:25

      But you know that the old Surfers Paradise is already inaccessible because some parts of the old track there isn’t existed anymore, ain’t it? I don’t think it’s possible.
6. 

   JohnH (@johnrkh)
   16th June 2022, 12:13

   Some of the most exciting racing you could ever see is in the junior open-wheel classes. I would think a lot of the new F1 fans may be in for a pleasant surprise.
   1. 

      Proesterchen (@proesterchen)
      16th June 2022, 12:26

      I imagine the Melbourne Park Circuit is boring enough to sap most of not all excitement out of the junior categories, too.
      1. 

         Proesterchen (@proesterchen)
         16th June 2022, 12:26

         *if
      2. 

         Hosford90
         16th June 2022, 18:50

         You do realise it’s literally not the same circuit anymore in 2022 as compared to 1996-2019. Did you not watch any categories there this year? Literally every single support category produced amazing racing (if you, being overseas, don’t follow or care about or have access to or have ever watched other racing on the track than maybe shut your ass up because you’re obviously commenting only on F1 races with old F1 cars that were far more boring in other places…you can’t watch 1 out of 15 races in a year’s event and call the track boring as if you’re some authority)

         The Grand Prix wasn’t special but it was fine, and much better than with the old layout.

         We all know Albert Park isn’t a world class, classic circuit, but you’re weird, creepy, incessant hate-boner, going onto every thread just to throw pointless shade at a completely undeserved victim is…very weird? Either you just have it out for this track/country for no apparent reason, or you go this hard on every other worse circuit all-year round in which case you’re a miserable sack lol.

         Either attack a race of worthy offense (like Saudi Arabia, because of its government and the track’s danger) or actually on a notably, univerally agreed awful track (like Abu Dhabi, though it’s a bit better now too!) or both (Sochi lol). You’re not gonna fight a winning battle going on some great tirade against, Melbourne? Mediocre track or not, it’s always one of the favourite events of everyone in the industry. Terrible fight to pick, but also just as a person your attitude seems gross.
      3. 

         Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
         17th June 2022, 0:53

         @proesterchen yet melbourne has always been one of the best races, imagine how boring f1 has been.
7. 

   Ancient1 (@ancient1)
   16th June 2022, 12:15

   AGP extension for Melbourne – YUK!!!!
   Been there more than once and Adelaide left it for dead [track & city experience].
   Additional F2 & F3 – let’s burn extra AVgas in the atmosphere [don’t here the greenies protesting about countries stopping the sale of AVgas, as they fly to protests or holidays!!!]
   Are F2/F3 replacing Supercars etc.?

   See Baku had power outage problems. Do NOT come to Oz then!!!!
   1. 

      Jere (@jerejj)
      16th June 2022, 13:42

      @ancient1 When did Baku have a power outage?
8. 

   Qeki (@qeki)
   16th June 2022, 18:22

   To make more money you have to spend more money
   1. 

      Hosford90
      16th June 2022, 19:04

      Oh wow cool! Notwithstanding how confusing that is on a cost front, as a long-time Australian racefan (and non-wealthy person who doesn’t travel around internationally lol) I never considered the idea I’d ever get to see F2 or F3. Sure they’re support categories and we already have a great support bill, but they’re major international racing categories with recognisable names. Short of Indycar coming back, or maybe like Formula E I guess, this is pretty much the biggest circuit racing coup Australia could get, and its within an existing event that probably won’t cost a lot more (it’s already hugely expensive and ultimately there won’t be mainstream demand for tickets just on European support categories being added on).

      My immediate reaction to seeing F2 and F3 were coming to the Australian Grand Prix, which through years following them both closely for so long I never even considered, was ‘omg wow that’s amazing!’ and I’m immediately now thinking of finding a way to afford going next year. It’ll be my first time since 2012.

      The big question though is, what does it mean for Supercars? That’s a big deal, not just as a support category, but in its own right. The Grand Prix is a major, now iconic part of the Supercars Championship, and is finally holistically part of the points race after 20 years trying to work out the logistics of having it count for points. It would be such a shame to lose that. It would be a disaster (for Supercars, and the event) for them not to be together. It would lose massive audiences. People in Australia will both tune in on TV and go to the track TENFOLD, maybe FIFTYFOLD more if Supercars are there instead of F2 and F3, compared to F2/F3 without Supercars. Big as they are, they’re support categories. Supercars is a bonafide self-contained round of its own championship, as it was on the Gold Coast where it went from strength to strength post Indycar. Thousands who go every year are going for Supercars first/just as much/as the ultimate twin package deal, and as general racing/car guys, you also get F1 on top of it!

      It would be a supremely dumb move for the event to try and move on without Supercars. And I don’t think they’d be that dumb. Perhaps Supercars are sick of the compromises they have to make for their only championship event where they’re not the main bill? (Race formats are a bit dodgy, the alternate pitlane is better but still a bit crap, there’d be so much more logistically about being a ‘support category’ they don’t otherwise have to experience or navigate). I can conceivably see Supercars committing to more stand-alone rounds, they already have more tracks than they have championship room for, and have to not run at a few established venues with established fanbases each year (including nearby iconic Sandown in Victoria which has no round this year, replaced the GP in that timeslot last year and could easily do so again going forward).

      If somehow we’re getting F2, F3 AND Supercars then woooow I have to be there next year. But even as less of an ‘Aussie bogan’ type (I’m pro-F1 over Supercars, I follow European racing, I’m a proper F2-F3 follower not some Aussie revhead casual who follows Supercars and just a little but of F1 on the side), if they confirm no Supercars next year for the GP…nup soz, not going, and I won’t be until it comes back. And that’s as someone frothing at the prospect of F2 and F3 and for whom seeing F1 cars is a sacred appearance. If I’m saying that…imagine what the actual Supercars bogans will say…there’s no way this is a good idea. And I don’t see how they all fit on the bill? F2 and F3 weekends tend to have a fairly regimented format and Supercars already as is, as the second category with only two other waaay smaller support categories, struggles to really fit or find viable running times. They literally run Qualifying sessions on Thursday.

      From all my awareness of Aussie racing, this feels like it’s probably bad news. Unless something really wild is being planned that I can’t think of, this headline is in essence ‘Supercars confirmed as no longer part of the Grand Prix’ and that would be a damn tragedy for series and event.
      1. 

         H
         16th June 2022, 19:05

         Sorry wrong spot, please remove.
9. 

   Hosford90
   16th June 2022, 19:06

   Oh wow cool! Notwithstanding how confusing that is on a cost front, as a long-time Australian racefan (and non-wealthy person who doesn’t travel around internationally lol) I never considered the idea I’d ever get to see F2 or F3. Sure they’re support categories and we already have a great support bill, but they’re major international racing categories with recognisable names. Short of Indycar coming back, or maybe like Formula E I guess, this is pretty much the biggest circuit racing coup Australia could get, and its within an existing event that probably won’t cost a lot more (it’s already hugely expensive and ultimately there won’t be mainstream demand for tickets just on European support categories being added on).

   My immediate reaction to seeing F2 and F3 were coming to the Australian Grand Prix, which through years following them both closely for so long I never even considered, was ‘omg wow that’s amazing!’ and I’m immediately now thinking of finding a way to afford going next year. It’ll be my first time since 2012.

   The big question though is, what does it mean for Supercars? That’s a big deal, not just as a support category, but in its own right. The Grand Prix is a major, now iconic part of the Supercars Championship, and is finally holistically part of the points race after 20 years trying to work out the logistics of having it count for points. It would be such a shame to lose that. It would be a disaster (for Supercars, and the event) for them not to be together. It would lose massive audiences. People in Australia will both tune in on TV and go to the track TENFOLD, maybe FIFTYFOLD more if Supercars are there instead of F2 and F3, compared to F2/F3 without Supercars. Big as they are, they’re support categories. Supercars is a bonafide self-contained round of its own championship, as it was on the Gold Coast where it went from strength to strength post Indycar. Thousands who go every year are going for Supercars first/just as much/as the ultimate twin package deal, and as general racing/car guys, you also get F1 on top of it!

   It would be a supremely dumb move for the event to try and move on without Supercars. And I don’t think they’d be that dumb. Perhaps Supercars are sick of the compromises they have to make for their only championship event where they’re not the main bill? (Race formats are a bit dodgy, the alternate pitlane is better but still a bit crap, there’d be so much more logistically about being a ‘support category’ they don’t otherwise have to experience or navigate). I can conceivably see Supercars committing to more stand-alone rounds, they already have more tracks than they have championship room for, and have to not run at a few established venues with established fanbases each year (including nearby iconic Sandown in Victoria which has no round this year, replaced the GP in that timeslot last year and could easily do so again going forward).

   If somehow we’re getting F2, F3 AND Supercars then woooow I have to be there next year. But even as less of an ‘Aussie bogan’ type (I’m pro-F1 over Supercars, I follow European racing, I’m a proper F2-F3 follower not some Aussie revhead casual who follows Supercars and just a little but of F1 on the side), if they confirm no Supercars next year for the GP…nup soz, not going, and I won’t be until it comes back. And that’s as someone frothing at the prospect of F2 and F3 and for whom seeing F1 cars is a sacred appearance. If I’m saying that…imagine what the actual Supercars bogans will say…there’s no way this is a good idea. And I don’t see how they all fit on the bill? F2 and F3 weekends tend to have a fairly regimented format and Supercars already as is, as the second category with only two other waaay smaller support categories, struggles to really fit or find viable running times. They literally run Qualifying sessions on Thursday.

   From all my awareness of Aussie racing, this feels like it’s probably bad news. Unless something really wild is being planned that I can’t think of, this headline is in essence ‘Supercars confirmed as no longer part of the Grand Prix’ and that would be a damn tragedy for series and event.
   1. 

      Tristan (@skipgamer)
      17th June 2022, 3:45

      It’s been confirmed Supercars is keeping it’s spot in the weekend. I assume F2/3 will replace the Porsches/86s.

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