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Formula 1 2017 season: Brazil, Canada & Germany races in doubt

By Andrew BensonChief F1 writer

Last updated on .From the section Formula 1comments79

Brazilian Grand Prix
There has been a Brazilian Grand Prix in the Formula 1 schedule every year since 1972 with this year's race on 13 November, but will the race go ahead in 2017?

The Brazilian, Canadian and German Grands Prix are all in doubt for the 2017 Formula 1 season.

Each race was listed as subject to confirmation on the first provisional 2017 calendar published by governing body the FIA on Wednesday.

Brazil is facing financial troubles, Germany's problems come from the financial collapse of the Nurburgring and Canada has to improve its track.

Brazilian organisers said they had a deal to 2020 and the race would happen.

A statement released on Wednesday said: "The Brazilian Grand Prix Organisation took notice, with surprise, of the 2017 F1 calendar which shows the race to be confirmed.

"There is a contract in place until 2020, every provision of which will be complied with as it has been for the past 45 years."

But insiders have said to BBC Sport that F1 commercial boss Bernie Ecclestone told FIA bosses on Wednesday that the race would be dropped unless the organisers in Sao Paulo found a significant amount more money.

At Thursday's Malaysian Grand Prix drivers' news conferences, Brazilian driver Felipe Massa said: "It would be really disappointing to lose the race in Brazil.

"Brazil is part of this sport and been part of Formula 1 for a long time.

"I know the situation in Brazil is not easy economically. Maybe it is just some pressure but maybe it can happen (not go ahead) like what happened in Germany last year.

"Interlagos is one of the most fun and great races to watch."

We'll make F1 bigger and better - Carey

The German race has a contract to alternate between Hockenheim and the Nurburgring.

But the Nurburgring has not held a grand prix since 2013 as a result of financial difficulties.

Hockenheim refused to host the race in 2015 because it said it could not sustain a grand prix every year on financial grounds.

It has been listed as the host race for next year, when it is again the Nurburgring's turn, but no deal has yet been completed.

The problems for Canada revolve around the organisers' failure to complete renovation works that they promised as part of their latest contract.

The paddock area, which is cramped by modern standards, is scheduled to be updated at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal.

However, it is hard to imagine the race being dropped, especially as new owners Liberty Media have made it clear that one of their priorities is to expand the sport's profile in the Americas.

The calendar closely echoes this year's record 21-race season.

It will start in Australia on 26 March and end in Abu Dhabi on 26 November. The British Grand Prix is on 9 July.

The first four races are shuffled, so China follows a week after Australia, replacing Bahrain as the second race.

Malaysia is moved to 17 September and becomes the first of the long-haul 'fly-away' races that bring the season to a close, a position previously held by Singapore.

Lewis Hamilton
The 2017 British Grand Prix will be at Silverstone on 9 July

The full provisional calendar is as follows:

26 March: Australia

9 April: China

16 April: Bahrain

30 April: Russia

14 May: Spain

28 May: Monaco

11 June: Canada *

18 June: Azerbaijan

2 July: Austria

9 July: Britain

23 July: Hungary

30 July: Germany *

27 August: Belgium

3 September: Italy

17 September: Malaysia

1 October: Singapore

8 October: Japan

22 October: USA

5 November: Mexico City

12 November: Brazil*

26 November: Abu Dhabi

Comments

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79 comments

  • Comment posted by Jon Rankin, at 12:37 29 Sep 2016

    Greed - thats all that drives these decisions by those at the top of this sport. It comes to something when a motorsport-mad country like Germany cannot afford to host a Grand Prix, but a country with no history or interest in the sport (Azerbaijan) can buy its way in, despite the complete apathy of its citizens, as evidenced by the lack of spectators.

  • Comment posted by thenestofvipers, at 12:28 29 Sep 2016

    This is what happens when chasing the money to host a race in exotic and corrupt locations becomes more important that the racing itself.

  • Comment posted by Biggus, at 12:28 29 Sep 2016

    This is nothing more than Bernie doing his usual and squeezing more money from venues. He continues, as ever, to do the sport more harm than good.

  • Comment posted by JRC1, at 12:16 29 Sep 2016

    Each time I think F1 can't get much worse, I'm surprised again. A real shame as Brazil and Canada are two of the best race weekends on the calendar IMO. You need these original, proper race tracks. Anyway, it's only a small issue in a sport which is continuing to go downhill. I'll stick with MotoGP. 8 different winners in 8 races and excitement every race. You don't know what you're missing.

  • Comment posted by D1679291009231, at 13:45 29 Sep 2016

    Assume Canada, Brazil and Germany aren't bending over to the financial corruption regulations for next season then...

  • Comment posted by tryptase, at 12:53 29 Sep 2016

    Brazil should be the season closer not Abu Dhabi. Of all the new circuits, India was most promising but has been dropped.

  • Comment posted by xMillz, at 12:32 29 Sep 2016

    All posturing by F1 to get greater commitment in development and money from the named circuits. Happens every year...

  • Comment posted by Iain, at 12:33 29 Sep 2016

    The whole sport is in danger for me. I've been an avid fan of F1 for years but i just can't watch it now. It's become far to clinical and slick.
    There used to be nothing like seeing a driver struggle with the steering wheel at 200mph with the roaring sound of the engine coming through the speakers and that was in the early 90's when even then it was considered to 'driver friendly'.

  • Comment posted by thenestofvipers, at 12:56 29 Sep 2016

    In football,due to tv income, advertising and sponsorship, there are already 2 or 3 teams in the premier league that fully admit the revenue from fans on match day is such a small percentage of their income that they could afford to play behind closed doors & save the expense of policing the match. I can see f1 going the same way if this continues. The fans will become insignificant to the income.

  • Comment posted by Tio Terry, at 17:41 29 Sep 2016

    Three of the "Classic" tracks. I would be a pity to lose them from the calendar in favour of some of the newer less interesting venues but I suppose money talks. Is there enough interest in running a second series using the last of the normally aspirated V8's on the no longer used venue's?

  • Comment posted by User0179626629, at 15:22 29 Sep 2016

    28. Posted by wolf359

    Only 26 comments on this? Proof then that football is (at least) 10 times more popular than F1 as the Man City/Celtic game has over 225 comments.
    ___

    No, its proof that Wendyball fans are in the main unemployed layabouts with brains like centipedes with plenty of time on their hands. The rest of us can only comment during our short work breaks.

  • Comment posted by echotheegg, at 14:36 29 Sep 2016

    I can see why Germany is provisional given the 'Rings issues etc. I can also see why Canada is provisional if they haven't met the terms of the contract in redeveloping the pit lane. What I can't see is why Brazil is provisional other than the poisoned dwarf trying to such more money out of the venue over and above the contract

  • Comment posted by Yosamite Sam, at 13:28 29 Sep 2016

    Bernie seems to think that f1 is just a backdrop for his mobile billionaires party that he takes around the world. Obviously not enough uber-rich in Brazil or Canada for Bernie to hob-nob with. There is a sport in there still but unfortunately it's financed when the f1 circus ringmaster comes to town.

  • Comment posted by Trevor East, at 13:36 29 Sep 2016

    Canada and Brazil are a couple of the more interesting races of the year, so it would be a shame to lose them. But Bernie always does this before the new season starts and I expect they'll sort it out based on the threat that their status is only "provisional". Its sad though that F1 is increasingly looking like a money making machine and ignoring its core fanbase, who just want good racing.

  • Comment posted by sennenskies, at 13:27 29 Sep 2016

    It's sad that many of the traditional and historic race locations seem to be under threat.

  • Comment posted by Thank God for Library Computers, at 12:55 29 Sep 2016

    Shock, Horror!, Money & Greed control Sports like F1, Football, Cricket, Rugby Union etc, That is the world we live in and the Sporting World in the main seems to be going the same way, I agree it is crazy!, but F1 is still exciting to watch.

  • Comment posted by User0786665762, at 12:55 29 Sep 2016

    12. Posted by Legendary_Blues
    on
    7 minutes ago

    Please give it a rest, sooooooooooo boring and sad!

  • Comment posted by User0682819042, at 18:08 29 Sep 2016

    No doubt to be replaced by the Israel, Sudan and Somalia GPs with sanitised, borefest circuits designed by Tilke.

  • Comment posted by Escapist, at 15:42 29 Sep 2016

    So despite Brazil having a contract for the next three years Bernie has flagged the race for removal unless they find "significant" extra funds. I'm *so* glad to see that my predictions about Bernie ringing every last penny from his personal cash-cow before being forced to step down were unfounded.

  • Comment posted by User0231937954, at 17:13 29 Sep 2016

    Maybe the Telegraph's hacks could masquerade as owners of a new Tilke track somewhere in the Sahara and offer Bernie a large brown envelope...

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