Address:   Home Page
Quantcast

Digg Townhall now online!
Check out the latest Digg Townhall, where Kevin and Jay answered the top questions from the Digg Community!

See the original image at news.bbc.co.uk —

Canada dropped from F1 calendar

news.bbc.co.uk — The Canadian Grand Prix has been dropped from the 2009 Formula One calendar and replaced with the inaugural race in Abu Dhabi.

show profanity settings
expand all
  • masterdelrond, on 10/07/2008, -6/+80Poor Canada, its a shame aboot the F1
    • daridave, on 10/07/2008, -0/+25It's pathetic that no explication was given... but what's even more sad is that there is no more F1 stop in North America, now. Even though it was in Canada, a lot of folks from the States would show up in Montreal for that GP.

      They're basically closing the door to America, concentrating on Europe and Asia. While I can understand this decision money-wise, it's incredibly retarded as far as F1 popularity goes. I know for a fact that the sport has become extremely lame in the past few years, with or without Baby Hamilton, so as far as I'm concerned, this makes me 100% uninterested now.

      Besides at this rate, in a few years they'll be going faster with bicycles...
      • Juaquin, on 10/07/2008, -0/+7Agreed on both counts - I would love to see a F1 race in person some time, and I think it's ridiculous that pretty much all the motorsports are imposing all kinds of restrictions. I want to see a car do a friggin' loop - they keep saying it's possible but no one has the balls to put one in a racetrack.
      • keldath, on 10/07/2008, -0/+4There was a rumor floating around that they were going to end up in the states by 2011. We'll see, regardless it's a crappy move and I enjoyed the track. Hopefully F1 won't go down the Nascar route and get away from their loyal diehard fans completely in order to go more mainstream. Let's face it though, it's probably going to happen and has already started in some respects.
      • damack, on 10/07/2008, -1/+6It's not surprising their closing the door to America they were planning on making a large scale movement to the States by around 2011 to 2012 but given the recent happenings spending money to go to America is retarded people will have trouble supporting their families let alone splashing out on watching F1.

        They really have no reason to invest in that region of the world now and its not surprising their trying to make a move towards the Middle East and South East Asia.

        In a few years the majority of races will be taking places in the Middle East and South East Asia as well and it only makes sense because while nations like China and United Arab Emirates are rising the American economy is sinking so why would you invest money in a dead end?

        Thats the harsh truth but it is the truth F1 don't want anything to do with America anymore and as a business decision it's the right one personal opinion aside. I just think your being very unreasonable if you were in charge of F1 would you really put money into the US as opposed to Dubai and China?
      • Mackofalltrades, on 10/07/2008, -0/+2@Juaquin

        I lol'd quite hard.
    • Seidoger, on 10/07/2008, -0/+27It is SO sad.
      I live in Montréal, and the F1 Weekend was one of the best moments of the summer.. The atmosphere is just awesome, it's just the best.. I hope this will be changed.. So much fun and action happening.

      And yes it was huge for the city, 100 millions over the weekend in economic fallout.

      It was the last GP in North America.. They want ultra luxurious installations like only Monaco or rich Arabic countries can provide..

      In the next few years we'll only see the GP there I bet.. Sad..
      • gutterboy, on 10/07/2008, -0/+3I have come up for the last three years and I was finally getting a great group of friends to come up to. We had an amazing time last year and were all taking about how psyched we were for this years..... but no more. I am legitimately depressed about this. My favorite weekend all year has been denied by a troll doll.
      • sleazycheese, on 10/07/2008, -2/+1It could have something to do with the Canadian government forcing cars with tobacco sponsors to sensor themselves.
    • ToRoE, on 10/07/2008, -1/+8US and Canada split travel costs to come across the pond. Once the USGP was lost, Canada was not far behind.

      They didn't help themselves with the pavement problems. All still too bad, it was a beautiful race. .
    • RC212V, on 10/07/2008, -0/+5The problem is that the governments of countries like Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, and India are willing to pay $30 million or more for the privilege of hosting a F1 race. There is no way in hell the governments of Canada and US would just fork over $30 mil to Bernie like that. That's why all the GP's are shifting to these countries.

      The manufacturers are the only ones who can force the issue because Bernie is directly reducing the value of the sport to the teams and sponsors at a time when the global economy is weak.
    • kgmurray, on 10/07/2008, -3/+2Just great! Award it to this backwater collection of misfits who will still stone a woman for having her head uncovered! Like a millionaire lottery winner in the trailer court buying up all the toys.
      • murlox, on 10/07/2008, -0/+5Dude, you're confusing Saudi Arabia with UAE. In UAE, Ladies can wear bikini or show their skin in the public.
      • EarlOfLade, on 10/07/2008, -2/+6Another reason why F1 is not coming back to USA, ignorant idiots like kgmurray. Go watch NASCAR and have a Budweiser.
      • sleazycheese, on 10/07/2008, -2/+1@EarlOfLade

        Pretentious *****.
      • avonalt, on 10/08/2008, -1/+2@EarlOfLade

        kgmurray is Canadian.
    • fuzzlog, on 10/07/2008, -1/+3Maybe if Canada suggested innovation for the Grand Prix, it might get it back. Since Singapore had a night Grand Prix for the first time, how about a night Grand Prix on ice??
  • bixby1, on 10/07/2008, -45/+8Sorry, America's attic. Better luck next year.
    • beerock, on 10/07/2008, -3/+51Thanks for your support, Canada's septic tank, but we'll make it.
      We'll be hosting an Olympic games where we don't have to convince our population that Osama Bin Laden is lurking behind the podium with a whoopee-cushion full of anthrax.
      • PhantomRogue, on 10/07/2008, -0/+8Damn, now my Whoopee cushion is gonna be confiscated by the border patrol...
      • nmnnotmyname, on 10/07/2008, -0/+8Hey, being a septic tank isn't so bad. At least we know how to handle things when they get *****.
    • bleh19799791, on 10/07/2008, -0/+7I don't like being on the bottom.
      • BXRWXR, on 10/07/2008, -0/+8Our shorts.
      • bleh19799791, on 10/07/2008, -0/+4Oh, sorry BXRWXR. I slipped in a change before the time expired.

        The question you answered.

        "If Canada is America's hat, then what is Mexico?"

    • Recidivus, on 10/07/2008, -0/+15We're bigger and we're on top, that makes you our bitch.
    • BoneStamp, on 10/07/2008, -6/+2America's hat...
      http://www.bustedtees.com/canadaamericashat
      • ghuytro, on 10/07/2008, -1/+2Isn't a hat supposed to keep you warm?
      • BoneStamp, on 10/07/2008, -0/+3@ghuytro
        Canada exports 60% of their oil to the USA and lots of rural homes use oil to keep warm... so yes, Canada keeps us warm.
  • WordsnCollision, on 10/07/2008, -3/+57That's OK, we've still got plenty of prix in Canada.
    • kocurejd, on 10/07/2008, -3/+2I didn't realize you could race on ice.
    • metroidragon, on 10/08/2008, -0/+2Really? How many are left?

      They cancelled the only Prix here in Vancouver years ago, and now Montreal is getting cut.

      damnit, this is lame.
    • Bamboolemur, on 10/08/2008, -0/+2Pharmaprix, uniprix etc? This really sux. The grand prix weekend is one of the most exciting days of the summer for us.
  • bstory, on 10/07/2008, -56/+3Who really cares about the F1 anyways? I mean it is a race about cars going in circles!
    • amercer, on 10/07/2008, -1/+32You're thinking of Nascar.
    • hwy9nightkid, on 10/07/2008, -0/+16FAIL
    • zombiecarlin, on 10/07/2008, -0/+12What a dumbass.
    • slorocks, on 10/07/2008, -0/+6Its a race with the very best technology on the planet. This is the kind of cars that put the best tech through the ringer before you put your ass in cars with it. Look up KERS
  • PFrocker, on 10/07/2008, -3/+89Bernie is a ***** idiot. He saves boring France and drops Canada.
    • prophetpimp, on 10/07/2008, -1/+16France is still ok. They should kick out Valencia. God damn that circuit i boring as hell.
      • Seidoger, on 10/07/2008, -0/+8Sadly they don't care much about the circuit, but the top luxurious hotels and lounges around it.
  • piottski, on 10/07/2008, -0/+80In 2005, the Canadian GP was the most watched sporting event in the world after the Super Bowl and the UEFA Champions League finals.
    ***** you Bernie!
  • guardianx, on 10/07/2008, -3/+31Their loss not Canada's
    • prophetpimp, on 10/07/2008, -1/+3Gonna seriously miss the Wall of Champions. I so wanted to see Alonso, Kimi, Hamilton to get planted in it. :p
  • dmoffitt, on 10/07/2008, -0/+46***** YOU Bernie
  • Awwzm, on 10/07/2008, -0/+16Total *****!
  • silverzone, on 10/07/2008, -10/+3eh?
  • gabbagabba, on 10/07/2008, -37/+5People actually care about formula one racing?
    I feel sorry for them
  • sockpuppets, on 10/07/2008, -8/+61I prefer watching F5, it's more refreshing.
  • Funger, on 10/07/2008, -1/+4Upsetting.
  • Alejandro79, on 10/07/2008, -2/+8The asian countries will let you advertise tobacco on the cars, but the fans are going to lose interest pretty damn quickly if the sport becomes any more out of touch.
    • ToRoE, on 10/07/2008, -0/+6NOpe, pretty sure Tobacco advertising will no longer be true option, only subliminal.

      from wiki... (take what you will)
      At the 2007 Bahrain, Monaco and Chinese Grands Prix, Altria Group's Marlboro brand was prominently on display on the Ferrari cars of Felipe Massa and Kimi Räikkönen, on their jumpsuits and also those of the pit crew. Ferrari was the only team that was still promoting a cigarette brand in the 2007 Formula One season. Since the start of the 2008 season, Ferrari has no longer carried Marlboro logos at any races, even those at which tobacco advertising is allowed. It is therefore unlikely that any F1 car will ever directly advertise tobacco again.
  • dingledoink, on 10/07/2008, -0/+21US was dropped last year, so at least Canada lasted that much longer. Still brutal though, I guess Gilles Villeneuve's legacy didn't matter.
  • DeFex, on 10/07/2008, -14/+2F! became boring a long time ago.
    • BXRWXR, on 10/07/2008, -0/+4That's untrue.
    • SUPERCHIMP, on 10/07/2008, -0/+4It hasn't been boring for the last few years. This year, the most boring races have been redeemed with some late chaos.
    • mykalimba, on 10/07/2008, -0/+3Have you considered E! or, maybe, G! ?
  • Wavemancali, on 10/07/2008, -2/+17This was written on the wall when the Canadian government disallowed cigarette advertising many years ago. F1 has been pushing to get out of Canada ever since.
    • jtbell04, on 10/07/2008, -13/+8***** Canada and their ridiculous tobacco laws...

      You're now no longer allowed to smoke within 3 meters of a doorway or window of a business, and businesses aren't allowed to display their stock of cigarettes. Who the ***** does the federal government think it is telling businesses how to run? And I'm not even a smoker...
      • Sornos, on 10/07/2008, -4/+15Well with public healthcare, when someone has a cancer from a direct result of smoking, every person is paying. The majority shouldn't have to pay for the self inflicted minority. Never forget that the government is not an independent entity doing whatever the ***** it wants. It is legal manifestation of the people.
      • Jacare, on 10/07/2008, -1/+6the within three meters of doorway etc. law is only applicable in the Province of BC and was provincial legislation not federal
      • Alexcarrier, on 10/07/2008, -0/+4@ Jacare
        As far as I know, the same law applies in Quebec.
      • kgmurray, on 10/07/2008, -2/+2You, Wavemncali, are an idiot.
      • mykalimba, on 10/07/2008, -1/+2Maybe those stupid people getting diseases from second-hand smoke are having some say?
      • Aroundtown27, on 10/08/2008, -0/+3@ Sornos

        They have done studies (http://qed.econ.queensu.ca/pub/cpp/Sept1992/Raynau ... and this even though it is obviously biased http://www.socialsmokers.org/do_smokers_use_more.h ... finding that cigarette smokers are much less of a burden on the health care system than non smokers. This is mainly because the cancer develops at an earlier age and is most likely terminal so the patients die quickly while not having gone through the majority of their lives and using the health care system. While people who do not smoke now live so long that in their old age they are in and out of the hospitals with problems but wont effing die.

        And let's not forget the taxes on cigarettes we have in Canada. A smoker, in their lifetime, more than pays for their medical bills with the taxes on cigarettes that are currently in place.

        @ mkalimba

        Second hand smokes kills less people in the states than regular pollution does every year
    • ryusen, on 10/07/2008, -2/+3seriously, if it's a legal activity, why ban ads for it?
    • spish, on 10/07/2008, -0/+9Umm, there's also a blanket ban on tobacco advertising in Europe yet 10/18 races on the '09 calendar are being held there. Ferrari fully dropped the Marlboro logo this season...
      • Wavemancali, on 10/07/2008, -0/+2I understand that Europe went the same way. But if you lived in Canada in 1988 when the F1 event in Montreal almost got canceled the first time because it was sponsored by Players, F1 put in place its plans for leaving Canada as soon as the exemption for F1 was lifted.

        The only thing that kept them coming back was that the beer companies pumped in a huge influx of money.

        I'm just saying that this is when F1 started planning their exodus and you could see that they had no compunctions about leaving Canada.

        I don't agree with the ban, I don't blame F1 for pulling out, I just remember that since that year F1 has been talking about leaving Canada.
  • Joomal, on 10/07/2008, -7/+2Well I guess there will be none of this for Canada.

    http://www.jokeroo.com/ecards/funny/racecarnoises. ...
  • Raider007, on 10/07/2008, -1/+14well at least we got the exciting Valencia track...
    oh wait...
    • prophetpimp, on 10/07/2008, -1/+4don't remind. how in hell did they ever think that was a good track. Get rid of Valencia Bernie.
  • JGib, on 10/07/2008, -6/+5ಠ_ಠ
  • inchrnt, on 10/07/2008, -0/+27OMFG!!!! How do you just dump an entire continent and one of the most popular tracks on the calendar when you're trying to increase the global presence of F1? Absurd.

    Maybe the economic collapse will finally shake up F1 and we can get this series back on track
    • moghua, on 10/07/2008, -1/+6Unfortunately for us canadians, this is likely going to mean more NASCAR.
    • slorocks, on 10/07/2008, -0/+5Theres the ALMS thats a good series that still will come to canada
    • EarlOfLade, on 10/07/2008, -0/+2F1 is moving where the money and the future is. You do the math.
  • bombayterror, on 10/07/2008, -1/+11this sucks! I was honestly thinking of going up to canada next summer
  • BurtBoon, on 10/07/2008, -2/+35Montreal was the most entertaining Grand Prix in the schedule, Bernie you douche...
  • mojoel, on 10/07/2008, -10/+4They Alt-F4ed the F1 in Canada.
    Sorry I had to.
  • hwy9nightkid, on 10/07/2008, -1/+10this is partially due to an economic downturn worldwide.. unfortunately the US will only bailout NASCAR...
  • fszymanski, on 10/07/2008, -6/+2What are you talking aboot!
  • Niubai, on 10/07/2008, -0/+25WTF ! F1 can't be dropped from Gilles Villeneuve homeland ... What's next, drop Brazil ? Nice move, Bernie, really nice move.
  • lepster10101, on 10/07/2008, -14/+3Where is Canada Anyways?
  • blippityblop, on 10/07/2008, -0/+8Is it just me or is Abu Dhabi snatching up everything? First AMD now this?
    • jabelar, on 10/08/2008, -0/+2Yep, more proof the terrorists are winning!
  • naiku, on 10/07/2008, -0/+12***** BERNIE! No F1 in North American now. so ***** lame.
  • protogenxl, on 10/07/2008, -0/+34They do realize there will be no grid girls in Abu Dhabi
    • prophetpimp, on 10/07/2008, -0/+11Did not know that. WTF. ***** you Bernie.
    • ryusen, on 10/07/2008, -0/+4ok.. NOW i am bothered by this decision .p
    • handmadewallaby, on 10/07/2008, -0/+5Bernie, you *****.
    • chicagospur, on 10/07/2008, -0/+7Pitgirls in Burkas.
    • kgmurray, on 10/07/2008, -0/+9There will be grid girls, but they will be stoned in the infield right after the last lap. Allah akbar!
  • SlothVision, on 10/07/2008, -0/+12I went in 06 and 08 and it was awesome and relatively inexpensive from NYC. Now where will I go watch a GP? Perhaps I will sail my yacht to Monaco next year, that should be very cost effective indeed.
    • BoneStamp, on 10/07/2008, -3/+2Did you take your yacht down the St. Lawrence to Montreal or did you fly? Maybe you could fly to Monaco?
    • BoneStamp, on 10/07/2008, -0/+4I guess the facetiousness was lost. Anyway, you bring the yacht; I'll bring the bitches and bourbon.
  • Number23, on 10/07/2008, -0/+15Anyone who's been to the Canadian GP can tell you it's a fantastic event and that the party on St Catherine St during GP weekend is tough to beat.

    Maybe F1 is the only game in town, because it’s mystifying to my why the manufactures (Ferrari, BMW, Honda, Toyota, etc…) put with Bernie’s *****.

  • RyanPatrick, on 10/07/2008, -1/+3Who is 5/5?
  • xFactorGTI, on 10/07/2008, -0/+2wow, what are the thinking? i bet we will see it coming back in the next few years..
  • bknauss, on 10/07/2008, -0/+3Absolutely a terrible move on the part of F1. North America is a huge auto market, and now Bernie has completely moved out of the continent. This would only make minimal sense if Bernie has lined up a race in the States.
    • gOlstein, on 10/07/2008, -0/+1F1 has never been been much of an American sport. Most of the audience is European, and increasingly Asian. The move makes sense economically. Although the canadian track is a great one, and F1 'll hopefully come back to Canada the following year.
  • BelatedHero, on 10/07/2008, -0/+10I hate Bernie Ecclestone. He epitomizes everything that is wrong with Formula 1.
  • Boozewerx13, on 10/07/2008, -0/+20F man!!! Theres no way I am going to Brazil to watch a F1 race!
    Bernie is a jacktard..
    first ESPN drops F1 a long time ago, now F1 drops all of north america??
    WTF? im still not going to watch NA$CAR!!!
    dumb!
  • Ryan32, on 10/07/2008, -3/+3Bah, i'd be more interested in seeing a Mid-West and/or East Coast event scheduled in the states for MotoGP...

    Tickets for the Laguna Seca race have sold out within minutes of opening every year, I don't see why they don't add another.
  • mrbutter, on 10/07/2008, -0/+4wtf?

    USA gone, Canada gone??

    Although he said there may be a US grand prix on 2010...
    • graemee, on 10/07/2008, -0/+2Yeah, that'll bring back the fans, like post strike baseball.
  • nsdjoe, on 10/07/2008, -0/+2No problems driving F1 in 120F heat?
  • bigbill780, on 10/07/2008, -0/+9This sucks. I live in New Hampshire and have been going to these things since Mansell was racing. Aside from spending 1500 dollars on a trip that was the only way to get to a race.
  • wtfhacksDan, on 10/07/2008, -0/+13Most unpredictable race of the year, gives hamilton his first win, and kubica and BMW their first, not to mention the history of the track.

    Absolute ***** morons.
  • ghuytro, on 10/07/2008, -0/+3Toyota, Honda, BMW can't be too pleased about not having a single North American race on the calendar.

    They don't invest in F1 purely for the fun of it - it's both an R&D and a marketing investment.

    Now they're shut out of one of the biggest combined markets for their products in the world?
    • spish, on 10/07/2008, -0/+2They still get tonnes of TV coverage regardless. It's just disappointing that costs just went WAY WAY up if you want to go see the circus in the flesh.

      sigh...
  • apoupada, on 10/07/2008, -0/+6Total BS, all the drivers love coming here. And I can't believe there was no explanation.
  • roddack, on 10/07/2008, -6/+2Canada the Pluto of F1
  • spish, on 10/07/2008, -0/+11WHAT? Holy *****. Widely regarded as a favorite course by many drivers. One of the longer running races in the series. Sells out every year... Other than a few recesses here and there, it's been on the F1 calendar since 1961! Wow, what a mistake. What gives Bernie? Trying to turn F1 into the Indy/CART series of Europe?
    • ogmak, on 10/07/2008, -0/+2I love watching the Canadian grand prix...so many crashes...
  • anillop, on 10/07/2008, -0/+5Nice it looks like F1 has just given the big screw you to North America. No wonder the sport is hurting here.
  • swgc5, on 10/07/2008, -0/+6This is *****.
  • paulzy, on 10/07/2008, -0/+6This morning on Team 1260 in Edmonton the racing expert dude said this isn't 100% yet and it is just a play by F1 to get more money.
  • Fetching more discussions...
    Show 51 - 85 of 85 discussions
  •  

    Login or register to add a comment

    Create a new account or login to join in the conversation on Digg. You'll also be able to Digg stories to help promote things you like.


© Digg Inc. 2008 — Content posted by Digg users is dedicated to the public domain.
DIGG, DIGG IT, DUGG, DIGG THIS, Digg graphics, logos, designs, page headers, button icons, scripts, and other service names are the trademarks of Digg Inc.
Your Ad Here