The news on Tuesday that Formula One will not be having a Canadian Grand Prix next year will have been greeted by sadness by many of the sport's enthusiasts. While this region can be grateful that Abu Dhabi effectively takes Canada's place on the 18-race calendar for next season, the loss of one of the most popular venues in the series will be keenly felt. Montreal has usually served up a good race, this year being no exception with Robert Kubica and BMW-Sauber getting their maiden win.
Far duller tracks on the calendar can be found at Barcelona, Magny-Cours and Budapest. So it does seem a shame to be saying goodbye to the Gilles Villeneuve circuit. It will be the first time in 43 years that the series will not have any races in North America, the American Grand Prix having been lost at the end of 2007. While work continues on Yas Island for what will undoubtedly be a fine venue next year, the people of Montreal are coming to terms with the fact they will have to make do with either television coverage or a really long plane journey to get their Formula One fix next year.
However, Abu Dhabi cannot be held responsible for Canada's loss. Initially it was going to be a 19-race series next year, but the decision has clearly been made by the FIA World Council that 19 was too many, or maybe too expensive given the concern on costs at present. And it was Montreal who suffered when the time came to decide who was going to be taken off the list. Roger Peart, president of the ASN Canada FIA, told the Montreal Gazette: "The commercial side of the sport is moving on to more glamourous venues. I don't mean the city of Montreal as far as that, but the facilities themselves.
"Montreal are not world leaders anymore, so it's a purely commercial matter." With North America now on the sidelines and less and less European races featuring, the make-up of Formula One action is going to change long term. In recent years Malaysia, Bahrain, China and Singapore have begun staging races and Abu Dhabi are the latest to get the right to host a Formula One event next November. The Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone has made no secret of the fact when talking about the continuing struggles of both the British and French races to remain on the calendar that it is now all about money. Who has got it and more importantly who is willing to spend it on hosting the race?
But even though Europe is beginning to lose races it is still seen as a target market by Ecclestone. Singapore's night race was ideal to be shown at a prime viewing time for the European television audience. The test is going to be for the sport is how interested are people going to be when their only chance of watching the sport is on television as the chances of watching it in person on their continent begins to diminish.
Formula One has now been taken away completely from the North American market. I am sure they will cope with Nascar and the Indy Racing League to keep them entertained, but how many will watch Hamilton, Massa, Raikkonen and company in action on their televisions next year now it is much harder for them to watch in person. And with more and more global races planned in the coming years, the same question will be asked of the European market as their races come under threat.
Next November will be a great experience for Abu Dhabi. But as we savour the joy of following a great sporting person in person, spare a thought for those who are no longer so fortunate to be able to do so. @Email:gcaygill@thenational.ae
