The 2027 Race Map

As F1’s 2027 calendar takes shape, we ask whether it has the right mix of tradition, spectacle and strategy. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:25

Welcome to Box Box Box, your friendly neighborhood Formula One podcast. My name is Scott, and today we are talking about the 2027 F1 calendar because we didn't know exactly what was happening with it. Now we do know, or more specifically, Mohan does know, and I'm joined here with him. How are you, Mohan? I'm very well, thank you.

SPEAKER_02 0:46

And and this is another topic obviously would be of great interest to our to our listeners. And uh I guess we have to preface the fact that FIA has released this new calendar for next year. But there could be potential changes coming in later in the year as well. And to be really honest, 2026 calendar might change on its own if they manage to find a gap to slot in those races we lost early in April this year. So this is uh this is uh part one, shall we say? We'll we may be coming back to this later in the year as well.

SPEAKER_01 1:16

Yeah, it'd be interesting to see if we can work out how much revenue is actually pulled through in these races as well and how much has been lost with those those couple of cancellations. Uh it's uh surely there's it's it's significant, or at least significant enough to want to slot those races back in somewhere. But look, let's move on uh because we want to kind of throw uh fly through this quickly. It's not this is not a full episode, it's more just an update on the calendar. But you know, the F1's 2027 calendar, it looks less like a tweak and more like a reshuffle. There's a new season opener, uh returning favorites, uh a Europe heavy middle stretch, so better for logistics and some serious serious travel questions around other aspects of it. Uh is is this a better balanced F1 calendar or just a different kind of chaos we're experiencing next year?

SPEAKER_02 1:59

Uh on paper, it actually looks a lot more balanced, uh particularly in terms of sort of the regional grouping and the variety that's been offered. But it by no means is still a isn't a clean logistics uh masterpiece, shall we say? The the positives are definitely about the return of uh sort of the driver favorite circuit in Portimay and Istanbul Park, and a very strong European middle section uh and then a broader global spread over the year. Uh there is quite an important caveat in all this that the that the, as I mentioned before, is that that this should actually be treated as professional till there is actually isn't a formal calendar that has been released as yet.

SPEAKER_01 2:38

Yeah, and and it's the you know, like Bahrain's replacing Australia as the opener is, you know, and there's that there's also the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix that's following immediately after, which is not too dissimilar to what we were looking at this year. What's the particular reason for that? Is it is it is it is that I don't know, is it time zone based or what are your thoughts there?

SPEAKER_02 2:58

Uh the Bahrain and Saudi, uh the the positioning of those Grand Prix very often actually work around the uh the Ramadan calendars. Uh and hence the reason that at times they have swapped those ahead of the the Melbourne race, because it it tends to flow anywhere between sort of end of Feb through March for the Ramadan period. And so uh in those years, Melbourne as it has in this year, those years Melbourne actually jumps ahead. Uh, but obviously that calendar switches again next year, hence the reason that uh Bahrains actually got the first race. And I guess it's a little bit uh being a local, I'm a bit biased. Uh it has Australia always has felt like the natural first race, and back in the day it was the last race, but for a long time has actually felt like the natural first race. So it's it does that does take a little bit of adjustment.

SPEAKER_01 3:46

And are we seeing F1 move back toward traditional circuits, or is this very much commercially driven?

SPEAKER_02 3:53

Um I think it's a mix of both, actually, because it's definitely Portugal and Turkey are are a clear shift back towards proper racing circuits, uh sort of an elevated um flow, sort of a lot of credibility with the fans, uh, while Madrid, Miami, Vegas, uh, and Abu Dhabi appear to be still very, very strongly commercially driven. So um so they're not completely abandoning that entertainment model, uh, but they're trying to obviously throw in a fair bit of racing credibility in amongst that that mixture as well.

SPEAKER_01 4:27

Yeah, interesting. Uh did you say say Portugal? Actually, what while we're here, I mean I haven't seen it myself. Could you maybe run through the first 10 races? Um to bring it up, yeah, in front of this. Well, I'll I'll keep talking while you do that so we can we can go through it. But I suppose the other thing, the other, the other thing I want to ask really about was is the most logistical part of the calendar. Oh, sorry, I'll start again. So so Australia, China, and Japan are grouped early as I understand it. So this is creating a cleaner regional run after the Middle East. Uh Japan stays early rather than being moved to late in the season, which is yeah, which is where it normally is. Is this the most logical part of the calendar from a freight and travel perspective?

SPEAKER_02 5:06

Uh definitely, actually, from a particular logical point of it, sort of they keep that Asia-Pacific grouping as one rather than sort of an isolated sort of fly-away, shall we say? Um it it it does doesn't necessarily eliminate sort of the travel pressure, but it stops those races being scattered throughout the year. I think that actually in that sense, having those three grouped early in the season together does work very well.

SPEAKER_01 5:30

And do you think that uh Japan works better as an early season race, or is that more of the, you know, a late season drama type event?

SPEAKER_02 5:39

If you look at this historically, I think Japan sort of arguably has had actually a lot more championship drama when it tests that later in the year. But it also, Suzuku, the Suzuka circuit also works very well because it is quite a genuine car and driver test, this particular circuit. So there are sort of very fast direction changes, um quite a technical sector, and it's quite a good test for the aerodynamic balance of these cars in as such. Um so and and particularly in a year like 2026, it actually was, it did focus uh a lot of the rule changes that actually that that were brought into it. And so it was a really good test as a result of it. So it does, it has actually had a mixture of that the championship drama later in the year, but it's also a really good test for any changes that I applied to this uh to this race.

SPEAKER_01 6:28

It's certainly something I've always looked forward to later in the year. It's it's almost like a track you kind of forget about because of what's happening, but then you always know it's there, back of your mind, this that it's coming, and it's it's absolutely one of the best Grand Prix and always is. Tell me, with this early stretch, could this shape the championship narrative before uh the the season moves into Europe? And does that have significant impacts on you know, like fan attendance and all that? Say if say the season's already runaway. Is that would that would that affect things or is that is that European uh F1 following so strong that it would make no difference?

SPEAKER_02 7:02

Um I think I've definitely I guess the the a start built around the Bahrain, Saudi, Australia, China, and Japan, uh it does test very different strengths in not just the cars, the driver's adjustment, and also the team's adjustments to any changes that have actually been brought in. So by the time I guess that reaches Europe, you actually should have a fairly strong picture of which teams have actually got genuine pace and which are actually quite dependent on the circuits. I think in terms of fans, F1 fans are F1 fans, I think they are even if even if it's a dead and gone and the season is decided halfway through the year, the the the PO fans will not stop going to this and they will still want to see uh see these cars on track, see the see the drama that actually unfolds. And to be really honest, the drivers and the teams themselves, regardless of whether a championship has been decided or not, are still competitive. They're ultra competitive, and so they will bring it regardless of where they're actually racing at the end of the day.

SPEAKER_01 8:02

You know, two of the tracks are very interesting here, uh, you know, Portugal and Turkey. I suppose they're they're, you know, from a spectator point of view, if you live in the UK or other parts of Europe, you know, these are pretty nice holiday destinations to go to. Uh so you go there to watch the F1 as a spectator. I think that that's a that's a big draw card there. Is it the biggest win for fans um I suppose in that area on in in the 2027 calendar? And and I'm asking that um, I suppose, you know, for attendance and then remotely, because Portamal, for example, as I understand it, might be a very good racing track, but it it hasn't it hasn't always been the best F1 track. And especially with the the more recent formulas and the mid-speed corners, uh, you know, that that can usually create uh procession. So uh d tell me what your thoughts are around all that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 8:49

I think for the the purist fans, definitely uh the return to Portugal and it's actually it's actually for 28 as well, it's been lined up. Uh whereas Istanbul Parks, uh all the way up to 2031, they are they are going to be on the calendar.

SPEAKER_01 9:04

So five-year deal, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 9:05

Yeah, so uh it actually, I think they're both uh circuits that sort of uh offer quite genuine character from a racing point of view. A lot of elevation changes and then a lot of driver challenges that actually come with it as well. So I think this is actually very much a return to a very fan-friendly part of part of the calendar. Um, and and that this reshuffle has actually been very useful in that sense. So um I think, yeah, I mean, if you look at look at the circuits themselves, I think Turkey between the two probably matters that a little bit more. It it's sort of it has, I think, from a more recent modern fun identity, I think it actually offers that a little bit more. But I think Portugal is still a very strong return to the calendar. It it when it's actually quite a popular circuit when it is when it's actually running. But it's it's uh certainly adds a lot of significance back into the calendar for both these circuits.

SPEAKER_01 10:04

Yeah, Turkey is definitely the better track of the two, I'd say. Does Istanbul park uh instantly become one of the most anticipated races of the year then?

SPEAKER_02 10:12

Definitely, I think, and and then think because it's been out of the calendar for that long. Uh, and to be honest, it was uh it was floated early in the year when Saudi and Bahrain were cancelled, that there was talk about whether they could actually run either both Portugal and or and Istanbul Park as a replacement. But obviously that was logistically a nightmare at that point in time. So there was hope that we would see that this year, but there's definitely been a lot of hope actually that this would come back at some point. And as the fact that they've actually got a five-year deal, really looking forward to it.

SPEAKER_01 10:43

Uh so Madrid. It's getting a Grand Prix instead of Barcelona. Uh what are they calling it? Madrid ring or Mad Ring or something? Mad Ring, yeah. Mad Ring, yeah, interesting. This is uh this is interesting. I'd hate to see the internal politics. Wouldn't want to be in Spain discussing this right now. Is uh is Madrid a spa a smart F1 move? Or is a smart move for F1 or is it a loss for traditional race fans?

SPEAKER_02 11:07

I think this this is one of the circuits where it is actually uh largely a commercially driven uh choice. And uh but also on the fact of it actually the fact that it's it's pacing a race in uh in a major capital city strengthens the event quite a bit. And so uh it's sort of this this combines uh um uh sort of a street and a non-sick non-street part uh type of circuit, I guess, in that sense. So it's quite unis in that sense. For the traditional racing fans, I think they would see the loss of uh Catalonia as quite a quite a loss still, and that and that that a large part of the Spanish Formula One identity has been with that circuit. So but uh coming into this a bit, Barcelona still brings a fair bit of history back into this and sort of has actually been somewhat of a benchmark circuit going back. Um so it it's it's it would be useful to see how that actually the transition happens between those two circuits. Right. And and they are they on rotation? Uh not at this stage, actually. There's no there's nothing uh being uh isolated at this stage, but uh that's not to say it won't happen. So now Yeah, okay.

SPEAKER_01 12:13

I did hear some sort of rumors about uh them potentially alternating. Um but I suppose that that might rest on how successful the the mad ring is. So uh tell me, has it run it cour it run its course, Barcelona, do you think then?

SPEAKER_02 12:23

I I I think so actually, in a sense, but I mean they've used I think they also use this for a Moto GP as well, I think basically. So it's it certainly has got it has got its uses in that sense. So I I I certainly don't think no, it's it's done and dusted. I think this is, as I mentioned before, this is largely a commercially driven decision that you know change of a fire management at some point, and we could see a return back to Barcelona.

SPEAKER_01 12:46

So yeah, okay. Yeah, I wonder how much that'll affect the the Moto GP as well. Um so are the city-style races good for uh as a spectacle, but it's risky for racing quality, do you think?

SPEAKER_02 12:56

Uh I think I there I think there's a bit of a trade-off in that sense. So I think uh I think the city or sort of the semi-street races can be really good for atmosphere. Uh it's I think from a broadcast point of view, I think they create some really good visuals. It's great for tourism in that region. Uh and and the sponsors obviously get maximum value out of those kinds of circuits. But they can actually suffer from having quite narrow layouts. Uh, it could actually be a procession that there's limited overtaking opportunities. And and as and also given the narrowness of the layouts, there could actually be a lot of interruptions in during a race. So I think the the final quality of Madrid definitely will rely on what the final layout of it actually looks like, uh what the surface is, uh, what the width of the track is, and whether it actually does create uh genuine overtaking opportunities.

SPEAKER_01 13:47

Uh can you so can you just sum up uh the tracks we're looking at uh up until the Madrid race?

SPEAKER_02 13:54

So we've got Bahrain and Saudi uh to begin with as one group, and then we've got the Australasian group of Australia, China, Japan. Uh similar to this year, we round six goes to Miami and Canada, and then we go into the European bloc basically, which is Monaco, Portugal, Austria, Britain, Belgium, Hungary, Spain, Italy, uh, and then on to Turkey and Azerbaijan.

unknown 14:16

Right.

SPEAKER_02 14:17

Basically, so in that order. In that order. So, and then we go to Singapore, uh, and then the then the the American block of the US, Mexico, Sao Paulo, Vegas, and then back to Qatar and Abu Dhabi at the end of the year, basically. So it's still a 24-race calendar uh with that reshuffle.

SPEAKER_01 14:35

Okay, so obviously it's quite a strong European middle section there.

SPEAKER_02 14:40

Is that would you say it's the strongest part of the calendar? Definitely. And I think it actually probably makes the teams uh feel a lot more settled. I think uh because having those, it means that obviously the least amount of disruption for the drivers, for the teams, for the logistical part of it. But it actually, I think there's a lot of heritage there as well. And I think that that is the strongest part of all of this. And and and each of those circuits actually quite varied. So that that brings an extra level of interest and excitement to the calendar. There are obviously quite a few iconic circuits in that in that mix and uh with the with a couple of returning favorites in amongst that. So I think definitely uh if you look at the calendar as a whole, that is definitely the strongest block.

SPEAKER_01 15:23

Yeah, and there's been like, you know, there's been kind of ongoing, ongoing uncertainty about Belgium. Is this is this safety concerns again?

SPEAKER_02 15:29

Uh it has been, I guess, in a sense, they've it's it's been talked about, uh, whether obviously they're retaining it for the moment, but there have been safety concerns moving back and forth in all this. But uh, as I said before, it's still by no means it's quite a fluid calendar at this stage. Uh whether there's changes to come out of this, we'll wait and see, basically.

SPEAKER_01 15:48

I I just yeah, getting rid of Spar is uh, yeah, I can't even hard to comprehend. Uh so tell me, does F1 still need this classic European backbone, do you think? Or, you know, could we see a day where F1, you know, loses a lot of those European races just from more of a world, world type series?

SPEAKER_02 16:06

I think the challenge in all of this is how actually FIA balances that heritage of those tracks with the with the circuits that are actually growing in terms of fans and numbers, particularly in the US, the Middle East, and Asia. Because obviously, this is now a global entertainment product. Uh, it's not just not just uh confined to certain regions, but Europe actually still remains if you look at that that center of gravity of history of the of the of the sport, Europe has obviously still retained that. So you look at circuits like Silverstone, Monza, Spa in Monaco. Those those that block on its own gives the sport so much credibility. And it's it's the kind of credibility that new circuits cannot replicate or cannot replicate in a in a short period of time or for a for a length of time in that sense. So for that reason, I think it definitely the sport needs that backbone to be there.

SPEAKER_01 17:04

Is yeah, yeah, okay, fair enough. Uh moving on, uh tell me, if F1 had to rotate European races, which ones are untouchable? Because uh, you know, spa's one for me, but clearly not.

SPEAKER_02 17:16

Uh yeah, actually. So um for me, I guess the three untouchables are definitely Monaco, Silverstone and Monza. And I think partly because they are so deeply entrenched with the sports identity, uh, they're deeply entrenched with the sport's history, and from a branding point of view, they carry so much weight basically for the sport overall. But um, you know, they there's still talk about no the the the uh my understanding with Belgium is actually that they're sort of moving towards a a partial rotation pattern, at least not for the next couple of years. So at least in 27 they are locked in, but there is doubt whether they will be there in 28 and 2030, with the potential that they could be alternating in 29 and 31, basically. So that is still up in the air a little bit, and it's possibly something that's likely to count.

SPEAKER_01 18:10

Okay. Well I'm I'm struggling, I'm actually struggling to deal with that. It's like taking it's like taking away the English Premier League from the uh UEFA calendar, you know.

SPEAKER_02 18:22

All right, so part of this, I guess, is we we've got to be conscious of there is there is there is obviously there's safety concerns and things like that with circuits like this. But also the fact that we have to the thing we have to balance out with all of this is uh commercial pressure has a lot to say in a lot of these situations. Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. Is there just no is there no money coming in for Spa? Like Yeah, so uh but the fact that while a fire may have an ideal in their mind, it's uh basically not but but but what's bringing what's brought what weight is actually brought on them to retain this as such will be told. So I I can imagine the particularly from a sponsorship point of view, it's a kind of circuit that would have so much backing behind it. Uh it's a matter of whether uh FIA management actually has got other ideas that overrides all of that.

SPEAKER_01 19:09

Yeah, I mean say there are safety concerns, and that what that's what this is like. The like, you know, this is what they're they're hanging all this on. If they had those concerns at Jetta, there is there is, you know, there's no number too high for for funding when it comes to engineering adjustments that they would make to retain that Grand Prix. If they wanted to make this track safe, there would be a way. But uh I don't know, there's obviously a bit more in play here. And it's uh yeah, it's it's quite confusing. So um, but yeah, and on a uh just sort of vanilla standpoint, looking at this, if there's no politics in this, you just you never get rid of this track. Absolutely. So yeah, there's it'd be interesting to see how it all plays out. Tell me, uh the final flyway stretch. Uh yeah, what's what's the rest of it? Can you just sum it all up for me?

SPEAKER_02 19:50

So then we sort of go on to um obviously got Singapore and then the three actually four US blocks, including Mexico and Sao Paulo, before we go to Qatar and Bahrain. So uh that's that's the that's how the year gets closed out, I guess. And uh they retain that that particularly those those three US races are retained for the moment. So these, I think there's obviously a lot of question as to whether the three US races are actually justified or not. Uh but you can imagine commercially 100% it would be justified.

SPEAKER_01 20:22

Would you keep one of them if they were just, you know, if they're in a different country?

SPEAKER_02 20:25

To be honest, if I had to pick, I think Austin is the one I would keep because that for me represents a traditional racing venue. Whereas I think Miami and Vegas, it's uh it's a lot of hype. And then you you and I've had other thoughts and not discussions about what we think of the Miami circuit, you know what I mean? So um, and I think those are very much built around sort of lifestyle, hospitality, and entertainment. And obviously, if you ask purists about this racing block, they would say there's three races that could be held somewhere else in the world for for better exposure to the sport. But uh it's hard to argue the commercial value that the US races bring into it.

SPEAKER_01 21:01

Which one of those tracks seems most vulnerable to you if you had to get rid of one of them?

SPEAKER_02 21:05

Um I guess the one for me would be Miami, probably at the end of the day, because I think I think Vegas has got way too much backing behind it. And I think uh there is still the romance of a night race as well, and I think that that that would still stay. Um and drivers themselves actually seem to like Vegas quite a bit. So I think if they if they had to lose one or one was potentially to be lost, it would be Miami because it's you know, I think we've mentioned many times before we think of this as a glorified go-kar trap, basically.

SPEAKER_01 21:34

Uh and Las Vegas, is it a better place late in the year or does it disrupt the flow of the whole thing?

SPEAKER_02 21:40

Uh I to be honest, it's uh it's one of those races that I I still struggle to see. Obviously, when it came in, it was quite interesting now actually came in. I would still struggle to see where this would actually slot in because I I the the closest they would do is perhaps get it to uh early in the year, just after Miami, perhaps from a logistical point of view. But even then, it's still one of those races that looks out of place on the calendar. So if you were to change it, I'm not sure entirely sure where they would put it. Uh this seems to be the most logical part of part of the calendar to have it in, the least amount of disruption to uh the teams moving around, basically. So uh but as I said, after three, if they had to drop one, it's not going to be the one that gets dropped.

SPEAKER_01 22:24

Uh the championship ends again in Abu Dubai for Abu Dhabi, sorry, for 2027.

SPEAKER_02 22:30

Does uh you know, should F1 rotate this or you know, are you happy where it is or um from a I guess from sporting idea, it uh I think a rotation would be make it more exciting and I guess give the different it could actually, you know, in many years as as it happened in last year, these actually become title deciding races. So but you know Abu Dhabi does actually give that that that Twilight format actually has got a lot of interest and does work commercially brilliantly well and from a broadcast point of view as well works really well. But I think they would actually be be uh a lot more exciting if they did swap those two races.

SPEAKER_01 23:10

Yeah, I I for me I kind of like I like having certain, I guess almost like checkpoints in the season, like you're having uh Suzuka later and you know having an opener at a consistent location or a closing track as a consistent track to close at. Just just because it's it's familiar, like it it's kind of you know, this is the F1 we know and love, and this is where it starts and ends, and small adjustments uh probably okay. But uh yeah, I I actually kind of like the the just the running theme of it. Well, you know, we all know you know where Brazil sits on the calendar, for example, yeah. The modern era.

SPEAKER_02 23:41

So um and also from uh if you think of it from a from a team planning point of view, and as you know, they're they start the next year's planning this like now basically. Yeah. And so when they have to chop and change that quite a bit, because when you think of particularly in the in the case of the opener, for instance, where uh there's new regulations and new things to be tested out, it would be and and there are things that are planned years ahead. And the fact that for them to for teams to actually know consistently where that opener is going to be, uh would make for uh, I guess from an engineering logistical point of view, a much better, much more refined, more streamlined, shall we say, preparations for the teams as such.

SPEAKER_01 24:23

Yeah, and speaking of ending, we uh yeah, we uh we haven't planned this podcast very well, my home. This is uh this has gone way over. We need we need to work on this, I reckon. So uh the uh the uh biggest and winnest losers from this calendar, uh who's who's the winner?

SPEAKER_02 24:39

Uh I think the big definitely the the the winners are the two new ones coming into it, but certainly Potumaya and Istanbul Park. And I think they certainly add uh genuine racing quality and variety to the to the circuit. They it obviously helps CFI to keep can keep the 24 race calendar and actually have a global footprint, shall we say, across across everywhere except Africa. And they've strengthened the European section quite a bit, and also at the same time have maintained those key commercial markets that are quite important to the sport. So if I pick in all of that, I think Turkey is the standout winner for me, uh, particularly because they have secured a five-year term and isn't just a single comeback race out of all of that.

SPEAKER_01 25:20

Yeah, look, the city of Madrid also. But with that being said, Barcelona obviously one of the biggest losers. Who else? Who else has suffered from this calendar change?

SPEAKER_02 25:29

I think, again, closer to my heart, Australia does lose a certain amount of symbolic value if by not being the opener. And obviously, Melbourne's secured the race for quite a long, long period. But still, not being the opener does sort of lose some of that value, I guess. Any any sort of venue that is outside that 24-8 race limit is generally hurting, I think, in that sense. Because every returning race is increasing pressure on on the existing and the sparring host countries overall. So you're definitely, I think Barcelona is one of those that is is is is certainly getting hurt quite a bit as out of all of this.

SPEAKER_01 26:04

Are you biased with the Australian Grand Prix anyway? Do you like if it was in another country, do you think you'd actually enjoy it as a spectacle?

SPEAKER_02 26:10

I think so, actually. I think I think there is a I don't know whether it's sport in Australia in general. Whether there is there is a certainly a different mood about sport in Australia. And if you watch truly global sporting events, if you look at the Australian Open Tennis, you look at uh cricket, you look at rugby games that are truly truly global sports, there is a real vibe about it being run in Australia. And and most um uh players or athletes or sports people that come to Australia absolutely love visiting it here. Uh and and I think that same vibe would would translate even if I lived anywhere else, basically. Um you would you would see that energy that that the Australian sporting calendar brings.

SPEAKER_01 26:52

Yeah. Interesting. Do you they uh sorry to get sidetracked here? I just I'm I'm I'm really keen to pick your brain on this. The uh and we've already gone long, might as well double down. The uh the the changes that Danny Rick suggested that they made to the Australian Grand Prix, did you think that actually improved the track?

SPEAKER_02 27:07

Uh I think so actually. The sort of the it's it's a circuit that's been I think the the design of it hasn't changed significantly for quite a bit. And it it perhaps does warrant uh a few minor upgrades, I guess, in that sense. And obviously, no, I think he's he's got enough experience and enough talent there to to see something like this. Um and I think they actually are due for a for a bit of a tweak of that circuit because we've we've kept that format for quite a long time. Uh there is certainly the space around Albert Park to to make those adjustments, and obviously they're rebuilding the pit pit uh pit lane as well this in over the next couple of years. So I think to group this all together as part of the changes, uh it can only be better for the sport.

SPEAKER_01 27:47

And what about the Coron Chandok helped make changes to Abu Dhabi, uh the Yasmarino? Did did I did you did you think they were better or worse? I kind of got rid of that that slow technical section.

SPEAKER_02 27:59

Uh I think, yeah, I think definitely it improved that circuit, uh, no doubt. And I think this is part of that it it has yeah, as a result, it's big made it quite a challenging circuit for the end of the year. And and as as in as we know, it's it has played a part in recent years of deciding, come down to the very list to be the decider. So in that sense, I think it's it's played a huge part and and I certainly see value in the improvements that they did there.

SPEAKER_01 28:26

I I question uh bringing drivers in to to make recommendations. I know they get a like name recognition behind it, but I'd much rather have engineers looking at these things. And you know, as a driver, you I'm sure that the driving experience they want would be a entertaining, exciting one. I'd want it to be as difficult as possible for them. So uh I wouldn't ask a driver for that really. I'd I'd be asking an engineer how to make their life a misery.

SPEAKER_02 28:50

Maybe I think of it in the flip side of it because I think the engineers, it's very theoretical, basically, at the end of the day. They're never gonna get behind the wheel to actually test this out in real life. So I think I think the drivers are uh yes, absolutely, they're gonna they're gonna they're gonna nominate and suggest the most challenging, most exciting uh version of those tracks. And and uh because they are the ones behind the wheel at the end of the day. So I think I think to be honest, from a from a re pure racing point of view, if I had to pick between those two, I would pick the driver over the engineer in the day.

SPEAKER_01 29:22

Well, I I uh I don't know w what the occupation is of the guy who designed Jetta. I don't know if he was a milkman, but whoever he was, I want him designing every track moving forward. I think I'd I think I'll um pin my opinions on that. So so tell me, Mohan, uh anything else you want to you want to bring up with this? It sounds like there's this calendar feels like wants to have it both ways. Keep it, you know, the global entertainment machine rolling, but you know, throwing fans a bone with Turkey and Portugal potentially. Uh the question is, you know, whether this is a smarter calendar or just a better-looking one.

SPEAKER_02 29:56

Uh I think from a if you look at the way that rest have actually been spent, I think it's a smarter one, particularly from a logistics point of view. Uh and I think the fact that they have kept that European backbone together is very it's it's it's good for the sport, I think. It's very strong because it maintains that heritage, it maintains that uh that core history of of that produ of the of the sport. Um so I think tinker around all the other edges around that backbone, basically, but leave that one alone and uh don't don't mess with history in that sense.

SPEAKER_01 30:25

Yeah, I like that. Yeah, we should uh we should we should put that in the uh the episode title, don't mess with history. Uh all right, awesome Mohan. Thank you. Uh I think we'll wrap quickly on this one because it was supposed to be a uh it was supposed to be uh just a bite-sized podcast for people to pick up on in between our normal runnings, but we've yeah, I think we're just we're in a kind of in a holding pattern when we do this. So, you know, we'll work on it. We'll work on it. Anyway, thank you, Mohan. Um you can find us in our socials. Uh website is what is it?

SPEAKER_02 30:52

Uh boxboxbox.net.au and our social calendar is boxboxboxoz on on Instagram, Facebook, X, and TikTok. And yeah, please like, subscribe, share, and give us feedback as well.

SPEAKER_01 31:04

Yep, and if you have any more questions about the calendar or anything track related, please let us know. Apple throw more of these soon to be bite size podcasts throughout the season when needed. So thank you for joining us, and we'll see you again next time.

SPEAKER_02 31:16

Thank you.