Future of the Australian Grand Prix

In recent weeks a conflict has arisen over the status of the Australian Grand Prix, no doubt fueled in part by the Australian media have little to report about on Formula 1 due to a lack of knowledge amongst the media. An article by Melbournes lord mayor Robert Doyle in the Herald Sun last week stated that Melbourne would be best to get rid of the Grand Prix, one of suggestions being that Bernie Ecclestone "pick up his bat and ball and go home". Ultimately Doyles point was that the GP did more harm to Melbourne than good and as such it should be dumped. Ecclestone then responded by saying that FOM would never terminate a contract early, but that if Mr Doyle wanted to discuss with him a way for Melbourne to opt out of its commitments, he'd be happy to talk to him.

A bit of a mess brought on by Doyle trying to get his name in the limelight really. All it's succeeded in doing for the Australian GP is make the country appear ungrateful for its GP, as if it has some god given right to hold one. As an Australian I can honestly say I love the GP down here, both in terms of the pride in having a Grand Prix, and the race it usually provides. Unpredictable weather combined with Turns 1 and 3 that almost always cause chaos on the first lap usually result in fantastic races to watch. In a racing sense it would be a sad loss.

But the fact remains that there is pressure on the FIA and FOM to cut races from an already crowded calendar. The introduction of the Indian GP this year means there are 20 races, with Texas and Russia to come. The Australian GP doesn't do itself any favours by losing money, especially in conjunction with its timezone being awful for European TV viewers. The fact is that should they look at Grands Prix to cut, it's likely Australia would be high on the hit list, as well as China. Both with big bills, dwindling attendances and poor timezones. Australia would most likely be dumped to bring in Russia, given that Russia is due to enter in 2014, though with the Winter Olympics possibly conflicting that could be delayed till 2015, the last year of Australias contract.

So what has Robert Doyle managed to achieve? Apart from showing himself as an inept mayor, he's simply hurt the reputation of Australians in the F1 world and jeopardised their chances of retaining the Australian GP following the end of this contract. It would hurt both in terms of losing a fine race, but also losing a continent from the calendar. The World Championship should be just that, a World Championship. Not a championship set in Europe and the Middle East with a couple of races outside that. Australia adds a colour and flavour to the calendar different to other countries, lets hope we don't lose that because a politician decided to poke his head into business that's not his.