For a while now, the historic European races have been under attack. Imola got the boot after 2006. The French Grand Prix followed two years later. Spa Francorchamps has missed seasons, most recently '06. The Nurburging was unable to host the German GP this year, while doubts remain over Hockenheim. And now Monza, the cathedral of motorsport in Italy, is under threat.
It is no real surprise, really. The core races in 1950 were situated in small pocket of western Europe but this is a global championship and expansion was inevitable. Seventy venues have hosted Formula 1. Only 20 remain. There isn't enough space to accommodate them all. Even now, the calendar is bursting.
In 1996, the championship finished with a flyaway in Japan following seven successive European races. This year, there's only one European race - Russia - among seven flyaways on the final leg.