Feature: Another Piece of History Disappears

The decision to remove Austria from the Formula One calendar from next year does more than strip the sport of one of its more picturesque races.

Following the removal of Belgium's Spa-Francorchamps from this year's Championship, the departure of the A1 Ring in Austria leaves the sport a little further from its heritage and history.

Formula One has always been on the move but now it is reaching out into new markets in Asia and the Middle East while turning its back on the European heartland as anti-tobacco legislation takes hold. Belgium, one of the most challenging and atmospheric of races, was dropped from this year's Championship as a result of local laws against tobacco advertising.

The Alpine meadows, pine forests and snowy peaks that provided the backdrop in Austria will be replaced by the sand and searing heat of Bahrain, due to make its debut along with China from 2004. What the world will get in return remains to be seen.

China, where thousands of fans have already turned out in snow and freezing weather to see a two-seater Minardi in action, and Bahrain should cater for an army of speed freaks starved of live Formula One until now.

Both races will increase the sport's exotic flavour but for many European fans, once spoiled for choice but now with fewer chances to attend a race, they could mark the point where Formula One becomes a long-range passion.

Global Sport

Not everybody is convinced that things are moving in the right direction, despite the economic arguments and feeling that Formula One needs to be a truly global sport.

"The danger is that the situation in Malaysia could be repeated, where the Grand Prix takes place amidst general indifference and with desolately empty stands," declared Pino Allievi in Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper this week.

"Is this the F1 that the manufacturers and the FIA want? And are we sure that to defend tobacco it will not end up upsetting other sponsors who are looking for publicity in more developed countries?"

If one of the classic circuits can be dropped, possibly never to return although Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone still hopes Belgium could be reinstated, then there is barely a circuit in Europe that is safe.

That was certainly the International Automobile Federation (FIA)'s message after the European Union voted to introduce a ban on tobacco advertising from mid 2005, a year earlier than cigarette-sponsored Formula One had wanted.

"By choosing a date earlier than the world date, the EU will now force teams to seek events outside the EU during part of 2005 and all of 2006 in order to observe contracts which do not expire until the end of 2006," warned FIA president Max Mosley last year.

There has been a hardening of positions since then and Austria is a demonstration of that, although organisers were already under pressure to drop some European events for others in more important markets for the car manufacturers and sponsors.

"We had a contract with Spielberg until 2006, but with an exit clause that's now come into effect," said Ecclestone this week and the same clause, concerning tobacco legislation, is likely to apply to all of the EU's remaining races.

Imola Threat

Italy's two circuits of Monza and Imola, the latter frequently tipped to be dropped to make way for a 2005 Grand Prix in Turkey, also look vulnerable after the country's highest court this week resuscitated an appeal hearing into Ayrton Senna's death.

Although Brazil's triple champion died at Imola in 1994, the court investigation refuses to die and Formula One's rulers are showing signs of their patience wearing thin.

Formula One bosses warned when the Senna case first came to court that teams might not come to Italy any more if they risked conviction in the event of accidents.

Dropping Monza, with its now disused concrete banking and history going back to the 1920s, would be unthinkable for a country obsessed by World Champions Ferrari. But Spa has provided a warning.

"In 2004, we're racing in Shanghai and Bahrain, 2005 in Istanbul, then in Russia," Ecclestone said. "It's possible that we then only have five or six races in central Europe."