Five Countries That Need F1 Races

Could the F1 schedule see a revamp with Liberty Media’s purchase of the sport? What countries not on the list now could host a race in the future?

One of the most popular topics for sports fans to discuss is the expansion or contraction of competition within a league. For soccer fans in America, all the talk has been about where MLS will expand next. Meanwhile, in football, the questions are around whether the Raiders and Chargers are on the move. These conversations are happening in motorsports too.

Formula One is quite possibly the biggest series globally in motorsport, but also the one with the most fluidity in its schedule. 31 nations have hosted Grands Prix in the long history of F1, ranging from the 94 races held in Italy to just one race (so far) in Morocco and Azerbaijan. Even more individual tracks or circuits have hosted races, with a total of 71 places hosting an event. And in more modern times of racing, it seems without fail that one race either is added or dropped from the F1 schedule each season.

In the last three seasons, these changes have continued. Heading into the 2017 season, the German Grand Prix was dropped from the calendar, while 2018 will see the return of the French Grand Prix. Combine this with the 2016 schedule seeing the return of the European Grand Prix at its new home on the streets of Baku, Azerbaijan, and the F1 calendar is a near constant state of flux.

Not only are races dropping or being added to the calendar each year, but races that are staying on the schedule are moving around frequently too. Date shifts have proved necessary to avoid conflicts, ease the travel schedule for teams, and even accommodate other sporting events.

With so many changes happening each year to the Formula One calendar, many fans in many nations are wondering if there is still a place for them on the schedule. With Liberty Media’s recent purchase of F1, there could be an expansion of the schedule from the roughly standard 20 races per year. Discussions are already underway about a second race in the United States, but what other countries could play host to the world championship?

The FIA and F1 need not look further than some past venues for future homes of the expanded schedule.