According to the FIA, which released its official 2002 Formula One calendar on Wednesday, there are various conditions that need to met before next year’s Australian, San Marino, Italian and British Grands Prix can go ahead.
According to the FIA, which released its official 2002 Formula One calendar on Wednesday, there are various conditions that need to met before next year’s Australian, San Marino, Italian and British Grands Prix can go ahead.
But while most of the provisos seem to be matters of formality, the biggest question mark hangs over the future of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone next year. The Silverstone event could lose its place depending on the outcome of an inquiry by the UK’s governing body, the Motor Sports Association, concerning traffic arrangements for this year’s event, Autosport reported on Thursday.
The FIA is questioning why pre- and post-race traffic jams were not improved in 2001. Silverstone was granted this year’s race on the proviso that a new traffic plan would ease the problems, especially in light of the 2000 event that “saw spectators caught up in queues and bogged down in muddy car parks”.
However, the FIA is seemingly not happy with what happened this year either, and the Motor Sports Association is currently in the process of holding an inquiry to examine the facts. The FIA confirmed its reservations on Wednesday by only conditionally including the July 7 fixture.
The season-opener in Australia is subject to the Coroner’s inquiry into the fatal accident that befell a spectator marshal in this year’s event when he was struck by a stray wheel from Jacques Villeneuve’s BAR. Both rounds in Italy, meanwhile, are subject to the outcome of new commercial agreements. Either the Italian GP at Monza or the San Marino GP at Imola is thought to be in jeopardy of losing its place on the calendar in the long term in the face of competition from venues such as Russia or China.
2002 Formula 1 World Championship
Australia, Melbourne, March 3
Malaysia, Sepang, March 17
Brazil, Interlagos, March 31
San Marino, Imola, April 14
Spain, Barcelona, April 28
Austria, A1-Ring, May 12
Monte Carlo, Monaco, May 26
Canada, Montreal, June 9
Europe, Nurburgring, June 23
Great Britain, Silverstone, July 7
France, Magny-Cours, July 21
Germany, Hockenheim, July 28
Hungary, Hungaroring, August 18
Belgium, Spa-Francorchamps, September 1
Italy, Monza, September 15
USA, Indianapolis, September 29
Japan, Suzuka, October 13