5 Countries that Need an F1 Race

 





1. Finland

For a little while now, some of F1 fans' favorite drivers have come from this Scandanavian country. While rally dominates in popularity there, many people there still consider F1 a spiritual home. For a nation of less than 6 million, they certainly are a passionate audience when it comes to motorsport. Their aptly named KymiRing would be the perfect place for the top-level of motorsport to return to. 

The circuit itself has a fascinating history. It was specifically designed with the introduction of foreign motorsport series in mind. One exciting aspect of the journey here for any F1 fan would be the impact the weather would have. Cold temperatures would contribute to a cooler-than-average surface temp, and could possibly produce more unpredictable results. Could one race on cool tires be what F1 needs to spice up the title fight? One word: please. 


2. South Africa

It's apt to point out that for F1 to be truly called a "World Championship' that it should visit all the inhabited continents. While an Antarctic GP is likely a few years away, South Africa could be the perfect host to a race in Africa for the first time in 27 years. Things have changed at the circuit since 1993, but fans there still do love the sounds of motorsport. The 6 hours of Kyalami will be a great test run to see if the circuit is F1-ready. 

The track was resurfaced as recently as 2015. It's located just outside of Johannesburg, a major city in South Africa, and features a license just below the standard for F1. The World Endurance Championship's journey there next season for the 6 hours of Kyalami will prove a big test for the F1 race-worthiness of the circuit. The surface hasn't been driven on by an F1 car since 1993, but the organizers will be hoping the many improvements since then are enough to attract F1's attention.


3. Indonesia

I'll bet Indonesia isn't the first country you think of relating to motorsport. However, the archipelago nation is home to one of the world's largest populations. 260 million people watched Rio Haryanto become the first Indonesian in F1. That giant, if not forgettable leap into the sport opened up the rabbithole for a whole new market for F1 viewership.


Their history is fleeting however. A bid for an F1 circuit failed as recently as 1993.  The pan-Australian Formula Atlantic series raced at the proposed track twice in both 1976 and 83 as a test run for a Formula 1 start date. Unfortunately for the organizers, the island nation's 2.56 mile circuit was deemed too small for an official F1 race. Since then the circuit turned away from major international racing events, and has recovered their debts via smaller routes like GP2 Asia and Asian Formula 3. Still possible another bidder could come forwards though. 


4. Argentina 


For a legend of the sport not to have a home race is a disgrace. Juan Manuel Fangio changed the nature fo the sport we call Formula 1 today. However in his day he had the privilege of driving at his home grand prix. To this day, Brazil remains the only other South American country to constantly hold a Grand Prix for any period of time. People may have forgotten how instrumental he was to the sport, but his legacy lives on in a statue of himself outside the town in which he was born. 


The Autodromo Oscar Alfredo Gonzalez sounds like the perfect reunion for the sport. The circuit held a  race in 1953, and most recently held one in 1997. Gerhard Berger holds the lap record there; it's about time someone broke it. 


5. Portugal 


Plain and simple. Portimão is a great racing track that produces great races. Portugal is a long forgotten staple of the F1 calendar, but its significance holds no less weight in 2021. It was formerly a constant feature of the F1 European window, but now has been relegated to a back-up race track in case of emergency. Given that emergency has once again struck, it's likely to be a reserve stop for 2021 as well. 


Portimão is well known by fans familiar with the sport's recent history. Lewis Hamilton's victory there secured him his 7th, and most recent title. Getting in more circuits like this will surely convince Hemann Tilke to quit his day job.


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