Formula One Returning Home?

Ever since I was little, my dad would start bragging and getting excited about the Formula One weekend weeeeeks before and when it was  finally time, he would make sure to wake up early, sit in front of the television and start yelling and cheering for his favorite drivers.

When we think of Formula 1, we automatically think Montreal summer, closing off many streets, traffic, downtown full of people who come from abroad… my dad yelling in front of the television. I think most Montrealers were as disappointed as I was when news came out that F1 would no longer be held in Montreal following a financial dispute last year. I mean, come on… Montreal has been hosting the Grand Prix since 1978. It attracts hundreds and thousands of people and brings in more than $100 million for the economy. Why would anyone in the right mind put all this in jeopardy?

I got excited again (and got my dad excited) as I came across some articles last week. It looks like negotiations are going on between Grand Prix F1 du Canada Inc. and Formula One management and if everything goes well, Montreal will be on the Formula 1 schedule again for June 2010. Normand Legault, the F1 promoter who no longer wants to be involved, said: “I never doubted that the Canadian race would regain its rightful place on the F1 schedule and my discussions with F1 management led me to believe that the event would return soon”. Now there is a down side to this; the only way to have the race back is by having the support of the provincial and municipal governments (which means our money). Mayor Gerald Tremblay stated that the F1’s return had to make economic sense.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed for F1 to be back and let’s pray that it won’t cost us tax payers an arm and a leg!

Abu Dhabi to Montreal: The Formula One is ours

Reading the newspaper this morning, I came across an article in the Montreal Gazette that supposedly claimed there are rumours out in the wild that the Formula One will be coming back to Montreal this fall. Abu Dhabi was behind schedule for their November 1st weekend, due to delays in building the race track. These rumours, however, have now been shut down because the planners for the Abu Dhabi races started selling tickets for the event this morning as planned. Coincidentally, November 1st is also the day the minicipal elections will take place, and Gérald Tremblay may have the chance of running his third consecutive term in office, a record currently being held by the beloved Jean Drapeau.

In my opinion, I think Montreal should just move on and forget the Formula One weekend ever existed… for now anyway. I know it’ll be back one day, when Bernie Ecclestone wakes up and gets his head out of his ass.