I'll leave the 2018 thread open for a week or so for any closing comments and/or stories.
_______________________________
F1 2019 driver line-up as it stands - but what else could change?
Yesterday, 19:00 , by Paul Macdonald
Formula 1 is set to undergo its most sweeping changes in years, with various drivers swapping teams, being dropped, or even retiring. So with this much upheaval, just how is the 2019 line-up shaping up and is anything else likely to change come Melbourne in March?
MERCEDES
Lewis Hamilton - Contracted until 2020
Valtteri Bottas - Contracted until 2019
Verdict: Mercedes have their team locked down for next season. Hamilton, after much speculation, has committed his future to the team, while Bottas is known to be the wingman of choice for Hamilton and the Mercedes hierarchy. They will be together for another year at least.
FERRARI
Sebastian Vettel - Contracted until 2020
Charles Leclerc - Contracted until 2019
Verdict: Ferrari have bucked with tradition and opted for an inexperienced rookie to partner Vettel next year, but it appears Leclerc will be given a year to prove he deserves to be operating at the highest level. Vettel's relationship with the Monegasque is also likely to have a huge bearing on his future.
RED BULL
Max Verstappen - Contracted until 2020
Pierre Gasly - Contracted until 2019
Verdict: Red Bull have leapt on the Verstappen train, much to the chagrin of Daniel Ricciardo, who got tired of playing second fiddle to the Dutchman. With Ricciardo decamping to Renault, Gasly has been rewarded for his Toro Rosso performances with a promotion, and the dynamic between the drivers will be among the most interesting things to watch in the 2019 season.
RENAULT
Daniel Ricciardo - Contracted until 2020
Nico Hulkenberg - Contracted until 2020
Verdict: Renault have made their ambitions clear by securing Hulkenberg for the next two years and partnering him with Ricciardo, and the constructor have much to prove to the Aussie that their car has the capacity to compete at the sharp end of the grid on a regular basis. Should it prove another false dawn, Ricciardo may have his attentions distracted sooner rather than later.
HAAS
Romain Grosjean - Contracted until 2019
Kevin Magnussen - Contracted until 2020
Verdict: Haas had been linked with an overhaul, but the American team have opted for stability, retaining faith in Magnussen and Grosjean. The Frenchman earned his seat with an impressive recovery from a woeful start to the season. Magnussen's admirable consistency in 2018 has landed the Dane a two-year deal - rare currency in F1's midfield.
FORCE INDIA
Sergio Perez - Contracted until 2019
Esteban Ocon - Unconfirmed
Verdict: Since the Lawrence Stroll-led takeover of Force India in the summer break, their driver line-up for next year has been something of an open secret. Perez's deal was confirmed ahead of the United States Grand Prix. Stroll's son Lance is near certain to make the switch from Williams next year - having seen a potential mid-2018 move evaporate - and has been confirmed already for a post-season test. The fate befalling Ocon as the odd one out has frustrated fans, team officials and his fellow drivers alike.
MCLAREN
Carlos Sainz - Contracted until 2019
Lando Norris -- Contracted until 2019
Verdict: McLaren have opted for an overhaul for 2019, some of it enforced. Fernando Alonso's patience finally ran out, with the former world champion deciding to take what may prove to be a permanent sabbatical. He will be replaced by Sainz, while they will swap out one rookie for another; Stoffel Vandoorne hasn't quite hit the mark and his drive will go to the young but highly rated Norris.
TORO ROSSO
Daniil Kvyat - Contracted until 2019
Brendon Hartley - Unconfirmed
Verdict: Kvyat's return for a third stint with Red Bull's junior team was little surprise, given the lack of options coming up through the academy ranks as Toro Rosso searched for Gasly's replacement. Dan Ticktum's F3 meltdown will likely cost him a chance of replacing Hartley. Mick Schumacher, who has beat Ticktum to the F3 title, was also linked to the team, but Alexander Albon has emerged as most likely to come into the team - provided Red Bull can stump enough cash to Nissan for their Formula E driver.
SAUBER
Kimi Raikkonen - Contracted until 2020
Antonio Giovinazzi - Contracted until 2019
Verdict: Raikkonen brings some much-needed experience as Sauber look to build on an impressive season as Ferrari's close ally - with the performance of Haas giving them a clear benchmark to aim for. Those Scuderia links will see Giovinazzi partner the Iceman, with Maranello eyes on the young Italian, who they may hope can follow Leclerc's trajectory.
WILLIAMS
George Russell - Contracted on "multi-year" deal
Robert Kubica - Contracted until 2019
Verdict: With a Formula 2 title in his grasp, Russell has further reason to celebrate after being drafted onto the F1 grid for 2019 - at the expense of fellow Mercedes junior Ocon, who will spend next year on the sidelines. Kubica will partner him, completing one of sport's all-time great comebacks after his life-altering injuries sustained in a rally accident in 2011.
https://www.gpfans.com/en/articles/2574 ... ld-change/
2019 F1 News and Prediction Tournament
2019 F1 News and Prediction Tournament
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Re: 2019 F1 News and Prediction Tournament
Alexander Albon: Toro Rosso deal for 2019 for British-born Thai driver
It appears that he is replacing Brendon Hartley.....
https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/46350378
TORO ROSSO
Daniil Kvyat - Contracted until 2019
Brendon Hartley - Unconfirmed
It appears that he is replacing Brendon Hartley.....
https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/46350378
TORO ROSSO
Daniil Kvyat - Contracted until 2019
Brendon Hartley - Unconfirmed
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Re: 2019 F1 News and Prediction Tournament
Photos at link.
The Prince And I: The story of the last Thai F1 driver
Alexander Albon will become only the second Thai F1 driver in history after joining Toro Rosso for next season.
Born in London to a Thai mother and British father, Albon joins the F1 grid at the same time as contemporaries Lando Norris and George Russell.
Interest in the progress of all three will be high, but whatever Albon's ultimate achievements, he will do well to match the CV of Thailand's only other F1 racer - Prince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh, or B. Bira as he was otherwise known.
Here are just six reasons why Bira, who raced in F1 from 1950 to 1954, lived his best life.
He was a proper prince
Bira did not only find a love of motor racing after being sent to England - he married fellow art student Ceril Haycock in January 1938
Without getting too mired in the lineage of the rulers of Thailand (or Siam as it was known before 1932), Bira was born into royalty in 1914.
His father was the younger brother of King Chulalongkorn and held several key posts in government including Field Marshall of the Royal Siamese Army.
But it was Bira's grandfather, King Mongkut, who is best known in popular culture worldwide as the inspiration for the eponymous monarch in the musical The King And I.
He invented Thailand's racing colours
The blue and yellow cars were Bira's signature
Bira had got into top-level motor racing well before the F1 World Championship was established in 1950.
He seemed destined for an education at Cambridge but dropped out to try to become a sculptor - an art he briefly studied under Charles Wheeler, who created the facade of the Bank of England among other things.
But when his cousin Prince Chula invited him to race his Riley Imp at Brooklands in 1935, an alternative career path was laid out.
Chula's team was called White Mouse Racing, but Bira, inspired by the dress of a Scandinavian woman named Barbara Grut who he had only just met, painted the car pale blue and yellow.
This was an era when cars raced in colours that represented nationalities - blue for France; white for Germany; red for Italy.
At the stroke of a brush, Bira had defined Thailand's racing colours.
He taught British World War Two pilots
Prince Bira was known as Flight Lieutenant Prince Birabangse during the war
F1 drivers are sometimes called "pilots" and that was particularly apt for Prince Bira.
He loved flying and made several long-distance flights in tiny planes and gliders. In 1952, he flew all the way from London to Bangkok in his own twin-engine Miles Gemini aircraft.
But with motor racing suspended due to World War Two, Bira put his skills to use teaching fighter pilots of Britain's Royal Air Force.
He became chief instructor at St Merryn Royal Naval Air Station, specialising in teaching glider pilots.
He competed in the early days of F1
Bira (centre) raced at all the great circuits of the age - Nurburgring, Spa, Reims and here at Silverstone
No-one would pretend Bira was an all-time great, but he was very good - securing two points finishes out of the six Europe-based races that made up the inaugural F1 season in 1950, at a time when only the top five got points.
In 1951 he suffered a skiing accident and drifted away from motor racing for a time. He only competed in that year's Spanish Grand Prix - a disastrous outing that saw him qualify his Maserati 35 seconds off pole before retiring on lap one.
He later raced for Gordini, Connaught and Maserati but failed to score another point until 1954, by which time he had set up his own team.
He also won a couple of non-championships races - the Grand Prix des Frontieres and the New Zealand Grand Prix - before retiring at the end of that season.
He was a four-time Olympian
Prince Bira was one of 38 Thai participants at Melbourne '56
Life away from motor sport was no less hectic for Bira, who went on to take part in sailing competitions at four Olympic Games - Melbourne 1956, Rome 1960, Tokyo 1964 and Munich 1972.
Over those Games he competed in the Star, Dragon and Tempest classes. In 1960 he found himself up against another former F1 driver, Argentina's Roberto Mieres, who he had raced against in the 1953 and 1954 seasons.
Competing in the Star sailing class, Mieres finished in 17th and Bira 19th.
Such multi-sport exploits were not unique in that era.
Perhaps the most successful F1 polymath of the 1950s was Alfonso de Portago, who in addition to contesting five grands prix also twice competed in the Grand National at Aintree and led Spain's two-man bob team to fourth at the 1956 Winter Olympics.
His death baffled police... for a while
Londoner Albon is now eyeing his own place in Thailand's motor racing history
Two days before Christmas 1985, a man in his early seventies collapsed and died at Barons Court tube station in London. He had suffered a massive heart attack.
He was of south-east Asian appearance but had no identification and the Metropolitan Police were unable to establish who he was.
They did, however, find a handwritten note in his pocket - although they were unable to work out the language it was written in.
But after the note was sent to experts at the University of London, it turned out it was written in Thai and addressed to Prince Bira. The police contacted the Thai Embassy who quickly established his identity.
Prince Bira's funeral was held in south-west London - aptly enough, the same city from which Thailand's new F1 star has emerged.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/46344810
____________________
As an FYI, Bira Circuit is named after him and was Thailand's first permanent motor racing venue. Opened in 1985. http://www.racingcircuits.info/asia/tha ... _5TBMSTAWo
http://bira.co.th/main/?bira=circuit
The Prince And I: The story of the last Thai F1 driver
Alexander Albon will become only the second Thai F1 driver in history after joining Toro Rosso for next season.
Born in London to a Thai mother and British father, Albon joins the F1 grid at the same time as contemporaries Lando Norris and George Russell.
Interest in the progress of all three will be high, but whatever Albon's ultimate achievements, he will do well to match the CV of Thailand's only other F1 racer - Prince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh, or B. Bira as he was otherwise known.
Here are just six reasons why Bira, who raced in F1 from 1950 to 1954, lived his best life.
He was a proper prince
Bira did not only find a love of motor racing after being sent to England - he married fellow art student Ceril Haycock in January 1938
Without getting too mired in the lineage of the rulers of Thailand (or Siam as it was known before 1932), Bira was born into royalty in 1914.
His father was the younger brother of King Chulalongkorn and held several key posts in government including Field Marshall of the Royal Siamese Army.
But it was Bira's grandfather, King Mongkut, who is best known in popular culture worldwide as the inspiration for the eponymous monarch in the musical The King And I.
He invented Thailand's racing colours
The blue and yellow cars were Bira's signature
Bira had got into top-level motor racing well before the F1 World Championship was established in 1950.
He seemed destined for an education at Cambridge but dropped out to try to become a sculptor - an art he briefly studied under Charles Wheeler, who created the facade of the Bank of England among other things.
But when his cousin Prince Chula invited him to race his Riley Imp at Brooklands in 1935, an alternative career path was laid out.
Chula's team was called White Mouse Racing, but Bira, inspired by the dress of a Scandinavian woman named Barbara Grut who he had only just met, painted the car pale blue and yellow.
This was an era when cars raced in colours that represented nationalities - blue for France; white for Germany; red for Italy.
At the stroke of a brush, Bira had defined Thailand's racing colours.
He taught British World War Two pilots
Prince Bira was known as Flight Lieutenant Prince Birabangse during the war
F1 drivers are sometimes called "pilots" and that was particularly apt for Prince Bira.
He loved flying and made several long-distance flights in tiny planes and gliders. In 1952, he flew all the way from London to Bangkok in his own twin-engine Miles Gemini aircraft.
But with motor racing suspended due to World War Two, Bira put his skills to use teaching fighter pilots of Britain's Royal Air Force.
He became chief instructor at St Merryn Royal Naval Air Station, specialising in teaching glider pilots.
He competed in the early days of F1
Bira (centre) raced at all the great circuits of the age - Nurburgring, Spa, Reims and here at Silverstone
No-one would pretend Bira was an all-time great, but he was very good - securing two points finishes out of the six Europe-based races that made up the inaugural F1 season in 1950, at a time when only the top five got points.
In 1951 he suffered a skiing accident and drifted away from motor racing for a time. He only competed in that year's Spanish Grand Prix - a disastrous outing that saw him qualify his Maserati 35 seconds off pole before retiring on lap one.
He later raced for Gordini, Connaught and Maserati but failed to score another point until 1954, by which time he had set up his own team.
He also won a couple of non-championships races - the Grand Prix des Frontieres and the New Zealand Grand Prix - before retiring at the end of that season.
He was a four-time Olympian
Prince Bira was one of 38 Thai participants at Melbourne '56
Life away from motor sport was no less hectic for Bira, who went on to take part in sailing competitions at four Olympic Games - Melbourne 1956, Rome 1960, Tokyo 1964 and Munich 1972.
Over those Games he competed in the Star, Dragon and Tempest classes. In 1960 he found himself up against another former F1 driver, Argentina's Roberto Mieres, who he had raced against in the 1953 and 1954 seasons.
Competing in the Star sailing class, Mieres finished in 17th and Bira 19th.
Such multi-sport exploits were not unique in that era.
Perhaps the most successful F1 polymath of the 1950s was Alfonso de Portago, who in addition to contesting five grands prix also twice competed in the Grand National at Aintree and led Spain's two-man bob team to fourth at the 1956 Winter Olympics.
His death baffled police... for a while
Londoner Albon is now eyeing his own place in Thailand's motor racing history
Two days before Christmas 1985, a man in his early seventies collapsed and died at Barons Court tube station in London. He had suffered a massive heart attack.
He was of south-east Asian appearance but had no identification and the Metropolitan Police were unable to establish who he was.
They did, however, find a handwritten note in his pocket - although they were unable to work out the language it was written in.
But after the note was sent to experts at the University of London, it turned out it was written in Thai and addressed to Prince Bira. The police contacted the Thai Embassy who quickly established his identity.
Prince Bira's funeral was held in south-west London - aptly enough, the same city from which Thailand's new F1 star has emerged.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/46344810
____________________
As an FYI, Bira Circuit is named after him and was Thailand's first permanent motor racing venue. Opened in 1985. http://www.racingcircuits.info/asia/tha ... _5TBMSTAWo
http://bira.co.th/main/?bira=circuit
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
Re: 2019 F1 News and Prediction Tournament
A little bit of car racing trivia. I have posted this previously, but here it is again. When I was just 16 years old in Australia my late Father bought my first car for me, a 1933 MG "L" type sports car. Being young and stupid, as against now being old and senile, I sold the bloody thing after a couple of years.But when his cousin Prince Chula invited him to race his Riley Imp at Brooklands in 1935, an alternative career path was laid out.
Chula's team was called White Mouse Racing, but Bira, inspired by the dress of a Scandinavian woman named Barbara Grut who he had only just met, painted the car pale blue and yellow.
This was an era when cars raced in colours that represented nationalities - blue for France; white for Germany; red for Italy.
At the stroke of a brush, Bira had defined Thailand's racing colours.
In recent years I have tracked down the cars history, as it is still on the register of the pre-war MG car club in Australia. It was imported to Australia just prior to WW2 by the owner of a garage in Fremantle WA, and raced successfully after that time, although it was a bit of a basket case by the time that I owned it.
It turns out that the car was owned from new by one Mr. Bill Ward in the UK. He actually raced the car against Prince Bira on several occasions at Brooklands. Bill Ward was the son of Charlie Ward a well known owner of a car body building business. He later joined up with William M. Park, to own a car body building business known as Park-Ward, and were respected body builders to Rolls Royce and Bentley.
http://www.coachbuild.com/2/index.php/e ... /park-ward
May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil know`s you`re dead!
-
lindosfan1
- Deceased
- Posts: 4069
- Joined: Wed Mar 05, 2008 1:26 pm
- Location: uk
Re: 2019 F1 News and Prediction Tournament
Lance Stroll has signed a contract with Williams. I do not think it is for his ability, more because his daddy owns Williams.
Woke up this morning breathing that's a good start to the day.
Re: 2019 F1 News and Prediction Tournament
I think it's the other way around. He's leaving Williams and signed with Force India as his father bought them in August. Below is story:lindosfan1 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 01, 2018 1:14 am Lance Stroll has signed a contract with Williams. I do not think it is for his ability, more because his daddy owns Williams.
Force India: Lance Stroll confirms switch from Williams
https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/46342907
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
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lindosfan1
- Deceased
- Posts: 4069
- Joined: Wed Mar 05, 2008 1:26 pm
- Location: uk
Re: 2019 F1 News and Prediction Tournament
Got that wrong sorry, still think they did not sign him for his driving ability.
Woke up this morning breathing that's a good start to the day.
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Vital Spark
- Legend
- Posts: 2045
- Joined: Wed Feb 14, 2007 10:34 pm
- Location: Arcos de la Frontera, Spain
Re: 2019 F1 News and Prediction Tournament
Alexander Albon's mum has a bit of 'history'..
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/m ... r-13673222
A few more details here:
https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/sudb ... -1-1658936
VS
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/m ... r-13673222
A few more details here:
https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/sudb ... -1-1658936
VS
"Properly trained, man can be a dog's best friend"
Re: 2019 F1 News and Prediction Tournament
^ That's unfortunate and I'm sure some scum journalist will throw that up time and time again, especially if he's successful in F1. 
Pete 
Pete Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
Re: 2019 F1 News and Prediction Tournament
From the article
I'd love the paper in question to find a single credible article tipping him as the next Leiws Hamilton!The mum of the British Formula One driver tipped as the next Lewis Hamilton is a fraudster – jailed for a £7.5million car scam.
Re: 2019 F1 News and Prediction Tournament
For those interested in the technical side of things, here's a video explaining the differences between legislation for the 2018 and 2019 cars
Re: 2019 F1 News and Prediction Tournament
2019 Schedule
March 17 - Australian Grand Prix - Melbourne
March 31 - Bahrain Grand Prix - Sakhir
April 14 - Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai
April 28 - Azerbaijan Grand Prix - Baku
May 12 - Spanish Grand Prix - Barcelona
May 26 - Monaco Grand Prix - Monaco
June 9 - Canadian Grand Prix - Montreal
June 23 - French Grand Prix - Le Castellet
June 30 - Austrian Grand Prix - Spielberg
July 14 - British Grand Prix - Silverstone
July 28 - German Grand Prix - Hockenheim
August 4 - Hungarian Grand Prix - Budapest
September 1 - Belgian Grand Prix - Spa-Francorchamps
September 8 - Italian Grand Prix - Monza
September 22 - Singapore Grand Prix - Singapore
September 29 - Russian Grand Prix - Sochi
October 13 - Japanese Grand Prix - Suzuka
October 27 - Mexican Grand Prix - Mexico City
November 3 - U.S. Grand Prix - Austin
November 17 - Brazilian Grand Prix - Sao Paulo
December 1 - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Yas Island
March 17 - Australian Grand Prix - Melbourne
March 31 - Bahrain Grand Prix - Sakhir
April 14 - Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai
April 28 - Azerbaijan Grand Prix - Baku
May 12 - Spanish Grand Prix - Barcelona
May 26 - Monaco Grand Prix - Monaco
June 9 - Canadian Grand Prix - Montreal
June 23 - French Grand Prix - Le Castellet
June 30 - Austrian Grand Prix - Spielberg
July 14 - British Grand Prix - Silverstone
July 28 - German Grand Prix - Hockenheim
August 4 - Hungarian Grand Prix - Budapest
September 1 - Belgian Grand Prix - Spa-Francorchamps
September 8 - Italian Grand Prix - Monza
September 22 - Singapore Grand Prix - Singapore
September 29 - Russian Grand Prix - Sochi
October 13 - Japanese Grand Prix - Suzuka
October 27 - Mexican Grand Prix - Mexico City
November 3 - U.S. Grand Prix - Austin
November 17 - Brazilian Grand Prix - Sao Paulo
December 1 - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Yas Island
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
Re: 2019 F1 News and Prediction Tournament
Alonso is reborn and enjoying himself. Good for him. 
Fernando Alonso: Former Formula 1 champion wins Daytona 24-hour race
https://www.bbc.com/sport/motorsport/47022264
Fernando Alonso: Former Formula 1 champion wins Daytona 24-hour race
https://www.bbc.com/sport/motorsport/47022264
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Re: 2019 F1 News and Prediction Tournament
Formula 1 race organisers express concerns over future of the sport
https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/47040731
Formula 1's race organisers have expressed concerns over the future of the sport and demanded a more open approach from its owners.
The F1 Promoters' Association (FOPA), which represents 16 of the 21 races on the calendar, says it wants "a more collaborative approach from F1".
The FOPA discussed its concerns with F1 at a meeting in London on Tuesday.
Stuart Pringle, chairman of FOPA, said: "There is every indication the message has been received."
Pringle is managing director of British Grand Prix venue Silverstone.
The circuits are worried about the loss of free-to-air television coverage, a lack of clarity over rules and the methods F1 is using to attract new races.
And they feel that their voice has been ignored so far by the owners of F1, the US group Liberty Media, which took over the sport in January 2017.
Pringle added: "We were frustrated that we felt we had no option but to take this sort of action. But actually we have had a very positive day.
"We believe our concerns will be looked at and we as a group of promoters do recognise that ultimately we are all striving for the same thing - a healthy sport. We want to work in a meaningful way to achieve that so we will work collaboratively with them going forward."
Pringle had earlier described Liberty's approach as "disjointed" and said the circuits had "great concerns about the future health of the sport under the people who run it now".
The circuits' intervention comes at a delicate time for F1, with the contracts of five major races all up for renewal at the end of this season. Britain, Italy, Spain, Germany and Mexico are all out of contract after this year.
All want to continue but say they cannot do so under the financial terms on offer from F1.
Race-hosting fees are the single biggest source of revenue for F1, so the circuits hold a strong hand in discussions.
F1 declined to comment on the specific issues raised by the circuits.
What are F1's plans?
Liberty is determined to make major changes to the way F1 is run. But talks on their plans to introduce a budget cap, reorganise revenue distribution to the teams and change the technical rules to make the racing closer have progressed slowly.
F1 has already had to abandon a plan to change the engines significantly, but it insists negotiations are moving forward.
There has been no public confirmation of any agreements as to the shape of the sport after 2020, when the teams' current contracts expire.
Sources close to F1 say that there is general agreement on the principle of a budget gap and revenue redistribution but nothing concrete has been agreed.
The latest plan is for a sliding scale of budget restriction, starting at around $175m in 2021, and reducing to about $135m in 2023. But the exact numbers are yet to be finalised and a number of areas of spend will not be included - such as engines, marketing and the salaries of the most expensive employees, including drivers.
What are the circuits' concerns?
The circuits say it is a risk for them to be asked to plan long-term contracts with a partner without knowing the direction in which the product is heading.
They have been concerned by what they believe was Liberty's willingness to give an advantageous deal to Miami, which insiders claim was effectively offered a race for free because F1 was so keen to secure an event in the Florida city. Efforts to finalise a deal have so far foundered.
A statement from the circuits said: "There is a lack of clarity on new initiatives in F1 and a lack of engagement with promoters on their implementation.
"New races should not be introduced to the detriment of existing events although the association is encouraged by the alternative business models being offered to prospective venues."
The circuits are also concerned that the migration of TV coverage away from mass-market outlets towards either pay television or direct to consumer through F1's own outlets will inevitably restrict the sport's appeal.
The statement said: "It is not in the long-term interest of the sport that fans lose free access to content and broadcasting."
The UK is the latest market to effectively lose live coverage of races in 2019.
A new contract, negotiated by former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone before Liberty took over, kicks in which sees live coverage of all races on Sky this year. Only the British Grand Prix will be live on free-to-air, on Channel 4, which also has highlights of the other 20 races.
The circuits believe that moving from free-to-air will inevitably restrict F1's reach to casual viewers, restricting it only to hardcore fans, which has an immediate effect in cutting the audience but also threatens the sport's appeal in the long term.
This is of particular concern to Silverstone, which saw attendance drop for its MotoGP race after it switched from free-to-air TV to pay-to-view and is concerned the same thing could happen with F1, further affecting its ability to afford to host the British Grand Prix.
The UK TV switch follows a similar move in Italy last year.
F1 points out that its overall TV audience has grown in the two years since Liberty took over, for the first time in a decade. The total audience in 2017 was 1.755 billion and 1.758 billion in 2018.
However, live race audiences dropped slightly from 2017 to 2018, the total brought down by a decline in Italy, without which numbers would have gone up year on year.
The races represented by FOPA are: Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Singapore, Spain, Britain and the USA.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/47040731
Formula 1's race organisers have expressed concerns over the future of the sport and demanded a more open approach from its owners.
The F1 Promoters' Association (FOPA), which represents 16 of the 21 races on the calendar, says it wants "a more collaborative approach from F1".
The FOPA discussed its concerns with F1 at a meeting in London on Tuesday.
Stuart Pringle, chairman of FOPA, said: "There is every indication the message has been received."
Pringle is managing director of British Grand Prix venue Silverstone.
The circuits are worried about the loss of free-to-air television coverage, a lack of clarity over rules and the methods F1 is using to attract new races.
And they feel that their voice has been ignored so far by the owners of F1, the US group Liberty Media, which took over the sport in January 2017.
Pringle added: "We were frustrated that we felt we had no option but to take this sort of action. But actually we have had a very positive day.
"We believe our concerns will be looked at and we as a group of promoters do recognise that ultimately we are all striving for the same thing - a healthy sport. We want to work in a meaningful way to achieve that so we will work collaboratively with them going forward."
Pringle had earlier described Liberty's approach as "disjointed" and said the circuits had "great concerns about the future health of the sport under the people who run it now".
The circuits' intervention comes at a delicate time for F1, with the contracts of five major races all up for renewal at the end of this season. Britain, Italy, Spain, Germany and Mexico are all out of contract after this year.
All want to continue but say they cannot do so under the financial terms on offer from F1.
Race-hosting fees are the single biggest source of revenue for F1, so the circuits hold a strong hand in discussions.
F1 declined to comment on the specific issues raised by the circuits.
What are F1's plans?
Liberty is determined to make major changes to the way F1 is run. But talks on their plans to introduce a budget cap, reorganise revenue distribution to the teams and change the technical rules to make the racing closer have progressed slowly.
F1 has already had to abandon a plan to change the engines significantly, but it insists negotiations are moving forward.
There has been no public confirmation of any agreements as to the shape of the sport after 2020, when the teams' current contracts expire.
Sources close to F1 say that there is general agreement on the principle of a budget gap and revenue redistribution but nothing concrete has been agreed.
The latest plan is for a sliding scale of budget restriction, starting at around $175m in 2021, and reducing to about $135m in 2023. But the exact numbers are yet to be finalised and a number of areas of spend will not be included - such as engines, marketing and the salaries of the most expensive employees, including drivers.
What are the circuits' concerns?
The circuits say it is a risk for them to be asked to plan long-term contracts with a partner without knowing the direction in which the product is heading.
They have been concerned by what they believe was Liberty's willingness to give an advantageous deal to Miami, which insiders claim was effectively offered a race for free because F1 was so keen to secure an event in the Florida city. Efforts to finalise a deal have so far foundered.
A statement from the circuits said: "There is a lack of clarity on new initiatives in F1 and a lack of engagement with promoters on their implementation.
"New races should not be introduced to the detriment of existing events although the association is encouraged by the alternative business models being offered to prospective venues."
The circuits are also concerned that the migration of TV coverage away from mass-market outlets towards either pay television or direct to consumer through F1's own outlets will inevitably restrict the sport's appeal.
The statement said: "It is not in the long-term interest of the sport that fans lose free access to content and broadcasting."
The UK is the latest market to effectively lose live coverage of races in 2019.
A new contract, negotiated by former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone before Liberty took over, kicks in which sees live coverage of all races on Sky this year. Only the British Grand Prix will be live on free-to-air, on Channel 4, which also has highlights of the other 20 races.
The circuits believe that moving from free-to-air will inevitably restrict F1's reach to casual viewers, restricting it only to hardcore fans, which has an immediate effect in cutting the audience but also threatens the sport's appeal in the long term.
This is of particular concern to Silverstone, which saw attendance drop for its MotoGP race after it switched from free-to-air TV to pay-to-view and is concerned the same thing could happen with F1, further affecting its ability to afford to host the British Grand Prix.
The UK TV switch follows a similar move in Italy last year.
F1 points out that its overall TV audience has grown in the two years since Liberty took over, for the first time in a decade. The total audience in 2017 was 1.755 billion and 1.758 billion in 2018.
However, live race audiences dropped slightly from 2017 to 2018, the total brought down by a decline in Italy, without which numbers would have gone up year on year.
The races represented by FOPA are: Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Singapore, Spain, Britain and the USA.
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