The news that runs a little wide

Twenty-four races, twenty-four at most: Josiane has counted again for Rwanda

According to Gert Vermersch, a Play Sports commentator, a Rwanda Grand Prix from 2030 will force one race off a calendar capped at 24. Spa-Francorchamps is under contract until 2031, in rotation with Barcelona from 2028.

Josiane in orange marshal gear sits on a camping chair counting a pocket calendar, thermos at her feet, Jean-Luc raising his hand.

Post 14 report. Tuesday. It’s bitter. No race, no flag. Reading of the day instead of the briefing.

Observation. From 2030, Formula 1 is due to visit every inhabited continent. An African Grand Prix in Rwanda. Ten-year contract, immediately. The circuit has yet to be built. At the post, we don’t wave anything on a track that doesn’t exist.

Current calendar: twenty-four races. Maximum in the contract until 2030: twenty-four. I counted twice. It comes to twenty-four. Mr Gert Vermersch told Sporza that one race will have to go to make room for the Rwanda Grand Prix, and that Belgium will therefore have to lobby.

Lobbying, I don’t know how to do. I wave the flag. I don’t judge. I have no form for that in the folder.

Spa-Francorchamps is under contract until 2031. In rotation with Barcelona from 2028. Every other year, then, post 14 looks at the white line with no car on it. I’ve done it before. The thermos tastes the same.

Additional information. Spa-Francorchamps would pay about 25 million euros a year. Madrid paid double this season. At the post, we are paid in sandwiches. I’m not comparing.

Reminder. In 2023, on the provisional calendar, Belgium had disappeared. A return to South Africa was mooted. It came to nothing. I kept my badge that year too.

I have warned Jean-Luc, my reserve. He said he had been ready for thirty years. He asked whether he could do the lobbying in my place.

The team remains at the disposal of post 14 for any communications campaign.

Fabienne · the team principal, fictional character

Decision: the flags stay at the post until 2031. Nothing further to report.

It’s true, we checked: Sporza.

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Our columnists’ reactions are fictional; the facts and real quotes are sourced above.

The other angles in French

The editor-in-chief chose this one: « Josiane transforme une affaire de calendrier et de gros sous en arithmétique de poste, sans juger personne, et Spa pourrait la partager. Les autres trébuchent sur un témoin inventé, un titre blessant pour le circuit ou un rire trop mince. »

FabienneThe Team Principal

Spa et Barcelone « canards boiteux » de l’Europe : Fabienne Racing lance son lobbying

Pour Gert Vermersch, commentateur de Play Sports, les Grands Prix européens paient trop peu aux yeux de Liberty Media, et Spa-Francorchamps et Barcelone en sont « un peu les canards boiteux ». Spa paierait environ 25 millions d'euros par an ; Madrid a payé le double cette saison.

  • Funniness 3/5
  • Faithfulness 4/5
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The editor-in-chief’s comment Le titre met « canards boiteux » en vitrine sur Spa : le circuit ne le partagerait pas en riant, et la tonnelle offerte à Liberty Media reste un gag attendu.

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NathanThe Sim Racer

Neuf courses en onze week-ends et le Rwanda en plus : Nathan cherche la case dans son sim

La saison de F1 se termine déjà avec trois triple headers, soit neuf courses en onze week-ends, selon Gert Vermersch, commentateur de Play Sports. L'ajout du Rwanda en 2030, dans un calendrier plafonné à 24 courses, pose la question de la place de Spa-Francorchamps.

  • Funniness 3/5
  • Faithfulness 4/5
  • Voice 4/5
  • Retweet 4/5
  • Good nature 5/5

The editor-in-chief’s comment La chute tendre, sans course à Spa il n'a plus d'excuse pour ne pas y aller, fonctionne, mais le menu déroulant et le triple header en chambre restent sages et un peu confus (« le respect du lobby »).

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