European Grand Prix
| Baku Street Circuit (Azadliq Avenue)[2][3][N 1] | |
 | |
| Race information | |
|---|---|
| Number of times held |
Total - 22 Nürburgring - 12 Valencia Street Circuit - 5 Brands Hatch - 2 Circuito de Jerez - 2 Donington Park - 1 |
| First held | 1983 |
| Last held | 2012 |
| Most wins (drivers) |
Michael Schumacher (6) |
| Most wins (constructors) |
 Ferrari (7) |
| Circuit length | 6.006 km (3.753 mi) |
| Last race (2012) | |
| Pole position | |
| |
| Podium | |
| |
| Fastest lap | |
| |
The European Grand Prix (sometimes referred to as the Grand Prix of Europe and to be known from 2016 as the Baku European Grand Prix)[1] is a Formula One event that was introduced during the mid-1980s and was held regularly from 1999 until 2012. The most recent host venue for this event was the Valencia Street Circuit in Valencia, Spain, hosting the race from 2008 until 2012. The race was removed from the calendar in 2013, and will be revived in 2016, this time hosted on a street circuit in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.[1]
In earlier years, the European Grand Prix was not a race in its own right but just an honorific title; one of the national Grands Prix was also designated as the European Grand Prix. The first race to be so named was the 1923 Italian Grand Prix, held at Monza and won by Carlo Salamano in a Fiat and the last one was the 1977 British Grand Prix. Since its reintroduction, the European Grand Prix is usually held in a country that also holds a national Grand Prix in that same year, however in 2016, the Baku European Grand Prix will be held in Azerbaijan, which does not hold another Formula One race.
Historical
The European Grand Prix was created as an honorific title by the AIACR, the FIA's predecessor in the organisation of motor racing events. The first race to receive the title was the Italian Grand Prix, in 1923, and it was followed by the French Grand Prix and Belgian Grand Prix. After a hiatus in 1929, Spa received the last honorific title of the pre-WWII years, in 1930.
The title was revived by the FIA after World War II, and was first given to the Belgian Grand Prix in 1947, and was distributed across several countries until the 1977 British Grand Prix, the last race to receive the honorific title. All post-war honorific European Grands Prix were Formula One races except for the 1952 event, which was run to Formula Two regulations.
The Italian Grand Prix was named the European Grand Prix seven times, which was more than any other race. It received the title three times in the 1920s.
First modern iteration
The event was initially created as a stopgap. In 1983, the Formula One schedule originally featured a race near Flushing Meadows Park in New York. When the race was cancelled three months before the event, track organizers at Brands Hatch were able to create a European Grand Prix at the track in its place. The success of the event, buoyed by a spirited battle for the World Championship, led to the event returning on the schedule the following year.
Brands Hatch was unable to host the European Grand Prix in 1984, as it was hosting the British Grand Prix in even numbered years (alternating with Silverstone) so the European GP went to a redesigned and shorter Nürburgring circuit in 1984. It was a far cry from the 14 mile Nürburgring that most were used to seeing, and was initially unpopular during Formula One's return. Brands Hatch returned to host the European Grand Prix in 1985, but the race was replaced in 1986 by the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Second modern iteration
Donington Park (1993)
In 1990, a wealthy Japanese businessman, Tomonori Tsurumaki, built the Nippon Autopolis with the idea of hosting a Formula One race. In 1992, plans were made to have an Asian Grand Prix in 1993 to replace the Mexican Grand Prix on the schedule. However, these plans failed to materialize. Instead, Bernie Ecclestone added a race at Donington Park to the schedule, which brought back the European Grand Prix moniker. The race was the brainchild of Tom Wheatcroft, who had been trying to bring F1 to the track since an abortive attempt to host the British Grand Prix in 1988. The first and so far only race at Donington Park resulted in Ayrton Senna's victory in mixed wet and dry conditions.
Jerez and Nürburgring (1994–2007)
The European race would go the following season to Jerez in Spain, and then returned to Nürburgring, which was now popular again with drivers. Because of this it hosted the race again in 1996, but after complaints that no other countries were to get the race, the Nürburgring race was renamed the Luxembourg Grand Prix. Jerez got the race back in 1997 as a replacement for the Portuguese Grand Prix. Jerez hosted the season finale that year, and it was the site of the famous collision between Michael Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve which saw Schumacher get disqualified from the championship. It was also the scene of Mika Häkkinen's first Formula One victory.
In 1998, the European Grand Prix was dropped from the schedule, but returned in 1999 when the race at Nürburgring re-adopted the European Grand Prix name.
The 1999 race saw torrential rain conditions which caused numerous retirements, presenting Johnny Herbert with the opportunity to take Stewart Grand Prix's first and only victory in its final season before being sold to Ford.
The race continued to be held at the Nürburgring until 2007. On August 29, 2006 it was announced that it had been removed from the F1 calendar for the 2007 season. From then there would only be one GP hosted in Germany each year, alternating between Hockenheimring and Nürburgring. However, what the name of this Grand Prix would be was uncertain for a time; while originally intended to be the German Grand Prix from 2007,[4] the Nürburgring race of 2007 was renamed "Großer Preis von Europa" (European Grand Prix)[5] due to a dispute over the ownership of the title "German Grand Prix".[6]
Valencia (2008–2012)
From 2008 to 2012 the European Grand Prix took place in Valencia, Spain. During the 2009 event, Valencia signed a deal for a further 5 races, which puts Valencia on the calendar until 2014. There are doubts about its continuation on the calendar thereafter due to disappointing attendances and increased competition between nations to host a grand prix, leaving no room for one country to host two races. Its vacated place on the calendar is set to rotate among other nations, as the sport seeks new markets.[7][8]
In March 2012, it was announced that the European Grand Prix would be discontinued in 2013, with the Spanish Grand Prix alternating between Barcelona and Valencia.[9] However, Barcelona retained the race since 2013, and the Valencia circuit was removed from the calendar.
Baku (2016)
The European Grand Prix will be revived in 2016. Now known as the "Baku European Grand Prix",[1] the race will be held on the streets of Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.[3]
Winners of the European Grand Prix
Repeat winners (drivers)
Only includes standalone events. Bold indicates a driver active in the current season.
| # of wins | Driver | Achieved |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Michael Schumacher |
1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2006 |
| 3 | Fernando Alonso |
2005, 2007, 2012 |
| 2 |  Rubens Barrichello |
2002, 2009 |
| Sebastian Vettel |
2010, 2011 |
Repeat winners (constructors)
Only includes standalone events. Bold indicates a constructor active in the current season.
| # of wins | Constructor | Achieved |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Ferrari |
2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012 |
| 4 | McLaren |
1984, 1993, 1997, 2007 |
| 3 | Williams |
1985, 1996, 2003 |
| 2 | Benetton |
1994, 1995 |
 Red Bull |
2010, 2011 | |
By year: The European Grand Prix as a standalone event
By year: The European Grand Prix as an honorary designation
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Footnotes
- ↑ The name "Baku Street Circuit" has been used to refer to two circuits within the city for Formula One and FIA GT races. The European Grand Prix will be held on a circuit based around Azadliq Avenue.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Azerbaijan layout unveiled for Baku European Grand Prix in 2016". formula1.com (Formula One Administration). 8 October 2014. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
- ↑ Азад Рагимов рассказал о примерной трассе бакинского этапа Формулы-1. www.azerisport.com (in Russian). Retrieved 25 July 2014.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Formula 1 - Azerbaijan Grand Prix debut delayed until 2016". uk.eurosport.yahoo.com. Reuters. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
- ↑ Official FIA press release. "2007 FIA Formula One championship circuit and lap information, published on February 14, 2007". Official FIA press release. Retrieved 2007-04-22.
- ↑ "Nürburgring". Official Homepage of the Nürburgring. Retrieved 2007-04-14.
- ↑ The race held at Nürburgring in 2007 was originally going to be called the German Grand Prix but the title was changed to European Grand Prix due to the dispute over the ownership of the German Grand Prix name. See Autosport: Name row leads to return of European GP
- ↑ BBC Sport (2011-01-21). "Rome gives up on plans to become an F1 Grand Prix host". BBC News. Retrieved 2011-01-21.
- ↑ YallaF1.com. "Valencia wants out of Euro GP contract". Retrieved 2011-02-07.
- ↑ "Valencia pays 2012 fee, Spain to alternate from 2013". MSN Sport. MSN Sport. 9 March 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
- ↑ "Baku street track for 2016 F1 European Grand Prix unveiled - F1 news - AUTOSPORT.com". Autosport. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to European Grand Prix. |
- Formula 1 European Grand Prix in Valencia Official website.
- Nürburgring F1 statistics
39°27′31.6″N 0°19′32″W / 39.458778°N 0.32556°WCoordinates: 39°27′31.6″N 0°19′32″W / 39.458778°N 0.32556°W
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