Only 6 races in Europe next season

The 2013 Formula One calendar was released over the weekend and I was extremely surprised to see that it features only six European events. It is quiet sad that we are losing a lot of great races in Europe. For example, the Turkish GrandPrix was a fantastic venue with it's incredible turn eight. In recent year's we have also lost the French GrandPrix in Magny Cours and the A1 Ring in Austria.

Where it is disappointing to see the sport lose these iconic track's, I understand the need for the sport to branch out into new market's. However now we only have three manufacturers involved in the sport and only two 'works' teams, in Mercedes and Ferrari.

This year we make our first trip to North America since 2007 with the United State's GrandPrix taking place at the purpose built Circuit of the America's facility in Austin, Texas. I have absolutely no doubt what so ever that the GrandPrix in Texas will be a resounding success particularly as they have former World Champion Mario Andretti helping to promote the event.

Next year also sees Valencia lose it's spot on the calendar as it is replace provisionally by the American GrandPrix at the New Jersey Street circuit with the Manhattan skyline as the back drop. From next season onwards Barcelona and Valencia will alternate in hosting the Spanish GrandPrix this means that there will be no European GrandPrix next season.

With the introduction of New Jersey next season, there will be five street circuits so that makes up a quarter of the race's in 2013. So next season looks set to be a spectacular year already and we have just earned about the calendar. We are still to find out the driver movements for 2013 and that could potentially be made clearer on Wednesday as both Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton have reportedly called press conferences for some time on that day so I may have news about the line-ups and future plans of Mercedes by then.