F1’s global popularity puts classic European GPs at risk of being dropped

The Canadian Grand Prix is not under threat as Formula One’s following in North America continues to grow. Photograph: Hasan Bratic/DeFodi Images/Shutterstock

With Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix the final fly-away meeting of the spring, Formula One is about to enter its European leg proper. But the sport’s very popularity may now be putting at risk some of those classic races in what used to be considered F1’s heartland.

Following the money as ever, F1 is signing more expensive and longer deals with circuits. But given there are a finite number of slots available on the calendar, something has to give.