With more and more countries in pursuit for a place on the F1 map - and more than one circuit in many countries - a rolling rota seems to be the only solution. Many new tracks have come into existence in the last five years and the latest in the news is the one in India, due to be completed by 2010.

As more and more circuits came into existence the number of races was increased. It went up from 16 to 17 in 1995, then to 18 in 2004 and even to 19 the following season. The teams need time for rest and a long enough off-season for practice and trial sessions. So the expansion had to be limited and the FIA seems to have settled at 18 races per calendar year.

But this hasn’t gone down well with the venues which have been ousted and some others who are waiting to be drafted in. Quite definitely to globalise the sport, the race has to go to different parts of the world. It would be a big shame if the event doesn’t ever come to India, which boasts one of the biggest fanbases of Formula 1 anywhere in the world. Sunday evenings at pubs here are always on advance bookings with youngsters flocking to them with their favuorite driver or team’s jersey.

The FIA needs to bring in a rotation policy whereby all venues get a chance to host the race at least every alternate year. The current situation where they go into a contract with one circuit for between five and seven continuous years and then go to another will not satisfy the spectators. Bringing the race back to a destination every two years will satisfy the fans and its absence for one year will keep the hunger alive in countries where the sport is not as big as some others.

The governing body can keep those races permanently on the calendar which can’t be excluded, like those which have a long history attached or a race like the Brazilian GP which is the only one in the South America. The others can be rotated, just making sure that all continents get a fair share each year.

An interesting addition could be made to the policy where, as prize for the best event in terms of race conditions or in terms of driver and spectator facilities and hospitality, one or two circuits would automatically get the chance to hold the race the following year as well. Another measure to involve fans would be an online voting by public to know which one of the circuits they would like to see feature on the calendar next year as well.

All this will provide incentive to the host countries and will lead to qualitative improvements. Taking into account the views of spectators will make them feel more involved. After all these routes the other circuits must be included by the roster.

This may take a few years to be implemented but looks like the only justifiable solution to the issue of increasing circuits and a cramped calendar, unless the FIA as always decides to go its own way without caring for others. A rolling rota with such provisions as mentioned above will give fans another thing to look forward to and interest in the sport will grow further.