Does the return of the Austrian Grand Prix mark the beginning of the end for the Bernie Ecclestone World Tour?

It's safe to say the news of the Austrian Grand Prix is to return to the Formula One calendar in time for the 2014 season has taken may fans of the sport by surprise.

Due to take place on 6th July 2014 at the newly refurbished 'Red Bull Ring', a circuit which last hosted F1 action back in 2003, the race is to be entirely bankrolled by Red Bull's multi billionaire owner Dietrich Mateschitz .

Considering the circuit was virtually demolished back in 2005, this is some achievement for the 4.6 kilometre racetrack located just outside the quaint city of Spielberg located high in the Austrian mountains.

While the rise fall and rise again of the Austrian Grand Prix makes a lovely copy story for any self respecting journalist, a member of the occupation worth their salt must surely question the decision making process when it comes to the Red Bull Ring's reinstatement onto the F1 calendar.

 

It is no surprise that Red Bull Owner and former Spielberg resident Mateschitz wants to bring F1 back to his home region, yet the real shock is that the sports main supremo Bernie Ecclestone agreed to the move.

Since the 2004, the year the Austrian Grand Prix began its F1 hiatus, the sport has seen nine circuits make their debuts as a race venue with only two of these residing in Europe. Indeed Austria itself was removed from the calendar to provide a slot for the much anticipated Bahrain Grand Prix, F1's first foray into the Middle Eastern market.

For years Bernie Ecclestone has spoken of his plans to expand the F1 brand, taking the sport to every corner of the globe in his search for increased revenue and sponsorship deals. But this has come at a price with F1 neglecting its core fan base.

While initially the new grand prixs were welcomed by residents of the host country, attendances in these nations soon began to fall. Take China as an example, 260,000 fans attended the inaugural event back in 2004 with this figure dropping to just 155,000 six years later.

Poor attendances meant the Turkish race was removed from the calendar just six years after its debut and rumours suggest the same fate awaits the Korean Grand Prix. If true the multimillion dollar facility will have hosted just four Grand Prix events and Ecclestone will have dropped Korea quicker than a Sebastian Vettel pole lap.

It seems that Ecclestone himself is ready to call time on his Asian F1 experiment with Austria's return the first sign of this.

 It is perhaps no coincidence that Bernie is turning his attention to finding a new home for the French Grand Prix while showing a distinct disinterest towards the proposed race in New Jersey, something which he had previously fought hard for.

In a world of constant change it appears F1 is ready to return to its past with Austria perhaps the first of many former circuits to return to the calendar.

F1 needs it's classic venues to keep the heart of the sport beating, and I for one, hope that heartbeat continues for many years to come.