Organisers of the Grand Prix of Europe in Baku are requesting a name change.

Though Azerbaijan is physically and officially in Europe, the very fact that it is two hours ahead of central Paris gives some idea of just how far removed from the sport's heartland the country really is.

Indeed, when the Azerbaijan event was named the Grand Prix of Europe in Baku once eyebrows had collectively lowered and atlas’ googled the big question was, why?

Now officials are seeking to have the event renamed the Azerbaijani Grand Prix to reflect the host nation.

"We hope the next race will be held under the name of the Azerbaijani Grand Prix," said Baku City Circuit marketing and communications chief Nigar Arpadarai, according to Azerbaijan's Trend news agency.

"We successfully held Formula One in the capital for the first time," he added. "Therefore, it is time to link the name of this stage with our country."

Indeed, ahead of the announcement that the event has won best organised race of the year, surely the whole point of paying millions into FOM's coffers to be part of the F1 calendar is to promote one's country.

According to Arpadarai, who claims FOM has approved the name change, the idea behind naming the event the Grand Prix of Europe was to emphasise the country's links to the continent.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Ro, 29/10/2016 18:43

"How about calling it the "not the European GP""

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2. Posted by The stogie, 06/10/2016 18:01

"'Azerbaijani Grand Prix'?? That'll never fly as they bought too many vowels in the country name and that would make it a marketing nightmare."

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3. Posted by Editor, 04/10/2016 22:10

"@ Tom2681

When the race was named the Grand Prix of Europe and we had the temerity to question it, we were advised by similar experts that we were wrong and that Azerbaijan is in Europe.

Fact is, no matter how far east it is from Istanbul, Bulgaria or Basingstoke, it is officially classed as Eastern Europe."

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4. Posted by mickl, 04/10/2016 21:51

"If it gets renamed. Bernie has another excuse to add another race to the calendar as the 'Grand Prix of Europe' tag is free.....It'll probably be held in California. The Yanks won't know the difference :-p "

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5. Posted by Tom2681, 04/10/2016 21:38

""Azerbaijan is physically and officially in Europe"... I can't help but feel a "not" is missing from this sentence.

Azerbaijan is 1,000 miles East of Istanbul (half of which is in Asia).
It's also 1,000 miles East of Bulgaria, the easternmost member of the European Union."

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6. Posted by Jonno, 04/10/2016 19:30

"There's no chance of a name change. Bernie needs it to be in Europe, so he can claim there are X number of races held in Europe. Then again, who is Bernie now.

"

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7. Posted by Cobra Driver, 04/10/2016 18:52

"Call it The Mickey Mouse Grand Prix.
"

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8. Posted by ClarkwasGod, 04/10/2016 18:32

"Rename it "Cancelled GP""

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9. Posted by Ro, 04/10/2016 17:22

"Complete and utter tosh...Call it what you like, it was rubbish the first time, it will be rubbish all the time"

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Baku organisers seek name change

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