Bernie - Australia likely to lose GP

[iceman1]

Australia likely to lose GP - Ecclestone
''It seems your guy down there doesn't want Formula One”
02/02/08 16:14

Formula one is not likely to return to Australia after the expiry of the current contract in 2010, the sport's Chief Executive Bernie Ecclestone has said.

After the country's first world championship round was held in 1985 in Adelaide, subsequently switching to Melbourne in 1996, the 77-year-old told News Ltd. that the lure of attractive alternative destinations like India, Russia and Korea is too strong to ignore.

Ecclestone also expressed little sympathy for concerns the Victorian state government has about the rising costs involved in staging the annual race, and Premier John Brumby's reluctance to embrace the concept of a night race.

"Maybe we don't want to be in Australia," Ecclestone said. "Our costs are very high in Australia and we get a lot less money. It's bloody bad for us.

"We've got quite a few places on the list which would like to have Formula One and as it seems your guy down there doesn't want Formula One, we can make him happy and make the other people happy," the British billionaire added.

Ecclestone said sponsors and manufacturers support his stance about Australia, including a strict ultimatum about needing the race to be held at night if it were to stay on the calendar.

"If we were to continue to be there, we would have to have a night race," he said, also ruling out moving the event to a different Australian state.

I hope the race stays,A night race is the only hope of Australia retaining F1 ,Adelaide once held an ALMS race at night, so that might be viable.

[donald29]

grrrr bernie is a pratt. he will probably axe australia, and go to another asian country where there is $$$$$$$$$$

keep the traditional races!

[maltafan]

Losing traditional races, F1 is losing it's appeal.

i mean it's good to see new tracks and countries, but losing the Australian race is like a car without windows, when it has spoilers and such.

[donald29]

well put maltafan

[Lilellatho]

I agree with you guys. I can't even imagine the start of the season in any place than Australia. When it was in Bahrain it just felt weird.

But it seems there's still hope:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/64967

I only hope Bernie would stop thinking about those god damn $$$ and start focusing on the good of the sport. But I fear that that's an impossible thing to ask of him. I already hate the fact that Imola and Suzuka are gone. It's just sad.

[AzShadow]

I think it's good to have races in new places but losing too many traditional GPs isn't really the way to go.

Of course revenues and money come first in Bernie's world and thus races in Asia sound very attractive, especially now that the night race seems to become the new trend.

This is how the business works in F1 and I'm afraid there's no-one stopping Bernie. If the organizers of the venue can't fork out the money, then no more Australian GP... :?

[Zack]

+1 ...Australia shouldn't fall back and agree to Bernie's demands

Frankly,i don't think India will able to host f1 in 2010 ...unless they do hardcore changes :|

[WDC]

i so upset... distressed even... after 2010 the closest grand prix to me will be a minimum 7.5hour flight!

i dislike the fact that formula 1, like all sports, has become about how much money the boss can make.

its a shame that a formula 1 grand prix is so heavily sort after by coutries who are willing to jump backwards through hoops that are on fire jut to host a grand prix which most likelyt be any good.

tradition is what makes... MADE formula 1 so amazing, the passion was unmirrored.

its so unfortunant. im really speechless, i cant find the right words to describe how i feel. ive been to every grand prix in melbourne, its been a tradition for so long now.

if only there was something that we could do to save the real races that have so much history.

spa, imola, the origional hockenheim, australia, nurburgring, suzuka... ect.

[maltafan]

Bernie has this philosophy to try and threaten established countries that they can lose their GP, then all of a sudden they agree a new deal.

Silverstone has been under threat for a long time for example, and is still there.

[AzShadow]

Yeah... and the race organizers usually report that the new deal costs a lot more.

[color]

Bernie has this philosophy to try and threaten established countries that they can lose their GP, then all of a sudden they agree a new deal.

Silverstone has been under threat for a long time for example, and is still there.

yeah... and Indianapolis is gone...

[martinez]

Strong and stern words from bernie..
Although i would like to see them stage a nightrace in melbourne (or adelaide)
By adding a new track to the seen, bernie makes f1 less classic. like suzuka and hockenheim, and for what?? they were good tracks.
Bernie being a billionaire should be the last guy to be worrying about money issues

[AzShadow]

Silverstone has been under threat for a long time for example, and is still there.

Now that you mentioned it:
Ecclestone: no qualms over British GP axe

[iceman1]

2008, a good year to replace Bernie :cheezy:

[Lilellatho]

I agree, Iceman1, let's organize a revolution to get his bum out of that warm seat of his.
I mean, who does this guy think he is? Can he simply decide all of this stuff on his own? Isn't there a board or sth to make all these important decisions?
Grrr, I hate this man and I'm known as a very peaceful person

But I don't think he's going to get rid of Silverstone. For Bernie it's all about the money and he surely isn't going to give that up when Britain has just found a new hero in Hamilton who "would be a better champion, cause the other guys don't do anything for the sport" (those were his exact words af far as I recall), is he?
But that's good news for me whatever the reason, cause I love Silverstone.