Bernie Ecclestone declares Australian Grand Prix ‘least feasible' – Formula 1 news
Bernie Ecclestone has notified the coordinators of the first Grand Prix of the upcoming 2012 Formula 1 season to be held in Melbourne, Australia that their event is ‘least feasible’ on the schedule.
Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia is going to host the F1 season opener at March 18, 2012 and it has the contract of hosting F1 GP until 2015. However, the recent statement of Ecclestone has put the future of F1 in Australia under question.
Moreover, Ecclestone’s statement last year gave hope to the local fans when he said, “Australia is just as important to us as Monaco and has been for an awful long time.”
However, it seems like he has changed his mind now.
“We have a contract which we will respect - so up until 2015 we are in good shape,” Ecclestone told The Age on Wednesday. “After then, we really don't know. If we were to have a divorce from our friends in Melbourne we would probably be walking away from
Australia. Because I can't see how Adelaide could make it happen, or anywhere else, if Melbourne can't. The race itself, from our point of view, is probably the least viable of all the races we have.”
Ecclestone stated that the new F1 Grand Prix venues which have more potential than the conventional venues will continue to be attractive for the owners of F1.
There have been a lot of discussions regarding the future of races over the years concerning the cost of race set up and verbal resistance from particular members of the Victorian state parliament.
Ecclestone’s stance can prove out to be the last straw for Melbourne as the city representatives have been complaining about the financial losses happened in the current years. Furthermore, the cost to install the lights will be way too much for the taxpayers.
Moreover, Ecclestone expressed that there are many races which are ready to take the place of Australia which we don’t want to happen but it will be unjust for me to say to the board that we have to let go other better options in order to hold on to Australia.
Tags: