Formula 1 news

Turkish GP fate to be decided Tuesday

On Tuesday the FIA decides at a meeting in Paris what sanctions will be imposed on the Turkish Grand Prix organisers over the controversial podium ceremony at last month's race.

The controversy arose when Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat was introduced to millions of viewers worldwide as the president of the Turkish Cypriot 'state', which is only recognised by Turkey and not the international community.

Possible penalties include the scrapping of next year's race as well as Turkey losing the right to host rounds of the FIA-authorised rally and touring car world championships.

The decision from this meeting, which is the first of its kind, should be announced later on Tuesday. The politically-neutral FIA represents organisations from 125 countries and may be tempted to set an example with a heavy punishment.

This would come as a disappointment to many of F1's drivers and bosses alike, who have given the track rave reviews.

"I can't see it being taken off the calendar...for whatever reason," McLaren team boss Ron Dennis told reporters at Monza this month. 

"It seems a rather draconian act to take a world championship event off when they've built a good circuit and basically it's a good grand prix." 

Honda's Nick Fry sees Turkey as an integral part of the commercial growth of the sport. 

"Turkey is a huge growing market," he said. "For the car manufacturers and for all the sponsors, it would be losing a growth market and that would be commercially not great. Frankly, I think it would be negative all round."

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