Formula One news

Ecclestone hoping to lower ticket prices

Good news for Formula One fans this weekend is that commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone is hoping to reduce ticket prices at Grands Prix. The Englishman, head of Formula One Management (FOM), has explained that overall cost-cutting in the sport will help to lower entrance fees.

Prices must be lowered, says Ecclestone

With F1 fans and drivers alike having raised the point of ticket prices this year - particularly when attendances were noticeably low in Turkey - Ecclestone agrees that both ticket prices should be slashed and drivers should be more accessible to their fans.

"The problem is, the cost of running teams today is just crazy but now we are getting the teams to come to their senses and reduce expenditure dramatically," Ecclestone commented. "When that happens we won't have to produce so much money for them and, therefore, we can ask for less money for the promoter and the ticket prices will come down - we want that to happen as soon as possible."

The former Brabham team boss does think, however, that F1 competitors remain too concealed from the supports of the sport. "I still think we should be doing an awful lot more to make the drivers more exposed to the public," Bernie continued. "We have a few things, like autograph sessions and things like that, so they are slowly coming round.

Turkish Grand Prix organisers covered grandstands this year in order to mask the lack of spectators at Istanbul Park

"The trouble is, if one or two of the top guys won't do it, the other guys say 'Why should we if they won't?'. I've always said that the guy who's World Champion owes an awful lot to the sport so, if he took the lead, other people would follow; the incredible thing is, as I pointed out the other day, when Michael Schumacher was driving for Ferrari he had a contract with a television company saying that he wouldn't have an interview with anybody else until he had spoken to them.

"This is the sort of thing we have always been up against, I'm afraid. They don't want to - they could but they don't want to - but you can't make people do what they don't want to do; if they are doing it but not being sincere about it, it's a waste of time."

more news

• 27 Nov.
  • Montreal seals Formula One contract
  • GPUpdate TV: Domenicali - high hopes for 2010
  • Jerez test: The cast
  • Wurz plays down USF1 link
  • Renault to test Baguette, Tung and Di Grassi
  • Alonso makes second visit to Ferrari
  • Force India confirms Sutil and Liuzzi
  • All new teams now FOTA members
  • Sauber buys team back from BMW
  • De la Rosa pushing for race drive
  • Ecclestone: I won't buy Donington
  • Haug becomes part of F1 in Schools
  • Volkswagen to provide F1 engines?
• 26 Nov.
  • Alguersuari: 2010 contract is signed
  • Conway and Ericsson to test for Mercedes
  • 4 driver options left for Lotus
  • 'F1 in need of Schumacher return' - Verstappen
• 25 Nov.
  • 'Fantastic opportunity' - Di Resta on Force India test
  • Recap: N.Technology court bid fails
  • BMW testers excited about Jerez
  • Brawn disappointed with Button drives, ponders Lauda
  • Piquet to drive in Massa kart race
  • Brawn aero chief wins award
  • Gillett disappointed with government position
  • Mercedes hopes to confirm line-up by Christmas
• 24 Nov.
  • Briatore verdict expected in January
  • Donington still hopeful over F1 race
  • Montreal race confirmation imminent
  • Massa names drivers for karting event
  • Campos car passes FIA safety tests
  • Strong test could seal drive, says Mallya
  • Force India to test di Resta and Hildebrand
  • Courts to hear Briatore case
  • Silverstone GP deal forthcoming
• 23 Nov.
  • GPUpdate TV: Sam Michael - building on 2009
  • Theissen waiting on entry decision
  • Mercedes delighted with Rosberg confirmation
  • Confirmed: Rosberg to Mercedes for 2010
  • Manor hoping to run in late January
  • Mercedes poised to announce first driver

Homepage