Formula One news

Ecclestone: We don't need a British Grand Prix

With Donington Park's Monday financial deadline looming and Silverstone still waiting in the wings, Bernie Ecclestone has now said that Formula One does not necessarily require a race in Great Britain.

Northamptonshire's Silverstone is believed to have been offered a contract by F1 commercial rights holder Ecclestone although, according to a spokesperson from the track, it was not a commercially viable contract. "No-one is forcing them to take it," Ecclestone is quoted as saying in reply by The Daily Express on Saturday.

"This is business. We have offered them a deal. The contract they have is the contract we like. We are not prepared to charge less. Do we need a British Grand Prix? No."

Englishman Ecclestone went on to say that there is no need to protect the British Grand Prix as, contrary to opinions of others, it is not a traditional race. "Italy is a traditional race because they have always raced at Monza," he said of the race which has been held at Monza every season since 1950, bar 1980 when the event switched to Imola.

"Monaco is traditional as they have always had the same track. Britain and France have raced at three different circuits. They want a cut-price deal because it is traditional. That's not traditional to me. Britain is not protected. I would like a new plane because it's traditional as I have had one for 40 years but no-one is offering me a cheap deal. That's not how it works.

"A lot of countries want Grands Prix. How would it be fair to those countries to charge them more than a major country like Britain?"

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