Comments on: F1 links: “We don’t a need British GP”

By: Anoop

Anoop — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:26:40 +0000

I am shocked on hearing such a comment from Bernie !!!

If there is no British GP, then what is going to take its place?? I can understand Bernie wanting to tap new markets like Korea, Russia, India etc ( FYI-I am from India and would absolutely love to have a regular Indian GP on the F1 calendar), but I am dead against tinkering with races/venues that have a lot of history behind them!! I definitely think that they are a big reason why F1 is still attractive.

Hope he comes back into his senses and brings back the British GP.

By: The Limit

The Limit — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:49:08 +0000

I don’t think this situation was a surprise to many people in Formula One, as it always seemed highly unlikely that Donington Park was going to pull it off in time for 2010.
The deciding factor though, like everything nowadays, is money. When everybody is finished dragging their heels, reality will bite, and common sense will prevail. With Jenson Button as defending champion, not to mention Lewis Hamilton, the masses will want to come to pay homage.
Losses or no losses, nobody is going to turn their noses up at that! I have always felt that Ecclestone has played his hand well on this matter.
He knew, I believe, that Gillett and the Donington Park venture were a non starter. In reopening a possible return to Silverstone, Ecclestone has firmly put the ball the court of Damon Hill and the BRDC. If they fail to agree on a deal, it will be the BRDC left with egg on their faces, and not Ecclestone.
That is something the BRDC will realise, thus giving us a grands prix! Trust me guys.

By: Stomp & Steer

Stomp & Steer — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:58:54 +0000

Perhaps Silverstone were to run a F1 race of their own, open to any F1 qualified driver & car? Surprisingly on a date when BE has scheduled an event beyond Europe. Or maybe a couple of races a year for the fans to enjoy. Think outside the box—-.

By: Harv's

Harv's — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:37:38 +0000

We dont need you Bernie! take Tilke with you aswell when you leave please!

By: Gavin

Gavin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:12:29 +0000

Such a shame that at one point during the season it really looked like we were going to get a sea change in F1, no more Bernie, no more Max and a sport run by the teams.

But in the end the poisoned dwarf has as usual won, more bland tracks, more chasing the money, Max the 2nd installed as Bernies puppet, back to being a business again.

By: PJA

PJA — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:00:40 +0000

Silverstone may not pay the most to host a Grand Prix but because of the business model imposed on them by Ecclestone they still make a loss like most circuits do.

Ecclestone knows that there are plenty of Governments around the world who any not only prepared to build fancy new circuits with state of the art facilities but are then prepared to subsidise the hosting of a Grand Prix year after year.

If the fees charged for hosting a Grand Prix were more reasonable the ticket prices for fans could be reduced and so higher attendances at races, and the circuits could at the very least break even without Government aid.

If I was in Silverstone’s position I probably wouldn’t be eager to sign a deal that meant I not only had to spend millions on improvements but then would make a loss year after year on the event which demanded those improvements.

By: John H

John H — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:43:14 +0000

Timo Glock even???

That would be interesting

By: John H

John H — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:40:27 +0000

Norbert Haug: “One thing is for sure though – guys who are out for money are not the right ones for us – whoever it may be. I won’t name anyone, but we want to have full commitment from someone who is success-oriented, not someone saying ‘I am a big name, pay me a lot of money and I will drive for you.’”

Out of Kimi and Button, this is likely to be Kimi. But it’s a close call I have to say!

Everyone thinks it’s one of two, but I think there’s a chance McLaren could sign someone completely out of the blue and suprise us all.

By: Red Andy

Red Andy — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:26:25 +0000

Silverstone pays less to host the GP than most other venues. And yet its facilities are considerably worse. That is Bernie’s problem.

By: PJA

PJA — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:58:02 +0000

Monaco already gets special privileges, it doesn’t have to pay the massive fees that Ecclestone demands for other circuits and it gets to keep the trackside advertising unlike other circuits.

If a similar deal was offered to Silverstone they wouldn’t make a loss hosting the Grand Prix and making the upgrades Ecclestone demands wouldn’t seem so unattractive financially.