From GMM
Bernie Ecclestone watched the Turkish grand prix from his lounge room in London.
The F1 chief executive, who is the leaseholder of the Istanbul circuit, was forced to miss the weekend's action due to a kidney infection.
Ecclestone rents the track from the Istanbul chamber of commerce, but believes the promotion of the event is up to the locals.
Watching Sunday's grand prix from his London home with a Daily Express reporter, the 78-year-old admitted his concern about the almost totally empty grandstands.
"I need to speak to the Turkish prime minister soon and see what the future of the circuit is. They just don't promote the race," Ecclestone charged.
It is known that Ecclestone has already served notice that the track's agreement to stage the annual race is under review for 2011 and beyond.
Mark Webber said after finishing second on Sunday that the problem may be that tickets are too expensive. But Ecclestone believes the market is there.
"They have a huge catchments area of East European and Middle East countries. The layout is brilliant, they just don't promote it," said Ecclestone, before joking: "Maybe they could move the whole thing to Britain."
photo:WRI2
Bernie Ecclestone watched the Turkish grand prix from his lounge room in London.
The F1 chief executive, who is the leaseholder of the Istanbul circuit, was forced to miss the weekend's action due to a kidney infection.
Ecclestone rents the track from the Istanbul chamber of commerce, but believes the promotion of the event is up to the locals.
Watching Sunday's grand prix from his London home with a Daily Express reporter, the 78-year-old admitted his concern about the almost totally empty grandstands.
"I need to speak to the Turkish prime minister soon and see what the future of the circuit is. They just don't promote the race," Ecclestone charged.
It is known that Ecclestone has already served notice that the track's agreement to stage the annual race is under review for 2011 and beyond.
Mark Webber said after finishing second on Sunday that the problem may be that tickets are too expensive. But Ecclestone believes the market is there.
"They have a huge catchments area of East European and Middle East countries. The layout is brilliant, they just don't promote it," said Ecclestone, before joking: "Maybe they could move the whole thing to Britain."
photo:WRI2