From GMM
Bernie Ecclestone has refused to criticise Silverstone after an apparently major design flaw with the venue's new facilities emerged on Friday.
Many spectators sitting opposite the pits cannot see the podium, and they will also miss the pitstops of top teams including Red Bull and McLaren because some of the garages are situated lower than the pitwall.
"It's not ideal," the 80-year-old admitted, "but I can't keep complaining about the place. They have made a lot of improvements."
It emerges that Silverstone wanted the three newest teams to occupy the subterranean end of the pitlane, but that F1 chief executive Ecclestone ordered the switch so that the grandee teams could be easily seen by Paddock Club guests.
Track boss Richard Phillips said the situation should be better in the future:
"The plan is to replace the temporary grandstands with permanent buildings that have a steeper rake and will have a better view," he added.
Meanwhile, Ecclestone, who currently works for the sport's majority owner CVC, has admitted he is interested in buying back formula one.
It has been reported recently that Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation in collaboration with the Fiat-linked Exor company is interested in buying F1, as are the grandee teams.
Asked if he is interested as well, Ecclestone told the International Herald Tribune: "Yes, absolutely. I wouldn't buy at the price that I think CVC would sell it. But I would certainly buy at the price that they (News/Exor) want to pay."
Ecclestone, 80, was quoted recently as saying he thinks formula one is worth between $6 and 7 billion.
Bernie Ecclestone has refused to criticise Silverstone after an apparently major design flaw with the venue's new facilities emerged on Friday.
Many spectators sitting opposite the pits cannot see the podium, and they will also miss the pitstops of top teams including Red Bull and McLaren because some of the garages are situated lower than the pitwall.
"It's not ideal," the 80-year-old admitted, "but I can't keep complaining about the place. They have made a lot of improvements."
It emerges that Silverstone wanted the three newest teams to occupy the subterranean end of the pitlane, but that F1 chief executive Ecclestone ordered the switch so that the grandee teams could be easily seen by Paddock Club guests.
Track boss Richard Phillips said the situation should be better in the future:
"The plan is to replace the temporary grandstands with permanent buildings that have a steeper rake and will have a better view," he added.
Meanwhile, Ecclestone, who currently works for the sport's majority owner CVC, has admitted he is interested in buying back formula one.
It has been reported recently that Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation in collaboration with the Fiat-linked Exor company is interested in buying F1, as are the grandee teams.
Asked if he is interested as well, Ecclestone told the International Herald Tribune: "Yes, absolutely. I wouldn't buy at the price that I think CVC would sell it. But I would certainly buy at the price that they (News/Exor) want to pay."
Ecclestone, 80, was quoted recently as saying he thinks formula one is worth between $6 and 7 billion.