From Crash.net
Bernie Ecclestone confirmed he would not bring the Turkish Grand Prix back, even if he has to drop the Austin race. The recent vibe indicates Europe is now history in F1's book.
"I think, in the next few years, Europe will be left with only fives races [out of a 20-race calendar]," Ecclestone declared to Marca. "Europe […] will be a good place for tourism, but little else. Europe is thing of the past."
The current financial climate over the world – particularly harsh in Europe – has prompted Ecclestone to go where the money is. Yet, not every new Grand Prix came with a success story. Turkish and Korean Grand Prix for example, have been put on the hot seat recently by financial difficulties.
But Ecclestone has no shortage of options – Russia and Mexico being alternatives among others – and therefore can afford to keep digging until he finds golden tracks.
Mexico has hit the headlines recently at Autosport.com, as one of the venue most likely to make it to the calendar soon. Its geographic location (between North and South American races), already existing presence in F1 (with Sauber's Sergio Perez and Esteban Gutierrez) and blossoming tourist economy make it one of the hottest prospect of the hour.
"The huge crowds who flocked to see Perez's F1 demonstration in his home town earlier this year attest to a new-found popularity for the sport that should be capitalized upon," Carlos Slim Domit – an influential Mexican businessman – declared in FIA in Motion magazine.
One of his companies, Telmex, is already in F1, backing Perez and Gutierrez at Sauber.
"Linking races in Canada and the US with a Mexican round would perfectly consolidate Formula 1's footprint in North and Central America and provide a viable bridge to the race in Brazil," he said.
Bernie Ecclestone confirmed he would not bring the Turkish Grand Prix back, even if he has to drop the Austin race. The recent vibe indicates Europe is now history in F1's book.
 |
| Austin's Circuit of the Americas not coming along very nicely (Photo: Kevin McCauley) |
"I think, in the next few years, Europe will be left with only fives races [out of a 20-race calendar]," Ecclestone declared to Marca. "Europe […] will be a good place for tourism, but little else. Europe is thing of the past."
The current financial climate over the world – particularly harsh in Europe – has prompted Ecclestone to go where the money is. Yet, not every new Grand Prix came with a success story. Turkish and Korean Grand Prix for example, have been put on the hot seat recently by financial difficulties.
 |
| Barhain – temporarly put off the calendar by political rows – is among the new-age tracks experiencing difficulties |
But Ecclestone has no shortage of options – Russia and Mexico being alternatives among others – and therefore can afford to keep digging until he finds golden tracks.
Mexico has hit the headlines recently at Autosport.com, as one of the venue most likely to make it to the calendar soon. Its geographic location (between North and South American races), already existing presence in F1 (with Sauber's Sergio Perez and Esteban Gutierrez) and blossoming tourist economy make it one of the hottest prospect of the hour.
"The huge crowds who flocked to see Perez's F1 demonstration in his home town earlier this year attest to a new-found popularity for the sport that should be capitalized upon," Carlos Slim Domit – an influential Mexican businessman – declared in FIA in Motion magazine.
One of his companies, Telmex, is already in F1, backing Perez and Gutierrez at Sauber.
"Linking races in Canada and the US with a Mexican round would perfectly consolidate Formula 1's footprint in North and Central America and provide a viable bridge to the race in Brazil," he said.