Bernie Ecclestone has played down the controversy over the future of Australia's grand prix by daring organisers to walk away from the sport. "When the contract comes up, they don't have to renew," the F1 chief executive, speaking from London, told local Fairfax Radio ahead of the 2012 Melbourne race. "That is the nice thing. We are not going to force anyone into doing anything because we can't."
The current contract expires in 2015, and Ecclestone has offered to ease the taxpayers' burden if race organisers agree to host the race at night, to better service Europe's live television audience.
But the 81-year-old Briton is also furious, after a federal politician for the ruling Labor Party scorned the millions paid to Ecclestone in order to bankroll the billionaire's flamboyant "bogan" daughter Tamara. "Who was the halfwit that said these things?" Ecclestone told 3AW radio. "You're not a communist state there, are you? Any money that my children have got, they didn't steal. "I'd like him to say what he said to me face to face."
The latest spat is yet another threat to the highly popular Albert Park race, with Ecclestone surmising: "From all the things I read that the government say, I don't think that they want to continue."
Australian driver Mark Webber hopes the race has a future. "I don't think it's a gain to lose it, put it that way," he said. "It was successful in Adelaide and in Melbourne as well and it would be brilliant to keep it here for a long time yet." (GMM)
Angry Ecclestone dares Australia to drop Grand Prix
- Published on 16 Mar 2012 03:19
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- By: Rob Veenstra
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
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Spain
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Bahrain
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
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Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
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Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
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Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia
Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
26 - Jun 28
Austria
Red Bull Ring
3 - Jul 5
United Kingdom
Silverstone
17 - Jul 19
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
24 - Jul 26
Hungary
Hungaroring
21 - Aug 23
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
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