Bernie Ecclestone has hit back after an American motor racing figure called him "foolish". Eddie Gossage, the president of the Texas motor speedway, this week blasted the F1 chief executive for scheduling this year's US grand prix on the same November date as the major Nascar race in the same state. "I can't say I was surprised because Bernie Ecclestone does a lot of foolish things," he said.
But 83-year-old Briton Ecclestone has hit back, insisting Gossage and other Nascar officials do not understand the logistical tasks faced by a global sport like formula one. "We've a small problem they don't have," he told the Press Association. "We have six jumbo jets to move around all our equipment, and we have to find the most sensible way to use them to do that. There are issues that can occur, but he and other people do not realise these things. The race prior to the one in the US is in Russia, in Sochi. We've never been before, and we have to get out of there and into Austin. That is probably a lot easier than trying to get into Brazil, and then we have to get out of there to go to Abu Dhabi," Ecclestone explained. "So he (Gossage) is extremely lucky he doesn't have to do what we have to do."
Ecclestone also defended his colleagues at the US grand prix venue in Austin, after Gossage accused them of lacking the "fortitude" to "say no" to the Nascar date clash. "I've spoken to the people that run the race at COTA (circuit of the Americas) and they believe the Nascar crowd is a different crowd to formula one -- different people, different customers," he insisted. "At the end of the day they (Nascar) run a domestic series in America -– we run a world championship," said Ecclestone. (GMM)
Ecclestone responds to criticism from US track boss
- Published on 27 Feb 2014 07:32
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- By: Rob Veenstra
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Circuit de Catalunya - Winter testing
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Jan 26
I. Hadjar
- 1:18.159
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Jan 27
M. Verstappen
- 1:19.578
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Jan 28
A. Antonelli
- 1:17.362
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Jan 29
G. Russell
- 1:16.445
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Jan 30
L. Hamilton
- 1:16.348
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Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
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Feb 11
L. Norris
- 1:34.669
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Feb 12
C. Leclerc
- 1:34.273
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Feb 13
A. Antonelli
- 1:33.669
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Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
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Feb 18
G. Russell
- 1:33.459
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Feb 19
A. Antonelli
- 1:32.803
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Feb 20
C. Leclerc
- 1:31.992
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
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Spain
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Bahrain
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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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