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Ecclestone: "We don't need a second race in Spain"

Ecclestone: "We don't need a second race in Spain"

  • Published on 24 Oct 2014 11:59
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
Bernie Ecclestone has played down reports he is in advanced talks to bring formula one to the streets of Madrid. Spain's El Confidencial claimed this week the F1 supremo is already in possession of a business plan and bank guarantees, as a group of businessmen want the Spanish capital to host an annual street race.

The news would seem to be a threat to F1's existing Spanish grand prix in Barcelona, but Circuit de Catalunya boss Salvador Servia reacted: "We know nothing. Nobody has told us anything."

F1 chief executive Ecclestone has also now played down the Madrid reports, confirming that a group "talked about it but nothing has happened". "We're not going to do a race in Madrid," the almost 84-year-old told F1 business journalist Christian Sylt, writing in Forbes. A second Spanish race, on the streets of Valencia, failed recently and Ecclestone insists: "We don't need a second race in Spain. It's easy enough as it is."

Notwithstanding that, F1 is preparing to welcome Azerbaijan to the schedule in 2016 and possibly also a race on the famous 'Strip' in Las Vegas. That would tend to contradict claims that Ecclestone cannot take the annual calendar beyond 20 races unless the F1 teams agree. But Ecclestone insists: "If I want more than 20 races I don't need consent from the teams. I don't think so. I don't care about the consent from them which is more to the point," he added.

One race that has come into doubt in recent days, however, is the fabled British grand prix, after several directors including Silverstone chief Richard Phillips were escorted off the premises and suspended. "I don't know what Richard Phillips could have done," Ecclestone told Sylt. "It's all very strange and it came out of the blue. Everything was fine and now the top guy there that we used to deal with is gone. He never said anything to me about this," he said. (GMM)
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2020

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
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Spain
-
Spain
3 - Jul 5
Austria
Red Bull Ring
10 - Jul 12
Austria
Red Bull Ring
17 - Jul 19
Hungary
Hungaroring
31 - Aug 2
United Kingdom
Silverstone
7 - Aug 9
United Kingdom
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14 - Aug 16
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Aug 30
Belgium
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Italy
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11 - Sep 13
Italy
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25 - Sep 27
Russian
Sochi Autodrom
9 - Oct 11
Germany
Nurburgring
23 - Oct 25
Portugal
Autódromo Internacional do Algarve
31 - Nov 1
Italy
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
13 - Nov 15
Turkey
Istanbul Park
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Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
3 - Dec 6
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit Outer Track layout
10 - Dec 13
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2020

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
-
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
3 - Jul 5
Austria Red Bull Ring
10 - Jul 12
Austria Red Bull Ring
17 - Jul 19
Hungary Hungaroring
31 - Aug 2
United Kingdom Silverstone
7 - Aug 9
United Kingdom Silverstone
14 - Aug 16
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Aug 30
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
4 - Sep 6
Italy Monza
11 - Sep 13
Italy Mugello
25 - Sep 27
Russian Sochi Autodrom
9 - Oct 11
Germany Nurburgring
23 - Oct 25
Portugal Autódromo Internacional do Algarve
31 - Nov 1
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
13 - Nov 15
Turkey Istanbul Park
27 - Nov 29
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
3 - Dec 6
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit Outer Track layout
10 - Dec 13
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule
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