Ecclestone negotiating new Bahrain deal?

Bernie Ecclestone made his first appearance in the Formula 1 paddock since being ousted as CEO of the sport in January. He was a noticeable addition in the pitlane yesterday, as many wondered what he is doing back.

"I didn't leave," the Journal de Montreal quotes him as saying. "It's good to be back, but I only missed two races. And I wouldn't have gone to them anyway."

Ecclestone's position was spread out between Chase Carey, Sean Bratches and Ross Brawn when Liberty Media took over F1 earlier this year, but he has admitted that he is still yet to meet one of the men.

"I haven't met Sean Bratches, and although I have known Ross Brawn for a long time, this year we've spoken for about 10 minutes," international media reports quote the Briton as saying.

Suggestions in the pitlane are that the 86 year old has returned to negotiate with Bahrain officials over a new race deal: "I have no idea if that's true," he said mischievously when asked. "Everything is possible, but I doubt it."

Former driver David Coulthard thinks that Ecclestone is just a distraction from the main event: "Sport is about winners and exceptional performances," he wrote in the Telegraph.

"Bernie Ecclestone returning was very exciting, but it will not be big news tomorrow, and come Sunday he'll just be another person in the paddock. And that will be the same for Jenson in Monaco."

 

Fergal Walsh

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Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16
Australia
21 - Mar 23
China
4 - Apr 6
Japan
11 - Apr 13
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4
United States of America
16 - May 18
Italy
23 - May 25
Monaco
30 - Jun 1
Spain
13 - Jun 15
Canada
27 - Jun 29
Austria
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27
Belgium
1 - Aug 3
Hungary
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7
Italy
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5
Singapore
17 - Oct 19
United States of America
24 - Oct 26
Mexico
7 - Nov 9
Brazil
21 - Nov 23
United States of America
28 - Nov 30
Qatar
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23
4 - Apr 6
11 - Apr 13
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18
23 - May 25
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1
13 - Jun 15
27 - Jun 29
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27
1 - Aug 3
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5
17 - Oct 19
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26
7 - Nov 9
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
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