FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[McLaren Fan]

From F1 Live:

Bernie Ecclestone is once again applying pressure on organisers of the Australian Grand Prix.

The F1 chief executive, after pushing for a night race but instead succeeding in debuting the 'twilight' concept for this year's Melbourne event, wants an even later start time for the 2010 edition.

A new contract was signed prior to this March's running of the race at Albert Park, and it is believed the 5pm start time is expressly mentioned in the document, while the necessity for artificial lighting is not.

Drivers this year complained about long shadows and sun glare as evening fell towards the end of the race, but Ecclestone hailed the concept as much better for F1's bulk European television audience.

He told Melbourne's Sunday Herald Sun that he is now in talks with organiser Ron Walker about an even later race start.

"When you say last year was twilight, I don't know how twilight it was," said the 78-year-old.

"The later we can get that race, the better it is for us. Ron and I are talking about all these things," Ecclestone added.

A spokesman for the Victorian government said the rejection of the night race concept is "not negotiable".

"We have a firm position on when the race should be held," he said. "Bernie Ecclestone is well aware of that position and the time of the race will not be moved."

© CAPSIS International
Source: GMM

[myownalias]

So I guess the next thing out of Bernie's mouth with be "Do you need an Australian grand prix? NO!" ... why doesn't the senile old fool just retire?

[FerrariFan63]

It's interesting to note how important to Bernie the European F1 audience is. But on the other hand, he seems to want to get rid of the European GPs. So eventually will we see nighttime GPs in a whole lot of European countries mainly watched by Europeans? Is there any chance that Europeans might lose interest if there are fewer and fewer European GPs?

[myownalias]

It's interesting to note how important to Bernie the European F1 audience is. But on the other hand, he seems to want to get rid of the European GPs. So eventually will we see nighttime GPs in a whole lot of European countries mainly watched by Europeans? Is there any chance that Europeans might lose interest if there are fewer and fewer European GPs?

There's always a chance of that happening but I doubt it! How long can far-flung races survive before it becomes commercially non-viable? Montreal had to be given a big financial break to agree to hosting a F1 race again! Give it a few years and Bernie and CVC will come crawling back to European tracks with cap-in-hand

[EwanM]

It's interesting to note how important to Bernie the European F1 audience is. But on the other hand, he seems to want to get rid of the European GPs. So eventually will we see nighttime GPs in a whole lot of European countries mainly watched by Europeans? Is there any chance that Europeans might lose interest if there are fewer and fewer European GPs?

There's always a chance of that happening but I doubt it! How long can far-flung races survive before it becomes commercially non-viable? Montreal had to be given a big financial break to agree to hosting a F1 race again! Give it a few years and Bernie and CVC will come crawling back to European tracks with cap-in-hand

To be fair, Bernie is open to hosting races in Europe if they are willing to pay their way.

However many aren't.
Yes, sanction fees are far too high, but I get sick of the number of motorsport federations playing the "traditional" card.

[myownalias]

It's interesting to note how important to Bernie the European F1 audience is. But on the other hand, he seems to want to get rid of the European GPs. So eventually will we see nighttime GPs in a whole lot of European countries mainly watched by Europeans? Is there any chance that Europeans might lose interest if there are fewer and fewer European GPs?

There's always a chance of that happening but I doubt it! How long can far-flung races survive before it becomes commercially non-viable? Montreal had to be given a big financial break to agree to hosting a F1 race again! Give it a few years and Bernie and CVC will come crawling back to European tracks with cap-in-hand

To be fair, Bernie is open to hosting races in Europe if they are willing to pay their way.

However many aren't.
Yes, sanction fees are far too high, but I get sick of the number of motorsport federations playing the "traditional" card.

But at the same time; traditional tracks are where the exciting racing happens; you just have to look at Interlagos for proof of that! A lot of the new mostly Tilke designed far flung circuits in oil rich countries who can afford to pay Bernie's extortionate fees are more about raising the countries profile than interest in motorsport. I think that a packed Silverstone is much better than a half-empty Sakhir in my opinion. I firmly believe that in time the far flung circuits will drop away and we'll be back to the "traditional" circuits!

[EwanM]

It's interesting to note how important to Bernie the European F1 audience is. But on the other hand, he seems to want to get rid of the European GPs. So eventually will we see nighttime GPs in a whole lot of European countries mainly watched by Europeans? Is there any chance that Europeans might lose interest if there are fewer and fewer European GPs?

There's always a chance of that happening but I doubt it! How long can far-flung races survive before it becomes commercially non-viable? Montreal had to be given a big financial break to agree to hosting a F1 race again! Give it a few years and Bernie and CVC will come crawling back to European tracks with cap-in-hand

To be fair, Bernie is open to hosting races in Europe if they are willing to pay their way.

However many aren't.
Yes, sanction fees are far too high, but I get sick of the number of motorsport federations playing the "traditional" card.

But at the same time; traditional tracks are where the exciting racing happens; you just have to look at Interlagos for proof of that! A lot of the new mostly Tilke designed far flung circuits in oil rich countries who can afford to pay Bernie's extortionate fees are more about raising the countries profile than interest in motorsport. I think that a packed Silverstone is much better than a half-empty Sakhir in my opinion. I firmly believe that in time the far flung circuits will drop away and we'll be back to the "traditional" circuits!

I'd also hope that to be the case, but realistically Ecclestone is right to want to pursue other options. F1 is just as much a business as a sport and CVC made a huge investment, they want a return on it.

I don't want to defend their motives, but I can see why they do it.

[f1usa]

Would Bernie be abandoning traditional venues in Europe if the debt load of CVC was lower.

[Denthúl]

Would Bernie be abandoning traditional venues in Europe if the debt load of CVC was lower.

Probably.

[EwanM]

Would Bernie be abandoning traditional venues in Europe if the debt load of CVC was lower.

Hmmm yes and no.

[myownalias]

The core problem is greed; yes CVC did invest a lot of money in F1 and want to recoup their investment but at what cost to the sport; if things continue the way they are; CVC could end up with a turkey (and I'm not talking the country). Deserting your core markets for bigger payouts often comes back to bite companies on the bottom.

[darwin dali]

The core problem is greed; yes CVC did invest a lot of money in F1 and want to recoup their investment but at what cost to the sport; if things continue the way they are; CVC could end up with a turkey (and I'm not talking the country). Deserting your core markets for bigger payouts often comes back to bite companies on the bottom.

?

[headless]

Silly old bar steward.

[Hanwombat]

Ecclestone = turd

[RA Dunk]

FFS how many night/twilight races do we need?