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[darwin dali]

ESPNF1:

FIA president Jean Todt has said Formula One should not lose the Australian Grand Prix, putting him at odds with Bernie Ecclestone who recently said the sport "does not need" Australia.

Todt's comments come against the backdrop of local debate about the cost of the annual Albert Park event to the local economy.

While in Melbourne for a road safety campaign one week before the F1 circus arrives, Todt said: "Formula One … is a sport and it is important, and if formula one does exist I think it is important to have one race in Australia because Australia is among the biggest nations in the world.

"Australia has been doing a great job together with people from [motor racing federation] CAMS. They have put Australia among the best grands prix in the season.

"Melbourne is a sensational venue with nice people, and when I arrived yesterday, I was thinking how good Melbourne is for Formula One."




Nice of JT to come out in full support of the Australian GP - no wavering whatsoever

[Gaz]

Bernie wants an OZ race, he might just not want it in Melbourne.

What Bernie wants and What Bernie says are very very diffrent things.

[vlad]

Indeed!

Melbourne is something special! They shouldn't change it!

[Jabberwocky]

ESPNF1:
Bernie Ecclestone who recently said the sport "does not need" Australia.

Translating into real meaning....

waiting.......


waiting.......


complete.

real meaning:-


Bernie Ecclestone who recently said "he does not want" Australia, because Arab countries pay more.

[Jabberwocky]

Plus let me guess the contract is due to be renewed at Melbourne!!!

He says it about every race just before contract renewal time so that the circuits lose bargaining power by being irreplacable. Bernie might then also say, well the place is a bit run down so it needs 50 Million spending on it, oh and whoops I have dropped Mr Tilkes card on your desk.

As soon as the contract is signed BE will say "I love these old tracks especially (insert tracks name) it is one of my favorite

[f1ea]

Jean Todt is simply being intelligent and thinking about the long term.

While Bernie may be speaking from a who pays more point of view, todt sees it from a sporting poiint of view, which is what eventually drives F1 for the long term. If we had 5 more races like the ones Bernie likes and remove the ones people want.... F1 would die a slow and painful death. Bernie would not care, because he has like 10 yrs left at most.

[vaptin]

I don't think Mr Todt will be sleeping soundly tonight.

[Jamie]

Is bernie a or what Oz is one of the very best Gp's I love it, losing it is like osing the F in F1 We do not need F1 to turn into Formula bloody asia for crying out loud. They try to ditch Canada which is my Fav Gp and have brought it back. Now he wants to ditch Oz! Thankyou JT for seeing sense...

[darwin dali]

ESPNF1:

The ongoing saga surrounding the long-term future of the Australian Grand Prix, which took another twist yesterday when FIA boss Jean Todt said it was a vital part of the Formula One calendar, has taken another twist with comments that the local authorities will not be taken for a ride in negotiations.

Mounting losses borne by taxpayers have led to calls for the race to be scrapped when the current contract expires in 2015, or at the very least for the contract to be renegotiated on more favourable terms.

Louise Asher, the state's tourism and major events minister, said the commitment to the grand prix remained but confirmed a better deal would be sought. "We'd like to [extend the contract] but we'll sit down and negotiate about it," she told Reuters. "There's no doubt about it that the Victorian government would want to secure the Grand Prix … it's just that we're not going to be bunnies in contractual negotiations."

In a touch of local politicking, Asher, whose Liberal party was elected in November, blamed the previous Labour government for the escalating losses which in 2010 approached $45 million. "We've inherited a contract that Labour has signed up to, and I just have to deal with it."

Asked what kind of deficit would be acceptable, Asher said her opinion was "irrelevant" in the short term because the current contract was binding. "What we're trying to do is manage what we've inherited."

She explained the spiralling losses were fuelled by falling spectator numbers and a reduction in sponsorship. "The [organisers] will be required to demonstrate to government that it's doing everything to rein in costs."

But Asher made clear she thinks the race brings considerable benefits to Melbourne. "Victorian tourism's had to really fight for everything we've achieved. Sydney's got the harbour and Brisbane's got the Great Barrier Reef, and we've had to brand ourselves by events or being a city of things to do.

"We've really had to work hard at brand Melbourne up, and particularly for internationals to know Melbourne exists and want to come to Melbourne and also for the interstate people to actually view Melbourne as exciting again."