Chitchat F1 Boss Upset That Sinkies Are Such Ingrates! No More F1 In Zikapore?

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SINGAPORE - The future of Singapore Grand Prix has been cast into fresh doubts after Formula One head honcho Bernie Ecclestone claimed the Republic no longer wants to host a race here.

Speculation was rife during September’s Singapore Grand Prix that negotiations to extend the Singapore race when its five-year deal expires next year would not be concluded successfully.

In an interview with German magazine Auto Motor Und Sport that was published on Sunday (Nov 20), Ecclestone claimed that Singapore is not going to extend its race deal.

“Look at what we have done for Singapore,” the F1 chief executive was quoted as saying. “Yes, the Grand Prix has cost Singapore a lot of money, but we’ve also given them a lot of money.

“Singapore was suddenly more than just an airport to fly to or from somewhere. Now they believe they have reached their goal and they do not want a Grand Prix anymore.”

Ecclestone’s comments came on the back of a poor 2016 edition of the Singapore race. Ticket sales were the poorest in the nine years since F1 returned to the city in 2008. Singapore GP reported that overall ticket take-up was 15 per cent lower than average attendance since 2008.

Daily attendance around the Marina Bay circuit in September was 73,000, while the three-day total was pegged at 219,000 – lower, even, than during the 2009 financial crisis.

Singapore is not the only venue whose long-term future is in doubt. The German and Brazilian Grands Prix are believed to be also heading for the exit.

“We do our best to keep Canada on the calendar. In Brazil we try the same, even if it is difficult,” Ecclestone said. “In terms of Hockenheim. We cannot subsidise the race in Germany, if we do not do the same with other races in Europe.”

The 86-year-old Briton added that some of the manufacturers – including world champions Mercedes – may quit the sport in the next few years.

“It could happen to us that Mercedes and Ferrari run away,” said Ecclestone. “But honestly, if the races get better, this may not be such a terrible vision.

“We have to expect the manufacturers to leave us anyway. Mercedes will retire on the day when it suits them and it’s something we had before – look at Honda, BMW and Toyota. They go when Formula 1 has done the job for them. There is no gratitude.

“It is the same with the organisers.”

http://www.todayonline.com/sports/mo...ays-ecclestone


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