‘Cranky’ F1 chief Ecclestone ‘calls mayor’s cancelling Australian Grand Prix bluff’
January 28th, 2011 - 5:57 pm ICT by ANILondon, Jan 27(ANI): Formula One tycoon Bernie Ecclestone has hit back at calls for the Australian Grand Prix to be moved away from Melbourne.
Melbourne’s Lord Mayor Robert Doyle had recently said that the annual Albert Park event was no longer value for money for the Victorian state taxpayer.
He speculated that one possible outcome was that the sport’s “cranky” chief executive will replace the race by taking “the dollars of either an Asian or oil-rich Middle Eastern state”.
Ecclestone hit back by warning that even though there is a contract in place to 2015, he would be “happy” to scrap the race.
“If the mayor thinks I’m cranky, I can probably be able to help him by proving it. If he’s not happy with the event in Australia, if he wants to cancel the contract, we’d be happy to talk to him about that,” the Age quoted Ecclestone, as saying.
He was adamant that his own personal fee would not be reduced to cut the cost of the race, and said that “quite a few countries” would be happy to take the race off Australia’s hands. (ANI)
- Australian Grand Prix not needed on F1 calendar: Ecclestone - Feb 10, 2011
- F1 boss hints at having permanent Melbourne track - Mar 17, 2011
- Ecclestone snubs Melbourne Grand Prix - Mar 22, 2011
- Melbourne GP not needed: Formula One boss - Feb 11, 2011
- 'Least viable' Australian Grand Prix could be dropped: Ecclestone - Mar 01, 2012
- Melbourne should axe Grand Prix, says lawmaker - Feb 21, 2011
- Sydney stalks F1 after Melbourne's ardour cools - Mar 27, 2010
- Bahrain Grand Prix deadline to be extended: Ecclestone - Apr 29, 2011
- Australian Grand Prix starting time to change again - Apr 04, 2010
- Bahrain refuses to give up hope of rescheduling F1 grand prix - May 01, 2011
- Wanted a race in Bahrain as they have helped F1: Ecclestone - Jun 11, 2011
- No worries about safety at Indian GP: Ecclestone - Oct 24, 2011
- F1 will find it tough to match cricket's hype: Ecclestone - Aug 18, 2011
- Vettel crowned World Champion at FIA Gala, Buddh Circuit awarded - Dec 10, 2011
- Bahrain Grand Prix to be rescheduled for end of F1 season - Feb 21, 2011
Tags: albert park, australia, australian grand prix, bernie ecclestone, chief executive, formula one, london jan, lord mayor, mayor robert, melbourne melbourne, money, robert doyle, tycoon, victorian state