Ecclestone puts Russia top of agenda

Reuters - Sun, 11 Jul 12:30:00 2010

Formula One could return to South Africa in the next three years but a Russian Grand Prix is top of the agenda, commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone said.

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"The only question mark is Russia, where we should be and we are not," Ecclestone told BBC Radio ahead of the British Grand Prix.

"It would be nice to have covered the world, but Russia is more important right now. Africa is limited for all the people who are involved in F1 for business, whereas Russia is wide open."

Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel is on pole at Silverstone for the race, which starts just hours before the World Cup final between Spain and Netherlands in Johannesburg.

For Ecclestone, South Africa's successful running of the world's top sporting event has made the staging of a Formula One race there more realistic again. The last South African Grand Prix at Kyalami was in 1993.

"Hopefully now people will think what the World Cup has done for Africa would be good for Forumla One," the 79-year-old added.

"We have been talking to the people there for quite a long time. It is another continent where we should be."

Ecclestone said Cape Town had been discussed as a possible circuit venue but other options were now emerging.

"The chances are all right, its just a case of getting the right venue. It's probably three years away," he added.

Russia has long been Ecclestone's priority, with talk of a race in Sochi, which is also hosting the next Winter Olympics in 2014.

Renault's Vitaly Petrov this season became the country's first F1 driver, with carmaker Lada also joining that team as a sponsor.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 17 of 17

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  1. it still astounds me that having won 4 world titles­ with 3 different drivers, Finland has never staged a­ GP!

    From roy, on Sat 16 Oct 0:03

  2. Hey "none", no one "forces" Russia­ to do anything. If they want a GP, they're going­ to get one. Hopefully, the idea of it will make the­ folks in Texas get of their butts and make an F1 GP a­ reality. After all, it was "Russia vs. the­ US" for years during the Cold War. Maybe the US­ will be "jealous enough" to support F1 they­ way it should be done again. As for Bernie's idea­ of cutting some GP events, the Belgian GP at Spa MUST­ endure!

    From Put Rose In, on Fri 15 Oct 8:06

  3. Bernie's criterion for an F1 race - big bucks for­ him and his CVC banker partners; no F1 heritage; no F1­ fanbase; a Tilke designed autodrome (Turkey honourably­ excepted); the locals priced out; good facilities for­ corporate guests (the ones responsible for landing us­ in this banking mess); plenty of advertising space in­ empty grandstands. Nice one Bernie.

    From MARK, on Tue 13 Jul 6:11

  4. i get fed up with ppl downing bernie, if it wasnt for­ him we would be watching 30mins of edited highlights at­ 1:30 in the morning like the rest of motorsport in the­ UK

    From G, on Tue 13 Jul 3:48

  5. Which current F1 GP will get chopped to make way for­ these new venues? Or is there going to be more races in­ a season to accomodate all the new venues BE wants to­ add so he can screw more money out of them?

    From Alan K, on Tue 13 Jul 2:42

  6. Hey!?....... Mr Ecclestone, can you explain yourself­ what you mean by "RUSSIA FIRST"
    IF African­ wants to host F1, let them do it. why trying to force­ Russia into this. Willing countries should be supported­ in stead of forcing those who are not willing
    Are there­ any hidden agendas of some personal gains I wonder?

    From observant, on Tue 13 Jul 2:04

  7. Yes "daytonabob" he may well be that but he­ is an exremely rich and succesful "british arse­ wipe" who in the process of becoming such has­ dragged F1 kicking and screaming into the 21st century­ and made it a very popular and prestigious sport.

    and­ your achievments are what bob?

    From paul, on Tue 13 Jul 0:15

  8. I think Greenland is a good racing venue and after that­ the Easter Islands ! With Bernie anything is possible.

    From mioarafizica, on Tue 13 Jul 0:05

  9. Well as their a driver in F1 then they deserve a GP. At­ this rate the team will be exhausted from all the­ travelling and at this rate their will be a Finnish GP!­ Well done to SIlverstone for proving Bernie wrong about­ it all this time. It's not about the facilities but­ the track!! REMEMBER THAT AT RUSSIA.

    From Adam, on Tue 13 Jul 0:05
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    this man is a total Brit arse wipe.

    From Daytonabob, on Mon 12 Jul 22:19

  11. The F1 business model is broke and Bernie has yet to­ realize it. There are fewer and fewer suckers left­ for him to lure into ridiculous event contracts. ­ Russia, Korea, and some 'nutcase' in Texas. But­ after those, he's at the edge of the world.

    From neshobeguy, on Mon 12 Jul 17:04
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I hopes russia, france, czech republic & India will­ appearance in calendar f1 next season in 2011

    From mohamed, on Mon 12 Jul 15:49

  13. I hope South Africa will get a chance : )

    From Nico, on Mon 12 Jul 15:32

  14. "Africa is only limited to people who work in­ business" In other words if big oil want a Grand­ Prix they get a Grand Prix

    From Nico, on Mon 12 Jul 8:49

  15. come on guys we may not like what other do or say but­ wishing someone to die is not nice, that's hurtful,­ you would like someone to say that about you. "Do­ unto other as you would like them do for you"

    From Sally, on Mon 12 Jul 7:00

  16. My thing is why do they have to use a picture like that­ of Bernie, he already jacked up

    From Sally, on Mon 12 Jul 6:54

  17. I just hope that for Bernies sake Russie don't put­ him at the top of their agenda!

    From justblowinoffsteam., on Mon 12 Jul 5:10
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