Canada blames Ecclestone for axe

Eurosport - Mon, 17 Nov 17:40:00 2008

Canadian officials blamed the "unreasonable demands" of Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone for the failure of attempts to save the country's grand prix.

FORMULA 1 Bernie Ecclestone - 0

Officials had hoped to persuade the Briton to reinstate the race in Montreal after it was axed from the calendar, leaving North America without a grand prix for the first time in 50 years.

Montreal mayor Gerald Tremblay, who said last month after meeting Ecclestone that he was hopeful a deal could be done, recognised that the talks had come to nothing.

"Despite our endeavours and those of the business community, the unreasonable demands of Formula One exceeded the taxpayer's ability to pay," Tremblay said.

The statement said Ecclestone had made a final contract offer on October 28 demanding that an eventual promoter puts up a government or bank guarantee of $175 million over the next five years.

It said no private promoter was willing to take on such a level of risk, considering the limited revenue generated by the event.

Quebec economic development minister Raymond Bachand said officials had worked hard in recent weeks to save the race "while staying fiscally responsible".

"We cannot meet Mr. Ecclestone's unworkable demands," he added. "Unless he eases his requirements and adopts a different approach, there will be no Grand Prix in Montreal in 2009."

Canadian public works minister Christian Paradis said the race was a loss for all Canadians but Ecclestone had made unrealistic demands.

"As I recently said; 'yes to a grand prix, but not at any price'," he added.

Canadian organisers denied last month that they had defaulted on payments owed to Ecclestone for past hosting rights, while recognising a 'commercial disagreement' over the 2008 race.

The decision to drop Canada, with the US Grand Prix at Indianapolis already cancelled this year, has dismayed Formula One teams by cutting off a prime market for their manufacturer owners and sponsors.

Eurosport

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  1. stivsf1. really haven't got the hang of this have­ you. again a non committal reply. this time also­ incoherent

    From MGA, on Mon 17 Nov 9:39PM

  2. @ MGA [82] read post[36]it's commited to people­ like you and reflact good before rushing to print keep­ in mind that a fast cat will only produse blind kittins

    From stivsf1, on Mon 17 Nov 9:20PM

  3. The Canadians are not alone in "being unable to­ meet Bernie's terms....Silverstone...??

    There is­ great concern that the new venue will cost far more­ money and time than the management team state......I­ wonder where Bernie gets these figures from....??

    They­ appear to be unnatractive to many consortiums and­ "local authorities" everywhere.

    How does­ Bernie get to be in such a position of power....time­ for F1 to come out of contractual obligations to any­ ONE person......the sponsors will be there...what is­ the point of Bernie...?? (or Max)..............?

    Fi­ deserves better.....

    From Gargletrope, on Mon 17 Nov 9:07PM

  4. stivsf1 yet another non committal post that contributes­ nothing to the discussion.

    From MGA, on Mon 17 Nov 8:57PM

  5. To the posters on this page that believe they are sure­ about the facts from A-TO-Z and all this without the­ least consideration for their limitations.
    JEAN K post­ [52] says that Canada paid in cash [not me].
    SALSA 747­ post [66] says Canada remain over 20 millions behind­ with their payments [ not me].

    From stivsf1, on Mon 17 Nov 8:51PM

  6. Is Bernie Ecclestone greedy? Or is this what Bernie­ wants everybody to believe? So let's just ponder­ over some facts. He is worth 2.4 billion, so why would­ he make himself un-popular, just over a few million, he­ earns more than that in interest alone. He made this­ statement Saturday, I will never retire from F1, only­ to the grave,(a bit of a stupid statement really) he is­ 78 with one foot in the grave allready, so it must be­ the power? or he cannot retire, because, it might come­ to light, all his illegal activities, and he would be­ arrested, convicted in court of law, And die in prison,­ just a thought?

    From paul t, on Mon 17 Nov 8:25PM

  7. Blimey I'm on Salsa's side here.

    From BigBill, on Mon 17 Nov 8:12PM

  8. Hey paul t man don't sit on the fence dude.

    From BigBill, on Mon 17 Nov 8:10PM

  9. thats because stivsf1 is a bit of a prat

    From paul t, on Mon 17 Nov 8:05PM

  10. stivsf1 i do hope you are not offended by my next­ comments.having read your posts over a period of­ time,I've noticed you are always telling use that­ most of the people have no idea what there talking­ about.and yet you give no valid arguments, no technical­ information,and no reasoned responses to questions­ asked of you.

    From MGA, on Mon 17 Nov 7:49PM

  11. do you recall the BRINKS MAT robbery al Heathrow­ London Airport
    they had the largest removal lorry­ available _BUT _ only had room to load £$53 - million­ ., !
    they had to leave behind over $£ 100 million due­ to lack of space.,.,!

    }{ NONE of which has ever­ been recovered}{ i.e. flown abroad within 24 hours­ ., !

    From thomsons34, on Mon 17 Nov 7:35PM

  12. Hi stiv
    Are you really suggesting that an honourable­ Canadian local government authority
    would hand over a­ lorry load of millions cash ., !
    Have you any idea of­ the space occupied by so much cash --- } {[[ in ­ paper bundles ., ? -}]}{

    From thomsons34, on Mon 17 Nov 7:28PM

  13. stiv/63
    the style of payment you suggest is totally out­ of question ., for a famous local authority.,!

    From salsa747, on Mon 17 Nov 7:17PM

  14. stivsf1 I'm intrigued as to your line of questions­ as to proof and source of alleged moneys owed.so ill­ ask you a question!do you have any proof to the­ contrary as to the alleged money owed.

    From MGA, on Mon 17 Nov 7:17PM

  15. Surely if the poison dwarf is english then he is also­ british.
    And so what?

    From BigBill, on Mon 17 Nov 6:44PM

  16. @ SALSA 747 [66] Thanks for the information but still­ it’s not enough you should state your source

    From stivsf1, on Mon 17 Nov 6:35PM

  17. Whats the difference where he's from.

    From OnlyHereForTheBeer, on Mon 17 Nov 6:34PM

  18. Bernie is Not BRITISH - he is "English" !!! -­ He Is From ENGLAND

    and for the book - It Looks Like­ Next Years -

    so called "british" grand prix­ - WILL BE THE LAST !!!

    Oh BERNIE - i bet you Feel Like­ a "grand PriX"

    From MC A, on Mon 17 Nov 6:26PM

  19. Hi F1 fans-

    Has anyone made mention of the fact that­ since the tobacco advertising changes that new races­ have been added which countries do not ban the­ ads?

    Basically, F1 is being exported to the third­ world where the tobacco industry is un-opposed.

    Screw­ F1- who cares about F1 anyway?

    Thank you.

    From allen_low, on Mon 17 Nov 6:23PM

  20. Canada made an agreement to pay an agreed amount­ over several years to F 1

    However they remain over­ $$20 million behind with their payments
    Bernie trusted­ them because the local authority was heavily ­ involved - darlings

    From salsa747, on Mon 17 Nov 6:01PM
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