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

Comment 42 - 61 of 101

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  1. OK, I'll try abusive: Bernie's a @#$% ...

    From Pete, on Mon 17 Nov 5:50PM

  2. -

    From salsa747, on Mon 17 Nov 5:50PM

  3. @SALSA 747 can you please give more information as to money owned by Canadian GP as JEAN K [52] says he is sure they paid and in cash

    From stivsf1, on Mon 17 Nov 5:49PM

  4. Thanks: salsa747

    So that's the reason ;~))

    From Pete, on Mon 17 Nov 5:49PM

  5. France,S'hai,Canada,U.K.Usa,what shall we do with him before he systematically destroys F1.

    From wizzo, on Mon 17 Nov 5:43PM

  6. dear 59 2001
    provided you include a selection of racist remarks & abusive comments - You WILL be accepted

    Y A H O O get paid for more comments submitted and that would prove contraversial to provoke replies

    From salsa747, on Mon 17 Nov 5:39PM

  7. How come spammers and racist morons can post on these threads but dogs like me can't. I keep getting 'Invalid Comment'. You'd think I'd crapped on their forum or something!

    From Pete, on Mon 17 Nov 5:31PM

  8. Canada still owes more than $$20 million to F 1
    They should not have agreed a deal some years ago then failed to meet their obligations
    when they discovered they had miscalculated ticket sales ,.,. !

    From salsa747, on Mon 17 Nov 5:24PM

  9. GROMIT [37 AND THEY SHOULD TAKE YOU ON AS AN ADVISER

    From stivsf1, on Mon 17 Nov 5:21PM

  10. mga: Could be his mum.

    From BigBill, on Mon 17 Nov 5:01PM

  11. jean k you wouldn't happen to have a brother called touronroute by any chance

    From MGA, on Mon 17 Nov 4:53PM

  12. Ecclestone is money orientated if the Arab nations would be prepared to pay for 16 GP,s
    he would do it the man could not careless about the average joe fan in which ever country you live in the money is in the east and if he is not stopped soon all motoracing covered by the FIA will follow him there cynical point of view or realistic the latter I feel

    From Clive B, on Mon 17 Nov 4:50PM

  13. ecclestone you mo th er fu ck money gobbing w ho re you,he was making 16 to 20 million a year and he refused it ,whats wrong with this di.. head ,you briton should take out his citizenship ,he is disgrace to humanity this guy .
    formula 1 should be owened by someone that respect fans to gthe minimum.

    From jean, on Mon 17 Nov 4:34PM

  14. INVALID COMMENT ...

    ????

    From Pete, on Mon 17 Nov 4:34PM

  15. Bernie Ecclestone is a senile little old man who insist on flexing his egotistical F1 muscles.
    He needs to ride of into the sunset with his billions and allow someone else to take control of the sport.

    From JohnS, on Mon 17 Nov 4:08PM

  16. Out of is mind.........Unbelievable thats the only word that I have in mind ....... Hard to believe that such an organization lost track on reality like this. And I hope other country will just drop the F1 ........... What a pity.

    From andrede30, on Mon 17 Nov 4:07PM

  17. Is it just me, or is Bernie's sight so bad that his glasses are on upside down?

    ;~))

    From Pete, on Mon 17 Nov 4:05PM

  18. Ecclestone has done alot for F1, but it has also made him a Billionaire and clouded his judgement. He is too old and needs to go - its tragic that there is no F1 on the North American continent and only one race in the south. Of course as a fan I am being a bit selfish in my view.

    From abtscot, on Mon 17 Nov 3:09PM

  19. Can someone tell bernie to sort his tamara Ecclestone out and stopping putting people out of work. For God sake , its credit crunch state we live in and that man do not have any sympathy for the poor canadians who will be out of work as a result of the axe.

    From ERIC O, on Mon 17 Nov 3:02PM

  20. just out of interest touri my little pot noddle munching chum.which team do you support and which driver is your favorite?.

    From MGA, on Mon 17 Nov 2:06PM
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