Skip to content

Ecclestone hints at race future

Image: Bernie Ecclestone: Says Spain will only have one race in the future

Bernie Ecclestone says Spain will only host one Formula 1 race in 2013 and that Canada will get a new deal, but a potential race in France could be off.

Spain will lose a race, Canada to get extension, France in doubt

Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed that Spain will only host one Formula 1 race in 2013, with Barcelona and Valencia hosting the Grand Prix on alternating years. The 81-year-old also said he expected to sign a new deal with promoters in Canada to extend the race at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve for a further 10 years, with plans afoot to upgrade the parkland venue. France's mooted return to the calendar in 2013 could be off however after a Presidential change in last weeks elections. Ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya Ecclestone told Reuters: "The (Spanish) race will be here in 2013 and 2014 in Valencia." Last week reports emerged that the future of the Canadian Grand Prix was in doubt over demands from Ecclestone to upgrade the aging venue. The news was met with outrage from fans but the F1 supremo allayed fears adding: "They are going to try and rebuild. It needs a bit of an upgrade I think. They know what we want to do." The Paul Ricard circuit in the south of France, which Ecclestone's family trust owns, seemed certain to host Formula 1's return to the country for the first time since 2008. However after elections in the country brought Francois Hollande of the Socialist party to power the race is now in doubt. It is thought his party favour the race returning the Magny-Cours venue, to try and rejuvenate the economy in that area of France. When asked about the races future Ecclestone said: "I have no idea. No idea what they are doing. It's a funny arrangement they were making anyway. So I just don't know."

Around Sky