Hill slams 'greedy' Ecclestone

Former champion bemoans lack of funding

Last updated: 5th July 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Hill slams 'greedy' Ecclestone

Hill: Can't pay too much

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F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has come in for criticism from former world champion Damon Hill over the decision to move the British Grand Prix from Silverstone to Donington Park from 2010.

Despite requiring a £100m overhaul, Donington Park was given the nod by Ecclestone after years of speculation that the privately owned and under-funded Silverstone would lose a race it has hosted since 1987.

But Hill, president of the British Racing Drivers' club who own Silverstone, slammed Ecclestone, claiming his fee of £11m - with a small percentage increase per annum over the length of the contract - was ultimately the cause for their being unable to fund the upgrades required to retain the contract.

"There's always been the question of the FOM fee, and ultimately that is the deciding factor," said Hill.

"To quote Bernie, he once said: 'You can have anything you like, as long as you pay too much for it,' but we can't pay too much for something.

"We're in it because we want to be there, but we can't go beyond the balance, the tipping point, and Bernie knows that.

"So it's a huge disappointment, a real blow to our efforts and desire to see the grand prix retained."

Profit

Hill also said that Ecclestone should re-invest more of his money in the sport rather than, as Hill suspects, take it out and invest elsewhere.

"The problem is money goes out and away. There's a question whether that money even returns to Formula One," he continued.

"No-one should stand in the way of someone's ability to make a profit, and that's not what this is about.

"But the money from the people (the fans) who come here goes to Formula One, and that money doesn't come back to develop the infrastructure of F1.

"This (Silverstone) is part of the infrastructure of Formula One. The FIA have suggested there are protected events.

"But there are also circuits that are part of the fabric of motor sport - the very first grand prix took place at Silverstone.

"But none of that money has been re-invested with regard to the infrastructure of the circuits.

"It goes out, and it seems to me to be absurd that that money is constantly being sucked out and not re-invested.

"We could have had a fantastic venue. It would have been great for everyone. Everyone would have won."