Post by blacktulip on Oct 25, 2009 12:24:13 GMT
Bernie Ecclestone has warned that Silverstone will not automatically pick up the British Grand Prix if Donington Park's project is confirmed as a non-starter - and hinted that he had already received a contractual impasse with the Northamptonshire track.
Donington admitted on Friday that its last ditch effort to fund its massive revamp programme with a bond issue had failed, leaving it with scant time to secure new finance in time to satisfy Ecclestone that it will be ready to host the 2010 British GP.
This year's event was scheduled to be Silverstone's last - but Ecclestone then stepped back from his initial hardline stance that the British race's future was 'Donington or nothing' and suggested that Silverstone could reclaim the race if Donington stumbled.
But he said today that talks with Silverstone had hit trouble over the fees involved, raising new fears over the British GP's future.
Ecclestone insisted he would not be dropping his prices to ensure Silverstone agreed to take the race.
“No one is forcing them to take it," he told the Daily Express.
"This is business. We have offered them a deal.
“The contract they have is the contract we like. We are not prepared to charge less.
"Do we need a British Grand Prix? No.”
He added that the fact Britain had been on the Formula 1 calendar since the start of the world championship did not give the race any kind of special protection.
"They want a cut-price deal because it is traditional," said Ecclestone.
"That’s not traditional to me.
"Britain is not protected.
"I would like a new plane because it’s traditional as I have had one for 40 years but no one is offering me a cheap deal.
"That’s not how it works.
“A lot of countries want grands prix.
"How would it be fair to those countries to charge them more than a major country like Britain?”
Donington admitted on Friday that its last ditch effort to fund its massive revamp programme with a bond issue had failed, leaving it with scant time to secure new finance in time to satisfy Ecclestone that it will be ready to host the 2010 British GP.
This year's event was scheduled to be Silverstone's last - but Ecclestone then stepped back from his initial hardline stance that the British race's future was 'Donington or nothing' and suggested that Silverstone could reclaim the race if Donington stumbled.
But he said today that talks with Silverstone had hit trouble over the fees involved, raising new fears over the British GP's future.
Ecclestone insisted he would not be dropping his prices to ensure Silverstone agreed to take the race.
“No one is forcing them to take it," he told the Daily Express.
"This is business. We have offered them a deal.
“The contract they have is the contract we like. We are not prepared to charge less.
"Do we need a British Grand Prix? No.”
He added that the fact Britain had been on the Formula 1 calendar since the start of the world championship did not give the race any kind of special protection.
"They want a cut-price deal because it is traditional," said Ecclestone.
"That’s not traditional to me.
"Britain is not protected.
"I would like a new plane because it’s traditional as I have had one for 40 years but no one is offering me a cheap deal.
"That’s not how it works.
“A lot of countries want grands prix.
"How would it be fair to those countries to charge them more than a major country like Britain?”
It isn't that he (really) has anything "against" Silverstone! His "friend?" says it's more like "money-on-the-brain" with "The mouse that roars".
To which I replied, "That's what you might call it- but over on this side of the pond- We call it Senility with a posssibilty of Alzheimer's coming soon." 
