Ecclestone - Silverstone Deal Fails

Bernie Ecclestone seems to have made up his mind regarding the future of the British Grand Prix in Formula One. The 79-year old Brit insisted that he has made all the necessary steps to secure the survival of the British race – either at Donington Park, or at Silverstone – but, for some reasons, no deal has yet been signed for the upcoming season.

With Donington Park going into administration in recent days, Ecclestone revealed he has tried desperately to come to a long-term financial agreement with Silverstone, but the two parties failed to make something happen. The International Automobile Federation is to stamp and seal a final race calendar for the 2010 Formula One Championship approximately 3 weeks from now, on December 11.

Under the circumstances, Ecclestone confirmed that he will be going to the World Motor Sport Council meeting without a host for the British GP, initially scheduled for the 11th of July (the same date with the FIFA World Cup Final next year).

“The World Council will meet and we will just pull it (the British grand prix) off – we will have to. We'll have no other choice, if we don't have a contract. I've been spending an awful lot of time trying make sure it does happen, but there is no chance of an exceptional contract for Silverstone. Why should there be?” said Ecclestone in an interview with The Times.

“It's not the terms and conditions so much as whether the investors are prepared to bankroll them and take the risk,” added the Brit, in regards of the Silverstone track, known to be one of the most challenging, yet non-updated venues in the F1 calendar.