Ecclestone Aims to Strip Spain of One F1 Race

A nation cannot have more than one Grand Prix during the course of the same season in Formula 1. That's what everybody kept saying when the Italian capital of Rome was knocking on F1's door a few months ago, including the very symbol of the country, Ferrari.

And it's not like the Prancing Horse didn't fancy two trips in Italy per year, but they too have to align themselves to the unwritten rules imposed by the series and its commercial rights holder, the CVC. And if Italy cannot do it, why should Spain have the right to host 2 F1 races in a single year.

Apart from the fact that Spain pretty much controls the testing schedule in the series – 3 out of 4 winter tests are scheduled in the country thanks to the good climate in the month of February – it also hosts two F1 races: the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona and the much-criticized European Grand Prix in Valencia.

As you all know, the latter is not exactly on everyone's wish list when it comes to enjoying an F1 race, as most of the Grands Prix held there have been subject to boredom. And asked if the situation could go on for much longer, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone admitted this is an issue that the CVC is currently addressing.

“Yes, that is a problem we are facing,” he told the Italian newspaper La Repubblica in a recent interview.

Moving on to the championship battle for the 2011 F1 season, Ecclestone seems to have already picked up a favorite for the upcoming campaign. Asked on which driver he'd put his money this year, the F1 supremo pointed at Fernando Alonso. However, he insisted he's not backing the Spaniard for the world title just to please the Italian tifosi.

“No, no. When I talk about money I'm always very serious,” he added.