12/12/2014
NEWS STORY
Bernie Ecclestone has revealed that Qatar is unlikely to host a round of the world championship as such a move would be vetoed by Bahrain.
Lining up to obtain prestigious sporting events - in much the same way as it unrelentingly adds to its overseas property portfolio - Qatar is eager to host a round of the Formula One World Championship, safe in the knowledge that such a move, along with the 2022 World Cup, 2019 World Athletics Championships and (potentially) the 2024 Summer Olympics, would put it firmly on the map.
However, talking to an invited group of journalists, including Christian Sylt, in London, Bernie Ecclestone has revealed that Bahrain will spoil the party.
"It was an idea I thought would work," said Ecclestone. "But I've got a bit of a problem which nobody knows about really but I'm sure they soon will.
"I made a deal with the people in Bahrain and they said, 'If we are going to be something new in this area, which we are, will you give us a guarantee you won't put another race on in the area, in the Gulf?" he explained'. "I said yes. Typical Ecclestone handshake deal with the Crown Prince."
He then revealed that when Abu Dhabi asked for a race, permission had to be sought from the Bahrainis.
"I explained the position that I was in and said you'd better ask the people in Bahrain if they are happy," he admitted. "If they are happy, I'm happy. If not, we won't. So they got together and that's what happened.
"Then this other race has been proposed and I put the people together and said 'Can you sort this out between you?' and they haven't managed to do it."
It has been claimed that Qatar - which clearly has the money - was willing to pay as much as £50m a year in hosting fees.
"F***ing D'oh!" as Homer Ecclestone might say.