27/03/2015
NEWS STORY
Warning that Germany may not reappear on the calendar in 2016, Bernie Ecclestone admits the future looks bleak for the sport in Europe.
Long before the global financial crisis or the euro meltdown, Bernie Ecclestone was predicting that Europe was destined to become the new third world.
As the various crises took their toll however, Ecclestone, never one to be caught on the hop, looked further afield, realising what was then the third world was to rise and become the new global powerhouse.
As governments in the east, now rich with cash, fell over themselves to get on board the F1 dream machine, their counterparts in Europe were unable to justify spending money on luxuries such as sport, certainly a sport as elitist and greedy as Formula One.
Circuit owners in Europe, unable to meet the increasing demands of FOM's contracts, and unable to call on government support, cried off and one-by-one the countries that make up the sport's heartland fell by the wayside.
Today, days after it was confirmed that Germany will not host a race this year, the first time since 1960 that it has been missing from the calendar, Ecclestone warned that the race may not be in a position to return to the calendar next year and that other events in Europe may follow.
When it was pointed out that Hockenheim has a contract for next year's race, he told reporters: "That doesn't make a difference. A lot of people have a contract."
Asked about the future of the sport in Europe, where all the teams are based and a majority of the drivers originate from, he replied, according to Reuters: Whatever goes, goes. There are lots of things we all would like, but we don't have them because we can't afford them."
"The trouble in Germany was the Nurburgring spent an awful lot of money which they borrowed," he added, referring to the circuit which he unsuccessfully tried to buy last year and which was originally meant to host this year's race. "They didn't need to spend what they spent, and therefore didn't need to borrow the amount they borrowed. They forgot to pay it back, and that caused a few ripples. It sent a bad message."
Ahead of a press conference at Monza next week, at which the owner ACI will present its strategy for the future of the legendary circuit, Ecclestone warned that the venue could also be lost if it fails to agree a new contract.
When this was suggested to Ecclestone, he replied: "If Monza goes, it goes."
Whilst most will be keen to put the blame entirely on Ecclestone's shoulders, let's not forget that he works in the interests of majority owner CVC, and let's not forget also the fact that the teams rely on the F1 supremo to do the best deals in order to increase their share of the pie.
Conceding that it would be "terrible" if Europe did lose its races, Ecclestone added; "the teams get 62 per cent of whatever profit the company makes, so if we make less money, the teams make less money."
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