Apparently, Bernie Ecclestone has warned the U.S. Grand Prix could be removed from next year's calendar because construction of the Austin racetrack (Texas) came to a halt earlier this week - unless the situation is resolved before final ratification of the proposed 2012 calendar; scheduled for December 7th (less than three weeks!). According to a report by Associated Press - presented here by the Canadian website, TSN - construction work stopped due to developers demanding a firm contract to stage the race (from Formula One Management), whilst Bernie is demanding a written guarantee of payment of the race fee, before he will commit to such a contract! So, 'Mexican stand-off' or 'Bernie's bluff'? - Or a real warning-shot to show cowboys who's boss of this particular rodeo? - - - Perhaps it is a reflection of hard-feelings lingering from the USF1 embarrassment; but it sounds to me as if Bernie wants a sort of pre-contract contract - akin to wanting one's cake and eating it! But you know what? - I reckon that, as usual, he'll manage it…
Don't so much it think has anything to do with 'Cowboys' more like Bernie playing silly b'stard again. Bernie starts making waves by calling the venue in to doubt in public (the Bernie kiss of death) and securing another GP in the U.S. Bernie didn't want one GP here, nevermind two, so to me he'll squash Texas to allow room for races like Russia. If he pulls the plug on Texas, the teams will still be happy as they have a GP in the U.S., Bernie will be happy because he can have yaughts at the other U.S. track and the only loser will be the fans in and around Texas and the Texan tax payer. I don't blame the track for wanting guarantees before spaffing millions of dollars on a White Elephant.
As for his daughter... I'm thinking there might have been a mixup at the maternity ward. Somewhere there's a tall, beautiful couple with a 4 foot troll blemishing their family portraits.
Bernie wants to be paid millions BEFORE he considers the cost of the main event. Bribe? No! Just a payment reflecting 'good faith'. you have to admire his damn cheek.
Doesn't do the reputation of F1 any good does it? Encourage the good citizens of Austin to go earthmoving in the expectation of a contract and then apparently dump them for a better offer from NYC..... please log in to view this image
How much have they already invested in land, design, construction etc etc.. only to have it unceremoniously taken away from them at the hands of a dictator who seems to be going senile in his old age? Forget the US GP 2005, this could be much more damaging for the sport in the US! Classic Bernie
It won't do F1 any favors over here that's for sure. Some of the events at Indy had already turned off some fans so if Bernie pulls a fast one on Texas (and let's face it... it's been coming for months) it will not be quickly forgiven. I don't understand why F1 feels the need to try build new facilities for all these new races anyway, stick em on Laguna Seca!
AND of course we get another flippin' street circuit rather than a proper race track. I believe we'll be able to see the NY skyline but if we want that, we can all pop out and buy a couple of posters for the bedroom wall. Beware NY, you'd be amazed how F1 can make historic cities like Valencia and exotic Asian locations like Singapore look like shopping mall car parks by poor track location and camera angles. It would be a shame if the same happened to NY.
