Madrid to replace Barcelona F1 race (3rd Update)
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| Salvador Servia, father of Oriol Servia, not worried about his track losing race to Madrid |
This rumor is downgraded to 'speculation' today. Bernie Ecclestone has played down reports he is in advanced talks to bring formula one to the streets of Madrid.
Spain's El Confidencial claimed this week the F1 supremo is already in possession of a business plan and bank guarantees, as a group of businessmen want the Spanish capital to host an annual street race.
The news would seem to be a threat to F1's existing Spanish grand prix in Barcelona, but Circuit de Catalunya boss Salvador Servia reacted: "We know nothing.
"Nobody has told us anything."
F1 chief executive Ecclestone has also now played down the Madrid reports, confirming that a group "talked about it but nothing has happened".
"We're not going to do a race in Madrid," the almost 84-year-old told F1 business journalist Christian Sylt, writing in Forbes.
A second Spanish race, on the streets of Valencia, failed recently and Ecclestone insists: "We don't need a second race in Spain. It's easy enough as it is."
Notwithstanding that, F1 is preparing to welcome Azerbaijan to the schedule in 2016 and possibly also a race on the famous 'Strip' in Las Vegas.
That would tend to contradict claims that Ecclestone cannot take the annual calendar beyond 20 races unless the F1 teams agree.
But Ecclestone insists: "If I want more than 20 races I don't need consent from the teams. I don't think so.
"I don't care about the consent from them which is more to the point," he added.
One race that has come into doubt in recent days, however, is the fabled British grand prix, after several directors including Silverstone chief Richard Phillips were escorted off the premises and suspended.
"I don't know what Richard Phillips could have done," Ecclestone told Sylt. "It's all very strange and it came out of the blue.
"Everything was fine and now the top guy there that we used to deal with is gone. He never said anything to me about this," he said.
10/23/14 (GMM) Spanish grand prix boss Salvador Servia insists reports the capital Madrid is bidding to join the F1 calendar do not worry him.
El Confidencial reported in recent days that Bernie Ecclestone is in advanced talks with private investors who want to organize a city street race.
Ecclestone, however, has already warned that after the decline of Spain's second race at Valencia, there is now room only for one annual race per country.
Held at the Circuit de Catalunya, the existing Spanish grand prix has a contract until 2016, according to El Confidencial.
Barcelona boss Servia said: "We know nothing. Nobody has told us anything.
"For years we have read headlines saying that we will not have the grand prix anymore, that we have to alternate with Valencia.
"Our reality is that we have two years left on our contract. We do not change it. We are proud of our contract and we will fulfill it," he added.
On the other hand, Servia said Barcelona remains open to welcoming a second Spanish race to the calendar.
"We survived with and we even supported Valencia," he said. "To us it seems even good to have two grands prix".
At the same time, he has his doubts. "You would block up the centre of Madrid for three weeks, as happens in Monaco.
"But it's all assumptions. We talk on the basis of a rumor. Today, there is nothing serious and we are calm," said Servia.
10/23/14 Clearly this is a warning shot across the bow of Barcelona to renew their contract (at a higher price of course) that expires after 2 more races, or Bernie will take the race to Madrid.
10/21/14 (GMM) Plans are afoot for a F1 street race in the heart of Madrid, Spain's El Confidencial reports.
It is claimed Bernie Ecclestone is in talks with a group of Spanish businessmen who want the sport to race on the streets of the large capital city.
El Confidencial claims the project is so well advanced that Ecclestone, the F1 chief executive, is already in possession of a detailed business plan and bank guarantees.
The report said the race would have an annual budget of EUR 50 million, funded privately, but "institutional, political and social support" is also necessary.
Spain already hosts an annual grand prix at the permanent Montmelo circuit in Barcelona, but its contract runs only until 2016.
With Mexico's return, the race calendar for 2015 currently features 20 races, which according to most teams is the logistical maximum.
Azerbaijan is then joining the schedule in 2016, and there are reports Ecclestone is in talks for a race along the famous Las Vegas 'Strip'.
Ecclestone told Forbes' Christian Sylt last week that it's "more likely it (the calendar) will go over 20 (races) with Baku than we lose a race".