Austria to remain off F1 calendar

(GMMf1NET) At least in the near future, Austria is unlikely to re-appear on the formula one calendar.

Although the 'A1-Ring' venue skid off the schedule in 2003, Red Bull's Dietrich Mateschitz bought the circuit in the mid-south of the country and vowed to totally revamp it.

However, after Mateschitz ordered the demolishing of pit buildings and grandstands, the federal government ruled that the $800m project should be stopped.

Red Bull is expected to be involved in the restoration of the former grand prix track, but Mateschitz told the 'Kleinen Zeitung' that a future F1 bid might be a long shot.

''Today, F1 drives into Shanghai, into Bahrain, and India and Russia will be the next markets,'' the Austrian said.

The owner of one and a half formula one teams doubts that European countries will be added to the calendars of the future.

Mateschitz continued: ''Formula one is becoming more of a global series, and is therefore set to lose its European emphasis.''