Teams to blame for America’s F1 demise – Ecclestone

(GMM) North America's absence from the formula one calendar is the teams' fault, F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone insists.

While the FOTA alliance is pushing hard for a return to the crucial American market, Ecclestone says the fact races in Canada and the US failed was because of the position of the teams.

"The teams wanted too much money to race there. That was the problem," the 78-year-old billionaire said in an interview with Germany's SID news agency.

He suggests that, because the stumbling block is money, returning to North America is theoretically only a commercial matter.

"We are talking," the Briton revealed, "but for the moment the teams do not want any more than 17 races."

Ecclestone confirmed, however, that negotiations to reinstate the US grand prix at Indianapolis are not taking place. "We would go elsewhere," he said.