The “Big Boss” of F1, Bernie Ecclestone, has just given one more “those” interviews, stating that in the near future Europe will not have more than five Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Ecclestone, for those who don't know, is the holder of the commercial rights of Formula 1 and gave an interview to a Spanish newspaper (Marca), where he downplayed the relevance of the European continent in the future of the sport.
“I think that in the next few years Europe will have five races.In Russia for sure, as we already have a contract, in South Africa perhaps, in Mexico…The problem is that Europe is finished anyway, it will be a good place for tourism and little else”
By the 2012 season, the reduction in Grand Prix racing at European circuits will already be evident, down to eight races out of twenty, with Istanbul being replaced by Yeongam, South Korea.
After Bernie Ecclestone's declarations, it is possible to foresee that, within a few years, racing in Europe will be reduced to the more classic circuits, such as Monte Carlo, Monza or Hockeneim.
At Razão Automóvel, we still dreamed of the day when Formula 1 would return to Portugal. Now, let's start dreaming about the day when Europe will once again host the majority of F1 GPs.