Berger backs Spa

The Belgian government has not yet exempted Formula 1 from a ban on tobacco advertising and Bernie Ecclestone last week told Le Soir newspaper: "Most countries are supporting their GP and if there are problems they try to find a solution with us. Every year I fight with the Belgians for their GP. It seems as if they've reached a point where they don't want it any more."

Spa, along with Suzuka, is the favourite track of most drivers and Berger said in Belgium: "I think everybody agrees with me that it would be a real pity to lose this track. This is one of the old, traditional high-speed circuits where we all look forward to coming. From a driver's point of view we miss circuits like this more and more.

"But there is more than just this side of the view. There is more to a Grand Prix weekend and at the end of the day Bernie and Max Mosley have to see what is right for the business, which is the right place to go and which is not the right place to go."

It is understood that if the Spa race is not exempted from the tobacco ban, it stands to lose its place on the calendar in 2004, by when a number of countries, China, Russia, Bahrain and Turkey among them, could be in a position to host a race.