Bernie threatens Silverstone

In an interview with Gazetta dello Sport, the F1 supremo was quoted as saying: "Silverstone is like an old house that claims to only need a few repairs. Actually it needs major reconstruction but the current owners have no intention of financing it. I don't see a future for it."

The news was even worse for Imola, which has hosted the San Marino Grand Prix since 1981. "2004 will be our last visit to Imola. After that, Italy will host only one race each year," said Ecclestone.

European races in general have a doubtful future because of the ongoing issue of tobacco advertising. Although teams have agreed to ultimately eliminate cigarette sponsorship, Ecclestone still sees the future of the sport as lying elsewhere. In 2004 F1 goes to Bahrain and China for the first time.



"In the next ten years Europe will descend to the economic level of the third world. It has no hope of competing with South Korea, India and China."

Ecclestone said that Turkey would be on the calendar for 2005, followed by India and then South Korea's first Grand Prix in 2009. He added that there could easily be more races per season, although teams feel that the 18 to be run this year is an absolute maximum.

"We could easily get to 20 races. All we'd need to do is reduce private practice (testing) days from 40 to 30 and that would create room for two more races."