Ecclestone dampens Valencia GP hopes

More than 200,000 fans turned out to witness McLaren's drivers demonstrate Mercedes-Benz road cars and last year's MP4-21 on a special street circuit in the Spanish city, before the launch of the Woking-based team's MP4-22.

The success of the event, which further proved Valencia's abilities to put on a world-class event, will have no influence on the city's bid to land a Grand Prix though, according to Ecclestone.

Speaking to this week's Autosport, he said: "We have a race in Spain already. And Valencia's suitability as a Grand Prix venue has nothing to do with what went on at the McLaren launch.

"Either the place is good or it isn't - and we still have to see."

The Spanish media reported in November that Valencia's plans to host a Grand Prix would almost certainly revolve around a street circuit taking place in the same Ciudad de las Artes area that McLaren used for their launch.