Ecclestone Warns F1 May Quit Belgium Over Ad Ban

Formula one chief Bernie Ecclestone warned on Sunday that Belgium could lose its Spa Grand Prix unless they back down on a ban on tobacco advertising.

Ecclestone said the circuit - World Champion Michael Schumacher's favourite - could be dropped from the calendar unless Belgium backtracked on the ban, which is due to come into force on August 1, 2003 - ruling out next year's Grand Prix.

"I would give some very serious thought to doing that, yes," Ecclestone told reporters. "We've agreed in 2006 that we're going to stop all tobacco advertising and it's not fair that these people cannot play in the meantime."

"We hope they are going to be able to keep tobacco here to fall in line with everywhere else basically."

Last July Belgium's Green and Christian Democrat senators rejected a bill that would have lifted the ban for Spa's Grand Prix.

If Spa-Francorchamps were to be dropped there would be plenty of other countries willing to fill the spot. Turkey, China and Bahrain have been frequently cited as possible contenders.

Deep in the Ardennes forests, the Spa-Francorchamps track dates back to 1921 and at seven kilometres is the longest Formula One circuit. Eau Rouge, an exhilarating left-right sweeping curve, is one of the most famous in Grand Prix racing.