ITV to blame for TV no-show, says Ecclestone

Speaking in the Sunday Express, Ecclestone said, 'I am as sorry as anyone. I was looking forward to watching a great session but it is not my fault that it was not shown.'

ITV did not broadcast qualifying leaving British television viewers without pictures of the one of the most exciting sessions of the season.

'When they negotiated for the contract, it all went very quickly and they gave me half-an-hour to decide on the deal,' said Ecclestone.

'I said to them, 'Do you want live qualifying?' I said they should have it - it was good television at one o'clock most Saturdays, depending on where we are in the world.

'But they said 'Oh no, we won't be trying to televise it live. We intend to put it out later in the afternoon, between three and five o'clock.'

'That is in the contract, not a problem. They did the deal with me and were very happy, as I was. A bit later they came back and said they had changed their minds, they did want to show qualifying live and they would need cameras and other access facilities.

'They have dragged their feet for two years. I have allowed them to show qualifying and have other shows but I owe it to my company to sort it out.

'ITV are very experienced in business matters and they know they have been taking liberties, having rights for which they have not paid. They would not allow people with whom they do business to do that and yet they expect me to put up with it.'

Presenters Jim Rosenthal and Tony Jardine will headline the race coverage today from London while commentary team Murray Walker and Martin Brundle will be in action from the circuit.