It’s that time of the year Formula One ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone drops hints about next season’s calendar, issuing indirect ultimatums to struggling race promoters.
With Russia and Austria likely to join a 20-race calendar in 2014, one venue from the current 19-event season has to make way. Hinting at a combination of issues like financial viability, customs duty and taxes, Bernie seems to have earmarked the Indian GP for the axe.
“Is India going to happen next year? Probably not,” Bernie said at Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
During the 2012 Indian GP at Greater Noida, the F1 boss spoke of the possibility of another GP in Mumbai, only to do a U-turn the next day, saying “India doesn’t need two races”.