New Delhi: Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone expects the Indian Grand Prix to see through the five-year contract and if it has to go beyond that, the onus is on the Indian government whether it wants it or not.
Ecclestone, facing corruption charges in the UK, gave Sunday’s race at Greater Noida’s Buddh International Circuit a miss. When he spoke to IANS from his London office, he was his usual confident self and minced no words.
“Next year looks tough, but we should return in 2015. We want to even go beyond the five-year contract and for that to happen, there are certain issues that need to be sorted out in your country. Plus, there is a contract extension clause in the deal,” Ecclestone said.
He made it clear that F1 teams will be in India if the country wants them and the government should support the venture like other governments do the world over.
“We will be there as long us the people of the country want us to be there. Your government should be happy about F1 coming to India and support it like most governments do worldwide. The benefits accruing from the race are enormous. It has already put India on the world motor sports map. F1 is as big as the Football World Cup and the Olympics. And unlike them, it happens through the year,” he said.
The Indian government doesn’t recognise F1 as a sport, and it taxes all stakeholders – race promoters, Formula One Management, teams and drivers – and that for Ecclestone is bizarre.
“I would call this strange. Maybe the government needs to look at its tax structure. It is important the government backed the event, like the governments do elsewhere. F1 does a lot to the image of the country,” said Ecclestone. (IANS)
