Mumbai: Former Formula One world champion Damon Hill said it was a “shame” that the Indian Grand Prix was scrapped three years after its launch, especially as the promoters had laid a good track at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida.
“It seems to me that there is a bureaucratic challenge, which has meant the Indian Grand Prix can’t return. It’s a shame. I thought it was a good start and a lot of effort was put in doing a great track there. The drivers liked the track,” he told reporters here on Thursday.
Hill is the ambassador of the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, which will be held on Sunday.
The Indian GP event is not on the F1 calendar for 2014 after making its debut in 2011.
“The question hinges on what is the value of an international event to India. Maybe within India, it does not have the popularity that it has elsewhere and so it is perceived as not being important. But I think if you go outside India, to have a Formula One race is a good advertisement for a country,” said the 1996 world champion.
The former British racer was also shocked by the news of F1 ace Michael Schumacher’s ski accident which has left the seven-time world champion in a comatose state. The German legend is fighting for his life in a hospital after suffering a fall during skiing in the French Alps on December 29.
“It has affected everyone in sports. Definitely a cloud is hanging over Formula One at the moment because Michael has been such a large part of the sport, a large figure, so we are all shocked by any kind of event like that,” Hill said.
The 53-year-old Hill, who was Schumacher’s main rival in the mid 90s, praised the German racing great for his competitive spirit.
“We all owe Michael an enormous debt and gratitude for his competitiveness. He approached his racing in a forthright way and I think he pushed limits but that is just what sports is and you have to contend with that,” he said. (PTI)
