McLaren and Renault Threaten to Pull Out of Melbourne Race

Britain's Times newspaper reported that Renault team boss Flavio Briatore and McLaren Chairman Ron Dennis threatened to organise a boycott of Sunday's race unless Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone paid up.

Ecclestone in return has reportedly threatened to cancel the charter plane taking the cars to Melbourne. A statement posted on the official Formula 1 website (www.formula1.com) by his Formula 1 Administration accused FOTA of making "inaccurate and misleading" comments. "Neither CVC nor FOA owes any amount to any team," it said.

McLaren team Principal Martin Whitmarsh said that while he had not been at the meeting, he believed Ecclestone's version of events to have been "relatively theatrical".

"There is a lot of tension in this climate about lots of teams being owed lots of money," he said. "I think that is a business between the teams and Bernie that needs to be resolved urgently."

Bernie Ecclestone - Most Powerful Man in Formula 1 Gets Divorced

Formula 1 tycoon Bernie Ecclestone was divorced by his wife yesterday on the grounds of "unreasonable behaviour". Slavica Ecclestone, 50, was granted divorce by a judge in central London. So, Slavica will be taking home a lot of money as Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone is all set to pay the world’s most expensive divorce settlement to his wife of 24 years. The settlement could amount to almost £1 billion, according to legal experts. So, Slavica will be taking home a lot of money as Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone is all set to pay the world’s most expensive divorce settlement to his wife of 24 years. The settlement could amount to almost £1 billion, according to legal experts. Most of the property owned by the racing boss is in the name of his ex-wife because of tax reasons. It includes a hotel in Switzerland and ownership of the Queens Park Rangers Champions League soccer team, apart from Alpha Prema, the holding company of Formula 1 racing.

It is interesting to learn that Bernie, often called “Mr Formula One”, had to pursue his future bride before winning her. In 1984, at the age of 54, Bernie met the 26 year old Croatian model, Slavica Radic, during a Formula 1 event. Despite being nearly a foot shorter than the 6′ 2″ Slavica, Bernie fell for her and chased her relentlessly. At the time Bernie spoke no Croatian and Slavica spoke only her native tongue and Italian, so the courtship must have been a bit difficult.
Yet, in true determined Ecclestone fashion, Bernie won his bride and they were married. They have two daughters, Tamara and Petra, and the marriage had lasted for more than twenty years.

Bernie Ecclestone: "We could be in India soon instead of the United States"

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has threatened to take F1 race away from the United States if he cannot agree on a new deal with Indianapolis.

It is not vital to Formula One to be in the United States," the 76-year-old told Britain's Daily Express newspaper, three days ahead of this season's US Grand Prix.

"There are bigger markets for us to be in other parts of the world. We could be in India soon instead of the United States. We don't have a lot of sponsors from the US, no American teams and only one driver," he added.

"I get along with (Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner) Tony George and I hope we can strike a deal, but we have offers from other places in the US too."

Despite Ecclestone's comments, similar to ones he made last year before agreeing a one-year extension with Indianapolis, the US is a key market for the car manufacturers who dominate the sport and own most of the teams.

"The automobile market in the USA is the biggest one for Mercedes-Benz outside Germany," said Mercedes motorsport vice-president Norbert Haug, whose company owns 40 per cent of championship leaders McLaren.

"For the BMW Group, the USA Grand Prix is of key importance in so far as the United States is our biggest market," said BMW Sauber boss Mario Theissen in a team preview of Sunday's race.

"We sell more cars there than in Germany and also have our biggest production sites outside Germany."

Formula One Race in India In 2009

After a lot of meetings and rumours the Indian Olympic Association has finally announced that it has come to an agreement with Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone for conducting an F1 race in New Delhi from 2009. Ecclestone has for quite some time been engaged trying to widen the extent of influence for F1 races. At present Malaysia and Singapore hosts F1 races in Asia. India is one of the largest consumer markets in the world with a booming economy and an F1 race will no doubt be beneficial to both India and Ecclestone.

IOA president Suresh Kalmadi said the agreement was preliminary and conditional on having a venue approved.

The city does not currently have a racing track.

"We have received a letter in this regard from Bernie Ecclestone," said Kalmadi. "The IOA will be the promoter, the first event will be held in 2009."

He added: We are looking to identify suitable land for a world-class track."

Ecclestone warns British government to help or lose F1 race

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has warned that Britain could lose the right to hold a grand prix after Silverstone's contract runs out in 2009 and has called on the Government help fund a redevelopment of the ailing circuit.

Ecclestone is to begin negotiations with Silverstone's owners BRDC soon but admits that the current state of the British race is not up to scratch.

"The Government could and should do something to help ensure the BRDC does not lose the F1 event," Ecclestone told the Daily Express.

Formula 1 days at Magny Cours over

The French Grand Prix's days at Magny-Cours are numbered according to Bernie Ecclestone, who is now looking to run the event closer to Paris.

Problems with access to the track, accommodation in the area and the lack of business opportunities prompted the decision, with the Briton adding: "It's a little bit disappointing because we organised this Grand Prix but it never evolved in the way that we would have like it to."

Instead, Ecclestone dreams of seeing a race through the streets of the French capital, even if that idea is unlikely.

"Why not Disneyland? There are hotels, (and) you can get there by train. It would ideal."

Ecclestone also hinted that the sport's most glamorous event might be a little different in the future.

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Formula One and fashion unite for charity

Formula One racing and fashion is a synergy that has worked smoothly for years, especially at the ultra-glamorous Monaco Grand Prix. On Friday evening they officially came together in the name of charity, for ‘Grand Prix and Fashion Unite’, to raise money for top model Tereza Maxova’s foundation for children in need.

The fashion: Tereza Maxova send out an SOS to her colleagues from the catwalk business and the likes of Petra Nemcova, Mari Tool and Jessica Sjöö came to her rescue to present evening dresses to die for by Isabell Kristensen. A special surprise was Petra Ecclestone, daughter of Bernie, who made a very personal donation by joining the professional models on stage. She blended in so perfectly that the rumour of the evening was that this could perhaps be the start of a new top modelling career.

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F1 race in the US?

Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) owner Eddie Gossage has approached Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone about the possibility of staging a night race in the United States.

With Formula One planning an inaugural night race in Singapore next year, Gossage said he had sent Ecclestone an invitation to attend a night-time oval Indy car race at TMS on June 9, the day before the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal.

TMS staged the first-ever night-time Indy car race in 1997.

"I think it would be of great interest to Mr. Ecclestone and his staff to visit Texas Motor Speedway and get an opportunity to witness and evaluate open-wheel cars running at high speeds under the lights," Gossage told reporters.

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Malaysia must be prepared to stage Formula One races at night says Bernie Ecclestone

Malaysia must be prepared to stage Formula One races at night to stay on the FIA's F1 calendar or even harbour any hope of an extension of the Malaysian Grand Prix contract that expires in 2010.

This was among a number of conditions, or rather terms, put forward by Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone with regards to talks of an extension of the contract for staging the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Sepang International Circuit (SIC) chairman Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir said: "The FIA wants us to be prepared to stage night races as well as carry out some upgrading works at the circuit.

"We are actually studying what kind of light that would be suitable, the security aspects, which will certainly be our top priority, and a few other things before anything can be firmed up."

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