Bernie Ecclestone, chief executive of the Formula One Group, discussed the future of the Russian Grand Prix during an exclusive interview with R-Sport.
Now, with this ever changing world situation and the crisis in Russia, do you think that it will somehow affect the future of the Russian Grand Prix?
Bernie Ecclestone: We have a contract here for this race and we will be here as long as we want to.
Have you seen some economic advantages, maybe, of being here?
Bernie Ecclestone: Not really. I mean, we have a lot of places in the world that want to host the races. And because of that, they are probably prepared to pay more money than we receive from here. But this is not the most important thing in the world. Russia is a very important country and we should have been here, having tried to do the race here for 30 years.
What are the important things about Russia making it so Formula 1 should be here?
Bernie Ecclestone: Russia is a very important country.
What about the night race here? You said that it probably would be one of the best races during this contract.
Bernie Ecclestone: Yes, pretty nice.
But when?
Bernie Ecclestone: As soon as we are ready, as soon as everybody here is ready to put the race on.
How much it would cost to prepare a night race?
Bernie Ecclestone: I have no idea. I asked, as a matter of fact…even last night I asked somebody here what would it actually cost to put on a race. And it is difficult to answer.
What about the Russian driver Daniil Kvyat? It is important for Russia…
Bernie Ecclestone: And absolutely important for us, important for the Formula 1.
We were reading that he would be in the Red Bull next year.
Bernie Ecclestone: He is doing very well. That’s good!
Do you think that Daniil, being in the top team, will bring the Russian and foreign fans to the Russian Grand Prix?
Bernie Ecclestone: We hope so! There is no reason why he shouldn’t be in. I mean, he is in a good team. He will be looked after on that team. So, I’d be surprised if he didn’t do very well.
Could we compare him to Vitaliy Petrov – the first Russian driver in Formula-1?
Bernie Ecclestone: I don’t know. It is very hard to talk about who is good and who is bad, because it depends on the time the race is on.
As I said, the team will look after him. This Australian boy, I mean nobody thought too much of him. And you see how well he went. As I said, all these things depend on a team. At the moment, probably, you and I can drive for Mercedes and win some races. Their car is much quicker than anybody else’s, or was this year. I don’t know what it is going to be next year.
The Russian Team Marussia, it was Russian, but it is not in fact the Russian team…
The trouble is that the guy behind that team, he is a nice guy.
Cheglakov?
Bernie Ecclestone: Cheglakov. There is nothing wrong with him. He was badly advised and got into the team without really knowing too much about it. And the people there, I think, advised him wrongly. I think if he had had somebody with him, that could do a little bit more, he would still be in Formula 1 today.
We have some Russian sponsors – Gazprom, ten years ago it was MTS mobile service. Why can’t the Russian money help somebody in Formula 1, some teams?
Bernie Ecclestone: Yes, it would be nice to see that happening. It would be nice to have some Russian companies involved in Formula 1, maybe, with some signs on the circuit so that the world can see the Russian companies. And also, we can then help some of the teams. I’d like to see a Russian team.
And what about Sergei Vorobyov – a promoter from Sochi, what do you think about him?
Bernie Ecclestone: He is good, he’s learnt a lot. A new kid on the block, but he’s learnt a lot and he is good.
The news yesterday was about the chief executive officer of Formula 1 Group, what does it mean for you?
Bernie Ecclestone: Nothing. We just put two people on the board and that’s all. I think maybe two or three people are coming off and we’ve got two new people. But they are just board members, they are not anything important, they are non-executive.
And what about the plans for expansion of Formula 1 to other countries? We know that the next season will be in Mexico. And one season would be in Azerbaijan, yes?
Bernie Ecclestone: Yes!
And some said that Denmark could also.
Bernie Ecclestone: We’ve got a few countries, actually, that want to do something.
Is it like one term application?
Bernie Ecclestone: We are going through things. I mean, we are in the middle of trying to do something in South Africa, because we used to have a race there. I’d be nice to get back there again, to that part of the world. The Americans want other race, but I'm not actually sure that we do. So, we are happy.
And what about you? Christmas, giving cards?
Bernie Ecclestone: Over the years my Christmas card has always been something that’s happened to me during the year. It may not be important to other people, but it obviously at that time was important to me. So, I highlighted that. They are something that happened, related to something that happened during the year, which I take as being humorous.
What do we need to do to make the championship more competitive between the teams?
Bernie Ecclestone: We need to slow down Mercedes. It the only problem we have. They’ve done a very good job with their power unit. They’ve done a really super job and they have a lot more power than anybody else. And so, the others have got to catch up or they’ve got to slow down, and I don’t think they will slow down. So, the others are better to start catching up. There is nothing that we can do, because the regulations are there and they built a car compliant with the regulations. So, it is not their fault that they’ve done a good job. And I suppose, because they’ve done a good job, you’ve got to assume that other people haven’t. I'm very surprised with Ferrari, but now, maybe, we will see some changes there.
