Talking to reporters at Sakhir ahead of today's Bahrain Grand Prix, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone confirmed that F1 will head to Azerbaijan next year where the Grand Prix of Europe will be held on the streets of the country's capital Baku.

"Baku? No problem. That's going to be another good race," said Ecclestone.

Asked about human rights concerns in Azerbaijan, he replied: "I think everybody seems to be happy. There doesn't seem to be any big problem there."

However, the message in terms of Monza, which has hosted every Italian Grand Prix (except 1980) since the Formula One World Championship came into being in 1950, more than any other circuit, was not so positive.

"We have to wait and see," said Ecclestone. "They don't have an agreement, a bit like Germany.

When advised that losing Monza (and Italy) from the schedule was unthinkable, he said: "I was told that when we didn't have a race in France and Germany now.. We've got some good replacements haven't we?"

No, Mr Ecclestone, we haven't.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by testa rossa, 04/05/2015 22:21

"Please Bernie keep Monza and kick out Monaco , Monaco gp is as Nelson P said like riding a bike in your living room. Sooo boring too."

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2. Posted by Chinabell70, 20/04/2015 15:31

"If the trend continues like that, I think Spa, Monaco or even Japan may go n replace but all the rich countries. Honestly, except Singapore, how many modern F1 circuits u really remember or wanna travel to see a race. Also, I respect Bernie has grown F1 to such a stage now. But as ages go by, all his recent years ideal are really terrible n shit, Double Points n New Numbering system must go away, U cannot copy all the things from Nascar and Indy n loss the traditional of F.1!"

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3. Posted by petes, 20/04/2015 6:41

"That word with the asterisks.....was it areshole?

I may have misspelled that, my spell checker's not too good presently...."

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4. Posted by GordonW, 19/04/2015 22:38

"In one breath Bernie says "Formula One is too expensive" and in the next he says "Monza must pay if it wants to secure the future of the Italian Grand Prix". The words "hypocrite", "money grabber" and "ar*****e" spring to mind...."

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5. Posted by Hondawho?, 19/04/2015 22:07

"Queen Victoria did not like trains as she thought the speed would suffocate her. I hate losing Monza but the sport needs to move on.

Is it right ? What do we know in the future will happen, all I hope is that sport whatever the sport may be brings all the counties in the world together."

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6. Posted by gturner38, 19/04/2015 20:53

"If by "good replacements" he is referring to the checks being written, then sure, Bernie is right. If we are talking about putting the fans interest at heart, then no. It's not even a matter of the quality of the circuits, because I don't think Tilke's tracks are all as bad as they are made out to be (especially Malaysia and Turkey). It's putting the races in places where the fans can't afford to go that hurts interest. Even for people who aren't going to their home GP, the added press surrounding that race and the PR work of the local promoter is a plus for a series that does no actual promotion on a series level."

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7. Posted by Ro, 19/04/2015 18:54

"If it is and Monza will not host an F1 race then CVC and BE have lost their plot. I for one will not watch one more "F1" merry-go-round "race"...ever again cos it just wont be "F!""

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8. Posted by Ky, 19/04/2015 18:45

"He's the Monty Burns of Formula One."

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9. Posted by Rob, 19/04/2015 18:20

"Another nail in the coffin.

Not many to go now."

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10. Posted by Tweek, 19/04/2015 17:09

"lol if he loses the Italian Grand Prix Bernie will wake up next to Luca Brasi !"

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11. Posted by Joop deBruin, 19/04/2015 16:13

""Money, money, money! Me, me, me!"
I wouldn't put it past the crazy old man to spend his holidays with a metal detector on the beaches of Northern France, trying to find bits from the fallen heroes of DDay to sell to to bidder."

Baku to replace Monza in 2016?

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