19/04/2015
NEWS STORY
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.