Formula One in Australia is doomed, says former champ
Australia’s 1980 Formula One world champion, Alan Jones, believes there won’t be a grand prix held in this country beyond 2010.
The 1980 title winner believes Melbourne will lose the Australian Grand Prix when its deal with F1 ring-master Bernie Ecclestone runs out in 2010. And he doesn’t think it will move to Sydney, either.
Sydney’s Eastern Creek Raceway recently announced it had initiated a feasibility study into upgrading its circuit to Formula One standards, but Jones believes the $30 million investment rumoured will not be sufficient.
“They’re talking about spending $30 million on it, which would probably furnish Bernie’s office but I don’t think it’d build a good F1 track,” Jones told Eurosport.com.
“They’re [Eastern Creek] kidding themselves. If I was a betting man I wouldn’t say F1 is going to be in Melbourne either after 2010.”
It’s no secret that many - if not most - current F1 circuits struggle to generate a profit despite staging a round of what is regarded as the pinnacle of world motorsport. Melbourne isn’t alone in recording losses as an F1 host.
But whether an Aussie GP stayed at Albert Park as a night race (as desired by Ecclestone), a street race in Sydney, or at a significantly upgraded Eastern Creek, either option would be preferable to Australia falling off the F1 calendar - even if the sports popularity here is considerably less than in other parts of the world.
If F1 drivers and teams had a say in which countries hosted a grand prix, you can be sure Australia would be included. Albert Park continues to be one of their favourite destinations (even if the actual track itself isn’t popular with every driver).
Jez Spinks