F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone said that the departure of Spanish team HRT from F1 still leaves the sport with "one team too many," according to Alan Baldwin of REUTERS. The move leaves 11 teams and 22 cars on the starting grid. Ecclestone: "I'd rather have 10. I never wanted 12. It's just that 10 is easier to handle, for the promoters, for transport. We'd rather have 10 ... so long as we don't lose Ferrari" (REUTERS, 12/13). The BBC's Andrew Benson reported Ecclestone said that he had heard HRT had "gone into liquidation." Asked whether he believed it was possible a buyer would be found, Ecclestone said: "I wouldn't think anyone would want to." British-based Formtech Composites said in a statement last week that it was "owed a substantial amount of money by HRT." Formtech added that HRT had "initiated liquidation procedures" on Nov. 12, the day it announced the team was up for sale. Formtech also said that it had "offered to pay creditors 30p for every euro owed." Ecclestone said that there "would likely be 19 races" in the '13 season. He added, however, that "there was still the possibility" of Turkey taking the new 20th slot on July 21. Ecclestone: "I don't know. I'm waiting for a response from them" (BBC, 12/13).
