Bernie Ecclestone Says U.S. Grand Prix Will Be On Despite Financial Woes

Formula 1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone expects next year's U.S. Grand Prix in Austin to go ahead, "despite lingering doubts about state funding, but is less certain about the sport finding new owners in the near future," according to Alan Baldwin of REUTERS. He said, "It will be (on), for sure, they will sort their finances out." The Oct. 23 race in Texas, the only round in the U.S. and important for teams and sponsors, is on the '16 calendar "with an asterisk against it as subject to agreement with the commercial rights holder." Ecclestone "expressed concern last month after media reports that Texas state subsidies were being reduced" by more than 20% to around $19.5M. On Formula 1's future ownership, Ecclesstone "indicated a change might not be as imminent as some expected" (REUTERS, 12/10).