Team bosses bullish despite Austin doubts

Team bosses have downplayed suggestions from Bernie Ecclestone that the US GP in Austin is under threat.

Ecclestone has made no secret of the fact that there is a split in the Austin camp that has hindered progress.

“The people inside the company are not getting on,” he told this blog. “We need to see what they’re going to do.”

However others are keen to take a positive approach.

“America doesn’t need F1, we need America,” said Martin Whitmarsh. “So I think we’re excited about the prospect of going to the States. Bernie I’m sure is working very hard, on the Texas race and the New Jersey race.

“It’s in our programme, we assume we’re going there, and I suspect we will. As is often the case there is some posturing and negotiations, but that’s not our business. The calendar says we’re going there, that what we’re planning on, that’s what we’re looking forward to.”

“We’ve had no formal information,” said Ross Brawn. “When we talk to anyone involved in the project, they say it’s all going OK. There’s really not much comment we can make. We want to see the race happen.”