Bernie Ecclestone insists that the Grand Prix of America could still find a place on the 2014 F1 calendar, despite having said last week that the New Jersey event definitely won’t be happening due to lack of funds.
However, he has also made it clear that he is running out of patience, having already postponed the race’s debut from this season.
Meanwhile the matter has been complicated by plans for an event in Mexico City gaining momentum, crowding the calendar still further.
A 2014 F1 schedule is expected to emerge either at or just before the FIA World Motor Sport Council gathering on September 27, and Bernie confirmed that is “more or less” the cut-off point for New Jersey.
In essence the promoters have to come up with some funding, and it’s easy to speculate that Bernie is now simply counting the days until the deadline for the event to meet its commercial obligations formally passes.
“They have a contract,” Ecclestone told this writer at Spa. “If they can comply with the contract, we want to be there. If they come to me next week, and show they have complied with whatever it should be, it’s alright. They’ve got to finish the circuit, so they need to pay, and they need to comply with the conditions for us.”
Asked if he really wanted the race to happen, he said: “Yes, of course. We’ve been mucking around and waiting long enough. We’ve compromised enough. We sent them 10 million to pay some of their debts, and keep the doors open, so we’re a little bit serious.”
He made some interesting observations about the efforts of Leo Hindery Jr, the man behind the NJ event, to raise the necessary finance.
“When they signed the contract, the guy definitely looked over 21. Allegedly he’s a very good business guy, and he knew what he was signing. When we made the agreement with him there was no fear about or discussion about could he or couldn’t he afford to pay.”
Ecclestone added that, if the race is eventually confirmed, it is set for an autumn date.
“We’ll worry about it when it happens. But it never was going to be June. Let’s see. We used to have the race in Watkins Glen in October.”
Meanwhile asked whether a recent plea for government funding by the Indian GP promoter suggested that there was a financial crunch for the Delhi event he said: “I’ve no idea. I don’t count people’s money, I rely on them to know what they are doing.”
Bernie also confirmed that the new Austrian event will move from the July 6 slot originally announced by Dietrich Mateschitz: “We’ve changed that date. It will be in the calendar.”
Adam Cooper F1 
I’ve hardly heard anything positive about this race, I can’t see it happening.
Hope it happens. The reference to a date in the fall was a surprise. Has that been communicated before? My understanding has always been that it would be paired up with Canada.
I think Bernie may finally have met his match in the denizens of New Jersey. I can’t wait to see garbage trucks blocking the course to extract some cash from him.
I believe the Texas facility went up and down on the verge of non-existence several times before it finaly came off, including a calendar postponement.
I can only hope N.J. is in the same category, though it does look markedly bleaker then the Texas scenario.
I do not know a person who can talk from both sides of the mouth better than Bernie. Yes, he did the same thing to CoTA but they had money.
Meanwhile, drug arrests and violence is up in Mexico City.
What did Bernie do to CoTA? I’ll tell you. He did the same thing, but not the way steve means it. Bernie tried to get CoTA to pay on time when they wouldn’t or couldn’t, just like New Jersey. CoTA were very late, and Leo is even later.
IOW, he just tried to get CoTA to honor the contract they signed, just as he’s been trying to get Jersey to.
Now I see Bernie’s plans for NYC. If it can’t be done in June, then October fits nicely with the other races in the area – Texas, Mexico and Brazil. This means the area has 4 races in a row, possibly 2 each back to back, and Montreal retains its exclusivity for a third of the year at least. For this to happen, India has to move to earlier in the year as Russia is moving into its place. Although, if the Le Mans rule is flipped, I would still bet on NYC moving to June alongside Montreal.
October also gives them time to get the track ready, and the money – if not for 2014, then 2015 to come in alongside Mexico. Although, I think this could all be smoke and mirrors, and the NYC race could still come in June 2014, if construction and permits allow.