Ecclestone claims most races are sold out E-mail
Jan.1 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has moved to play down the impact the global financial crisis may have on the world of formula one. The Japanese manufacturer Honda has already pulled out, citing the crisis in the car sales industry, but F1's chief executive insists 2009 will be business as usual.
"It's clear that the world financial crisis affects everyone, including the car industry. But it won't affect formula one seriously," the 78-year-old billionaire said.

Ecclestone said the sport remains a huge draw, with which only the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games can compete.

On a visit to Serbia, he told the local newspaper Press: "As far as I know, all the tickets have been sold for almost every race in the next season.

"Moreover, we signed two huge deals, one with LG and one with DHL," he added.

"It's simple: the big guns who want their ad across the whole world understand that formula one is the cheapest way to achieve it."


 
Bahrain GP - Sakhir
Friday practice 1 07.00
Friday practice 2 11.00
Saturday practice08.00
Qualifying11.00
Race12.00
times are CET

2010 Calendar

RaceGrand Prix Date
1Bahrain GP 14 March
2Australian GP 28 March
3Malaysian GP 4 April
4Chinese GP 18 April
5Spanish GP 9 May
6Monaco GP 16 May
7Turkish GP 30 May
8Canadian GP 13 June
9European GP 27 June
10British GP11 July
11German GP 25 July
12Hungarian GP 1 August
13Belgian GP 29 August
14Italian GP 12 September
15Singapore GP 26 September
16Japanese GP 3 October
17Korean GP 17 October
18Abu Dhabi GP 31 October
19Brazilian GP 14 November
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Driver table

DRIVERS
1 Jenson Button89
2Sebastian Vettel75
3 Rubens Barrichello72

Team table

TEAMS
1Brawn GP161
2Red Bull135,5
3McLaren71