- 2014 season
Ecclestone raises doubts over New Jersey and Mexico in 2014
Bernie Ecclestone says he has "personal doubts" that Formula One will have a 22-race calendar in 2014, with the New Jersey and Mexican grands prix likely to miss the cut.
The FIA published a 22-race calendar in September but marked the New Jersey, Mexican and Korean rounds as provisional. Doubts have surrounded all three races in recent months and with the majority of Formula One teams uneasy about a calendar exceeding 20 races, New Jersey and Mexico look most likely to drop off.
"What's in the calendar? Twenty two. That's what's in the current calendar," Ecclestone said in Abu Dhabi. "Until the calendar is really finalised, I don't [expect that]. I have personal doubts, they're personal."
Asked specifically about New Jersey, he said: "I doubt that it's going to happen. It's not definite if it will or it won't but I doubt if it does."
As for Mexico, Ecclestone added: "Probably not. Wait until the World Council meetings when the calendar will be fixed."
Losing the New Jersey street circuit, which is still under construction on the banks of the Hudson River, would break up a run of three back-to-back races - Monaco, New Jersey and Canada - that presents a serious logistical challenge for the teams. The loss of the Mexican Grand Prix at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit, which still requires major renovations, would likely see the Brazilian and USA (Austin) grands prix back-to-back at the end of the year.
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