Ecclestone: « Prodrive is unlikely to be in F1 in 2008 »

Bernie Ecclestone admitted this Friday at the site of the last Grand Prix of this 2007 season that Prodrive has little chance of joining the Formula 1 ventures next year.

David Richards, the head of Prodrive, has nevertheless signed a commitment for the beginning of March next year, which would correspond to the start of the 2008 F1 season.

But the uncertainty regarding the legal rules surrounding the single-seaters is significant. It was therefore the F1 boss who stated this to journalists at the Interlagos circuit in Brazil.

« I think they will give up, but would he still need to accept it? » said Ecclestone from Sao Paulo on Friday.

« They were all enthusiastic about making it to compete in the premier motorsport competition, it’s unfortunate for them.

Prodrive is now more than three months past its imposed deadline, which is legitimate in order to provide further information, including commercial in nature and about the lineup. They have already admitted that their plans to launch a car identical to a McLaren-Mercedes will not be technically possible.

« The manufacturers present this season have expenses that reach half a billion dollars per year, and Prodrive’s budget was about 75 million, » he specified.