F1: Indian Grand Prix on the skids, says Bernie Ecclestone

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone with driver Sebastian Vettel at last year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Getty Images)

The Indian Grand Prix is likely to be dropped from next year’s Formula One calendar according to the sport’s chief executive officer, Bernie Ecclestone.

“Is India going to happen next year? Probably not,” he said at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Asked about the reason for his doubts, Ecclestone added: “Very political.” However, the Indian motor sport federation president, Vicky Chandhok, said Ecclestone and organisers, the Jaypee Group, were trying to find a new date.

Ecclestone, who draws up the calendar, is trying to shuffle a potential 22 grands prix into a schedule which the teams would prefer not to extend beyond 20 races. That is because of mooted new races next year in Austria, the United States and Russia, on top of this year’s 19-race calendar.