Breaking news

Formula 1

Aus GP boss to retire if Ecclestone steps down

GMM

Edited: Nov 28, 2012, 1:20 PM

Copy link

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

Bernie Ecclestone and Ron Walker, Australian Grand Prix Corporation Chairman

Nov.28 (GMM) Australian Grand Prix boss Ron Walker has promised to step down if Bernie Ecclestone is no longer in charge of Formula One.

Embroiled in the ever-deepening Gerhard Gribkowsky corruption scandal, Ecclestone warned last week that his demise could cost the sport several key races.

Bernie Ecclestone and Ron Walker, Australian Grand Prix Corporation Chairman

Photo by: xpb.cc

"A few (race promoters) said to me, 'if you're not there, we're not there'," F1 chief executive Ecclestone said. "That's what the danger is."

Walker, the chief of the Melbourne race promoter Australian Grand Prix Corporation and a long-time Ecclestone ally, is the first to put his hand up.

"When Bernie retires, then I will retire as well; and a number of other longstanding promoters that have been friends of Bernie's will do also," he told F1 business journalist Christian Sylt, published in Autoweek.

Walker clarified that the promoter exodus would not mean those countries necessarily lose their Grands Prix.

But he added: "When Bernie goes, Formula One will change. You won't recognise the sport after Bernie goes because he has done it in his own way as unique as he can."

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Viber

Previous article Hamilton and Button support StarCards yearly fundraiser for Children's hospital in London

Next article Horner predicts 'weaker' McLaren without Hamilton

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

Latest news

F1 publishes first Social Impact Report; key student scholarship renewed

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

United States GP

F1 publishes first Social Impact Report; key student scholarship renewed

Sergio Perez signs fresh Cadillac F1 deal until 2029

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

Mexican GP

1 min

Sergio Perez signs fresh Cadillac F1 deal until 2029

Oliver Bearman explains why Haas’ 2026 F1 car is ‘hitting its ceiling’

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

United States GP

2 h

Oliver Bearman explains why Haas’ 2026 F1 car is ‘hitting its ceiling’

Toprak Razgatlioglu going through a "difficult time" after shoulder surgery

MotoGP

MGP MotoGP

Malaysian GP

3 h

Toprak Razgatlioglu going through a "difficult time" after shoulder surgery

Feature

Discover prime content

The one aspect of the 2026 US GP that should be a blueprint for F1 2027

Formula 1

United States GP

By Jake Boxall-Legge

The one aspect of the 2026 US GP that should be a blueprint for F1 2027

A strategic masterclass: How Kimi Antonelli put himself on the cusp of F1 title at the US GP

Formula 1

United States GP

By Jake Boxall-Legge

A strategic masterclass: How Kimi Antonelli put himself on the cusp of F1 title at the US GP

How Verstappen and Antonelli were both “surprised” in United States GP qualifying

Formula 1

United States GP

By Stuart Codling

How Verstappen and Antonelli were both “surprised” in United States GP qualifying

What we learned from Friday practice at the 2026 United States GP

Formula 1

United States GP

By Jake Boxall-Legge

What we learned from Friday practice at the 2026 United States GP

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Become a subscriber.
Disable your adblocker.

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts