Ecclestone blames Turkey for GP failure

Bernie Ecclestone has blamed Turkish officials for the apparent failure of the country's Formula One foray.

Istanbul Park, having first hosted the Grand Prix in 2005, boasts highly impressive circuit facilities and arguably the best layout penned by Hermann Tilke.

F1 chief executive Ecclestone now rents the track from the Istanbul chamber of commerce, but believes the promotion of the event is up to the locals.

Watching Sunday's Grand Prix from his London home with a Daily Express reporter, the 78-year-old admitted his concern about the almost totally empty grandstands.

"I need to speak to the Turkish prime minister soon and see what the future of the circuit is. They just don't promote the race," Ecclestone charged.

It is known that Ecclestone has already served notice that the track's agreement to stage the annual race is under review for 2011 and beyond.

Mark Webber said after finishing second on Sunday that the problem may be that tickets are too expensive. But Ecclestone believes the market is there.

"They have a huge catchment area of East European and Middle East countries. The layout is brilliant, they just don't promote it," said Ecclestone, before joking: "Maybe they could move the whole thing to Britain."