The photo above showing building progress at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, was taken one week ago. Since then work has been suspended and race organisers now have just one week to save the future of the 2012 United States Grand Prix.
There’s been talk that Austin organisers would need to have their house in order by 7 December when the FIA’s World Motor Sports Council will meet to ratify the 2012 F1 calendar. Speaking to Reuters Bernie Ecclesetone said, “It needs to be before that. We don’t need any deadlines, having to thrash around at the last minute to do something. It’s gone on long enough.
“They (the Texas circuit owners) have got next week anyway. We are going to be in Brazil so they can come back next week.”
Ecclestone was equally forthright when asked if his recent words were part of normal ongoing negotiations, “What do you want me to do, wait until next year? To put all our cars on it, run around the circuit and everything and come back with no money? The teams want paying.
“It’s not brinkmanship, it never has been with me. I’ve been trying to do a deal now with these people for 18 months or more…if they had the money, I’m sure there would be no problem.”