MONTREAL — Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone is not impressed that no work has been done on building new paddock at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and that the race has yet to land a major sponsor.
When a multi-million dollar deal involving three levels of government was announced in 2014 that would keep the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal until 2024, the city promised an extra $32 million for the paddock and other infrastructural improvements by 2017. That leaves one year for a lot of work to be done.
Asked if failing to get it done on time would put the event's future in doubt, Ecclestone said "Probably the contract's in doubt. When you have a contract, normally it's got the terms are set out in the contract what people are supposed to do, both sides. It's been forgotten a little bit from the city."
"I find it difficult to understand why they haven't managed to attract a major sponsor," he added.
Race promoter Francois Dumontier didn't comment on the lack of movement on infrastructure, but he is still working on finding a sponsor to make the event profitable.
The race was dropped from the F1 calendar in 2009 in a dispute over upgrades to the track.
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Ecclestone spoke at a glitzy news conference to announce that F1 has a new sponsorship with a Dutch brewery. It starts with title sponsorship of this year's Italian Grand Prix.
On hand were long-haired former Barcelona centreback Carles Puyol, Welsh rugby star Scott Quinnell and actress Stephanie Sigman from the James Bond movie franchise, not to mention F1 legend Jackie Stewart as a special ambassador. The brewery also sponsors the UEFA Champions League, the Rugby World Cup and the Bond films.
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Side by side at the traditional pre-race news conference were Force India driver Sergio Perez and Felipe Massa of Williams, whose bump at the 2014 Canadian Grand Prix pretty much handed the win to Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo.
"I still think it was his fault, but I got the penalty" said a grinning Perez. "That day I was so close to winning the race.
"Unfortunately, on the last lap it all went bad with a crash."
"It was really bad for both of us," said Massa. "But I was not penalized."
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It was a chilly 13C at the track. The forecast is for 19C for practice on Friday and 24C for qualifying on Sunday, but then back to a wet 13C for the race on Sunday.
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