Formula One supremo Bernie Eccelstone revealed that the Azerbaijan Grand Prix will make its debut next season, despite concerns over the country’s Human Rights record.
The country’s capital, Baku, is said to be a city where oil is so prevalent that you can smell petrol in the air. The streets of Baku will be the Grand Prix’s venue and the drivers will have to race at night.
Asked if the human rights situation in Azerbaijan had been checked out prior to granting them rights, Ecclestone said: “We have. I think everybody seems to be happy. There doesn’t seem to be any big problem there.”
Azerbaijan will be the third Middle Eastern country to be on the list of the 2016 Formula One season, alongside Bahrain and Abu Dhabi. Media reports have suggested that Qatar was close to signing a deal for a street race but no official statements were made.
However, the Briton told reporters that Bahrain, which hosted the first race of the Middle East region in 2004, had effectively dismissed the idea of having a new race in another country within the same gulf. As the two countries are facing each other, it’s unlikely for Qatar to be included in the list.
Ecclestone has also been urged by many parties to restore the historic Italian Grand Prix into the schedule but despite that, the 84 year-old is yet to release a statement on the future of Italy’s famed Monza GP, which is popular among the Ferrari fans.
Photo credits: www.sportsnet.ca
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