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McLaren
This is an update to:
Montreal Still Eying For 2009 F1 Grand Prix
Negotiations to maintain the Canadian Grand Prix have failed and further efforts will no longer take place.
That is the situation confirmed by Montreal Mayor Gerald Tremblay and the Quebec province’s Minister of Economic Development, Raymond Bachand, accompanied by former Federal Minister Michael Fortier who stayed on the team as a negotiator.
Following weeks of talks with Formula One CEO Bernie Ecclestone and the many efforts provided by the federal, provincial and municipal levels of government, including a special 1% room tax coming from Montreal’s hotel association, a final offer was presented last Thursday to save Formula One’s only North American round.
An agreement could not be reached, and therefore no Canadian Grand Prix will be held for the foreseeable future.
Tremblay says Ecclestone demanded a guarantee of $175-million over five years to stage the race in Montreal. The government offer was for $110-million over five years plus 75-percent of the first $10-million in profits and an additional 25-percent of any remaining profits.
Ecclestone turned down the government’s offer.
“We were constantly guided in our negotiations by principles of responsible management,” said Tremblay. “However, despite our endeavours and those of the business community, the unreasonable demands of Formula One exceeded the taxpayer’s ability to pay.”
“We cannot meet Mr. Ecclestone’s unworkable demands,” he added. “Unless he eases his requirements and adopts a different approach, there will be no Grand Prix in Montreal in 2009.
Canadian public works minister Christian Paradis said the race was a loss for all Canadians but Ecclestone had made ‘unrealistic demands’.
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