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Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone says he wants more races in the United States, despite recently expressing a lack of enthusiasm for the country, with Southern California the latest possibility.
Speaking at last weekend's title deciding US Grand Prix in Austin, the 84-year-old Briton told reporters he hoped to add more American venues to a series that is already set for a record 21 races next year.
Asked whether he would like another race, he replied: "And third. We'd like four races here. We'd like California. Anywhere where it doesn't rain. A few places have come up. Southern California.
"We are trying to do another couple of races, if I'm allowed back," he said, with a grin.
Ecclestone told Russian television two weeks ago, at that country's grand prix in Sochi, that "we ought to try and beef up a little bit in America. It's hard for me. I'm not very enthusiastic about America."
He also caused a stir by expressing his admiration for Russian president Vladimir Putin and disdain for democracy in general.
Austin, with a purpose-built circuit, is Formula One's only current race in the United States but there have been many others in what has generally been a losing battle to win over the American public.
Watkins Glen International, in upstate New York, held the U.S. Grand Prix from 1961 to 1980 while F1 races have also been held at Long Beach in California, Las Vegas, Detroit, Dallas, Phoenix and Indianapolis.
The financial structure of the sport has not helped, with local promoters failing to reconcile their need to make a profit with having to pay hefty fees to the commercial rights holder.
Indianapolis came and went as a venue while a proposed race in New Jersey never happened despite being scheduled on the provisional 2014 calendar along with Mexico, which makes its return this week.
"We should have done that I suppose," said Ecclestone of New Jersey.
"We may still. It's still possible."
F1 governing body says Ferrari vetoed engine cost proposal
Ferrari vetoed Formula One cost reduction measures that included a proposal to set a maximum price for the engines and gearboxes manufacturers supply to customer teams, the governing FIA said on Monday.
The International Automobile Federation said it had studied a range of measures including a global cost ceiling, the use of technical and sporting regulations to cut costs and increased standardisation of parts.
"The FIA, in agreement with FOM (the commercial rights holder), suggested the principle of setting a maximum price for engine and gearbox for client teams at the last Strategy Group meeting," it said in a statement.
"These measures were put to the vote and adopted with a large majority.
"However, Ferrari SpA decided to go against this and exercise the right of veto long recognised under agreements governing F1."
The FIA said it had decided not to make a legal challenge to Ferrari's veto, in the interests of the championship, but would now talk to all stakeholders about the possible introduction of a cheaper engine option from 2017.
It could then call for tenders for the contract.
Mercedes motorsport head Toto Wolff confirmed separately that Ferrari had used their veto.
"There was discussion about opening up the rules for next year as a main topic and whether there would be any appetite from us for a standard engine...and Ferrari decided to vote against the change in supply price," he said.
Formula One's commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone said on Saturday that the plan was to offer a less complex engine as an alternative to the costly V6 turbo hybrid power units made by Mercedes, Ferrari, Renault and Honda.
Teams could then choose which to use.
"They (the cheaper engines) will probably have more power and use more fuel. It means I suppose that there would be regulation changes, which have already been anticipated for 2017 so there's nothing new," said Ecclestone.
The sport switched from V8s to V6 turbo hybrids last year. The alternative is likely to be a 2.2 litre V6 twin turbo similar to those used in the U.S. Indy Car series.
Ecclestone indicated Cosworth would be interested in returning with a less complicated option but others were also in the frame.
The 84-year-old said the introduction of a different engine would not turn the championship into a two-tier series and pointed out that decades ago the sport had both turbo engines and normally-aspirated ones.
