The organisers of the Austin Grand Prix have insisted that the circuit will be ready for its debut next season, despite comments from Bernie Ecclestone suggesting otherwise.
“Austin? I wouldn’t want to put my money down that that will happen,” he told Reuters on Saturday.
However Steve Sexton, president of the Circuit of the Americas, says he doesn’t understand why Ecclestone made those comments as everything is on schedule.
“Our funding is secured, and construction is on schedule, so we don’t understand Mr Ecclestone’s comments,” Sexton told the Austin Statesman.
Tavo Hellmund, who secured the rights’ to the race through his Full Throttle Productions company, says the construction company must get things sorted before Ecclestone loses patience.
“Mr Ecclestone has been incredibly patient with the challenges here in Austin. Full Throttle Productions has worked tirelessly to bring the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix to Austin.
“It is now the responsibility of the Circuit of the Americas to make this project happen before Mr Ecclestone’s patience runs out.”