Bernie Ecclestone has brushed aside the loss of HRT after the team folded in November, saying he would prefer to have just 10 teams in Formula 1.
Since 2010, 12 teams have competed in the sport after the FIA opened up four additional slots on the grid – the failure of USF1 meant only three joined.
However next season will see just 11 after HRT owner Thesan Capital failed to sell its team – which doesn’t surprise the 82-year-old.
“I wouldn’t think that anyone would want to [buy HRT],” he told Reuters when asked if he had thought about saving the outfit.
“I’d rather have 10 [teams]. I never wanted 12. It’s just that 10 is easier to handle, for the promoters, for transport. We’d rather have 10…so long as we don’t lose Ferrari,” he added.
A reduced grid would make commercial sense for Ecclestone as long as the ‘big teams’ remained involved.
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