The future of the Australian Grand Prix has been called into doubt yet again. This time, Melbourne’s Lord Mayor Robert Doyle has called for the event to be dropped.
The race has been held in Melbourne since 1996 and has haemorrhaged money ever since. The inaugural event lost £1 million (A$1.5m) and the situation has only worsened with last years losses totalling £30m (A$50m).
Doyle believes it would be best to wave goodbye to the event when the contract expires in 2015.
“Although I know of no city that has voluntarily walked away from a Grand Prix, could Melbourne be the first?” He wrote in Sunday’s Herald Sun.
“The final possibility is that we decide that it has been 20 fantastic years, that the benefits to the city and the state have been enormous but that the cycle has run its course.”
He then added: “My judgment would be, ‘Get ready. Time’s up’.”
Whilst Doyle has no say in contract negotiations between Formula One Management (FOM) and the cities government, he holds one of the most influential offices in the state and his words are sure to spark some debate among residents.
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