Ecclestone talks of dropping Monza from F1 calendar after 2016

Italian GP isn’t a commerically viable option for F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone

Formula One may have to bid adieu to the historic Monza track. F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has talked about dropping the historic track from the F1 calendar from 2016 onwards.

Monza is one of the most loved and popular tarcks in the F1 roster, and has been host to the Italian Grand Prix since 1950. Every race since then, except one in 1980, has been held there.

A diagramatical representation of the Monza track

Speaking of the reasons behind the historic track's exclusion from the F1 roster, Ecclestone confirmed in an interview with the Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport "It’s future isn't good. I don't think we'll do another contract, the old one was a disaster for us from a commercial point of view. After 2016, bye bye…"

Monza and Italy has been witness to a steep fall in viewership in recent years. The Italian GP's fall in commercial viability is according to Ecclestone linked to a fall in Ferrari's fortunes. Monza used to be a Ferrari favourite when team racer Michael Schumacher used to dominate the track. The German won the Italian GP with a Ferrari car on 5 occasions between 1996 to 2006. But the Italian car-manufacturing giants has seen a dip in F1 form in recent times with the rise of Red Bull and McLaren. Ferrari, though has 19 wins on here as proof of its domination, hasn't registered a win since 2010. McLaren (in 2012 with Lewis Hamilton) and Red Bull (in 2011 and 2013 with Sebastian Vettel) have come up as new rulers of this track.

Red Bull racer Sebastian Vettel with the 2013 Italian GP trophy

And Ecclestone believes that a revival in Ferrari's fortunes can help bring back the crowd to Monza. "TV audiences are lower in Italy than elsewhere," he said. "If Ferrari starts placing first or second in qualifying and races … the audiences would increase everywhere. Ferrari is a worldwide passion."

Known for it’s long straights and tight chicanes, the 5.7 kilometres-long Monza track has its ample share of risks, but is adored by F1 fans for the number of racing thrillers it has churned out over the years. Adios Monza, you will be missed!