F1: Scrap 'empty' Turkey GP, Flavio Briatore says

From GMM

F1's FOTA teams would rather not race in Turkey if the circuit cannot fill its grandstands, Flavio Briatore said on Thursday.

After a meeting of the alliance in Bologna, it was revealed that Renault chief Briatore had been appointed to liaise with Bernie Ecclestone about proposals to improve the sport's spectacle.

"Flavio will be busy working with the commercial rights holder to improve the show of the sport, we hope we can find agreement with CVC in the coming days," said FOTA chairman Luca di Montezemolo, also referring to the need to finalise the commercial deal with F1's owners.

Briatore told reporters that, if working with high-paying promoters like those in Istanbul means moving away from more well-attended traditional races, FOTA would prefer to side-step the money.

"Even if the likes of Turkey are paying more money, we would rather have stadia that are full," Briatore said.

"It is better for the spirit of the sport. We want stands full of fans. There is no point spending all that money on an empty cathedral," he added.

Meanwhile, after an unseemly exchange last week, with Mosley hitting out at FOTA "loonies" and Briatore suggesting that the Briton's recent sex scandal means he should tread carefully on the subject of personal insults, an uneasy truce was called for now.

"After many years under the presidency of Mr Mosley, we want to tell him good luck for the retirement," Briatore said.