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EPANG, Malaysia - Formula 1 chief executive boss Bernie Ecclestone has backed the Malaysian Grand Prix to continue past its current contract but said the tired Sepang circuit needed a "paint job".
Ecclestone said he had "no dramas" with the Malaysian grand prix, now into its 15th edition, but organisers needed to complete their ongoing, multi-year refurbishment of the racetrack near Kuala Lumpur.
He said: "They need to finish what they started. It is obviously not the same as Singapore. Maybe because they don't spend the money."
'THEY DO A VERY GOOD JOB'
Malaysia joined the Formula 1 circuit in 1999 but it has been outshone by the glitzy race in neighbouring Singapore, held at night on a street circuit snaking past major landmarks, which debuted in 2008.
Ecclestone said organisers needed to attract bigger crowds to Sepang, which is about an hour's drive from the capital. He welcomed the prospect of Malaysia extending beyond its current contract, which expires in 2015.
He said: "Of course. As long as they want us. They do a very, very good job. And it is a good circuit, I think. There are no dramas and all the people are very nice and good to deal with."
The race has top-level backing in Malaysia with Prime Minister Najib Razak saying it had created thousands of jobs and attracted large numbers of tourists.
Razak said: "The event has proved to be a good investment. Over the course of this grand prix weekend, 100 000 spectators will come to the this country."
Ecclestone said he had "no dramas" with the Malaysian grand prix, now into its 15th edition, but organisers needed to complete their ongoing, multi-year refurbishment of the racetrack near Kuala Lumpur.
He said: "They need to finish what they started. It is obviously not the same as Singapore. Maybe because they don't spend the money."
'THEY DO A VERY GOOD JOB'
Malaysia joined the Formula 1 circuit in 1999 but it has been outshone by the glitzy race in neighbouring Singapore, held at night on a street circuit snaking past major landmarks, which debuted in 2008.
Ecclestone said organisers needed to attract bigger crowds to Sepang, which is about an hour's drive from the capital. He welcomed the prospect of Malaysia extending beyond its current contract, which expires in 2015.
He said: "Of course. As long as they want us. They do a very, very good job. And it is a good circuit, I think. There are no dramas and all the people are very nice and good to deal with."
The race has top-level backing in Malaysia with Prime Minister Najib Razak saying it had created thousands of jobs and attracted large numbers of tourists.
Razak said: "The event has proved to be a good investment. Over the course of this grand prix weekend, 100 000 spectators will come to the this country."