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LONDON, England - Azerbaijan is taking Korea's place on the Formula 1 calendar, CEO Bernie Ecclestone confirmed.
It is expected a city street race in the capital of Baku starting in 2015 will be announced later in May 2014.
Ecclestone indicated the oil-rich former Soviet race is taking the place formerly occupied by South Korea, where a race at unpopular Yeongam was held in 2013.
HIGH FEES
Korean organisers have baulked at the sport's high sanctioning fees.
Speaking to F1 business journalist Christian Sylt, Ecclestone said of the country: "I don't want to go back there. Baku has been signed. It will start in 2015 and will replace Korea.
"They (Korea) did a good job with the track but what they forgot to do was build all the things they wanted to build."
Sylt claims that the Azerbaijan deal was brokered by Flavio Briatore, the ousted former Renault boss and close friend of Ecclestone.
"Briatore put the idea in the mind of the president of the country and that got things going," a source is quoted as saying.
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2014 Spanish F1 GP weekend.
It is expected a city street race in the capital of Baku starting in 2015 will be announced later in May 2014.
Ecclestone indicated the oil-rich former Soviet race is taking the place formerly occupied by South Korea, where a race at unpopular Yeongam was held in 2013.
HIGH FEES
Korean organisers have baulked at the sport's high sanctioning fees.
Speaking to F1 business journalist Christian Sylt, Ecclestone said of the country: "I don't want to go back there. Baku has been signed. It will start in 2015 and will replace Korea.
"They (Korea) did a good job with the track but what they forgot to do was build all the things they wanted to build."
Sylt claims that the Azerbaijan deal was brokered by Flavio Briatore, the ousted former Renault boss and close friend of Ecclestone.
"Briatore put the idea in the mind of the president of the country and that got things going," a source is quoted as saying.
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2014 Spanish F1 GP weekend.