BERNIE ECCLESTONE SAYS 20 CARS ENOUGH FOR F1

Bernie Ecclestone says he wouldn't want to lose the Lotus team from the grid, but has hinted that he would be less bothered if Hispania Racing or Virgin Racing was to leave F1.

The ever controversial commercial rights holder was speaking to the Daily Telegraph about the financial viability of teams on the grid following news last weekend that Renault had asked if it could get an advance payment on TV money that would be due at the end of the season.

While he played down that request, Ecclestone did admit that he wouldn't be shocked to lose teams from the grid before the season comes to a close.

Hispania for one has been beset by money issues all season after only making it onto the grid at the last minute and has shuffled its driver line-up to give test driver Sakon Yamamoto a race seat due to the money he is able to bring.

"All that was [the Renault situation] was the fact that one of the shareholders didn't want to take money from another one of his companies because that would have meant convening a board meeting," he said. "But I never gave them the money. And they got over the crisis so everything is fine.

"But I would not be surprised if one or two of them did not make the end of the season. I think there are a couple of teams in Formula 1 who really shouldn't be there. They are a bit out of their depth at the moment."

None of the three newcomers who joined the grid this season have been able to make an impression on the established teams, although Lotus has drawn closer to the rear of the field as the year goes on.

With that in mind, Ecclestone said he wouldn't want to lose the team and didn’t feel that the grid needed to expand further in 2011; with 20 cars being enough for the sport.

"All we ever want is ten teams," he said. "Lotus is a good name. I wouldn't want to lose them. But in general this year has been a bit of a nuisance because it has cost money to keep these [struggling] teams in. It has cost a lot of money to pay for them to compete.

"The bottom line is they haven't really and truly given us value for being there. If suddenly these teams don't turn up at races then I don't think the crowds will get any smaller, or the TV sets will turn off, or the newspapers will stop writing, will they?"

The likes of Durango, the Cypher Group and Stefan GP are names on the list to join the grid next year.

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