Ecclestone says Turkish Grand Prix unlikely to take place in 2013

London: F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has said that the Turkish Grand Prix, originally slated for 2013, is unlikely to take place next season.

The Turkish government have vetoed suggestions it put money into filling the gap on the calendar vacated by the cancelled New Jersey race. And without the extra funds Ecclestone said the race slated for July 21 is unlikely to go ahead, which means the championship will return to a 19-race schedule, the Daily Mirror reports. The 82-year-old rubbished suggestions there would be a race in Austria instead. "Until now I have not talked about this with anyone. At the moment I am thinking more about Turkey and a return to Istanbul,” he said. “At the moment I think that we will have only 19 Grands Prix. That would not be a big problem for F1,” he added. The change though is unlikely to prove unpopular among the F1 fraternity who already have to contend with eight sets of back to back races in another gruelling season of globetrotting, the report said. ANI