Monza race will stay as long as Ecclestone is paid

Flavio Briatore has warned organisers of the Italian grand prix not to play hardball with Bernie Ecclestone. As negotiations over a new deal for Monza drag on, regional Lombardy president Roberto Maroni warned last week that "There can be no formula one without Monza".

"I think Maroni's right," Briatore told Italian radio Rai Gr Parlamento. "That the Italian grand prix remaining at Monza is 90 per cent, as long as the (Italian automobile club) Aci pays Ecclestone's price. There is still an important difference," the Italian, a long-time friend and business partner of Ecclestone's, added. "Bernie is not interested in who pays him, but that he is paid."

Finally, Briatore also said he agreed with Ecclestone about not wanting to go and visit their old friend Michael Schumacher at his home in Switzerland. "I want to remember him as he was," Briatore said. "It would be too painful to see him as he is now. It will not help to go and see him so I prefer to keep the pictures of him that I have in my mind," he added. (GMM)