Ecclestone targets Formula One Azerbaijan expansion

President and CEO of Formula One Management Bernie Ecclestone. File photo.

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone wants to make an Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku no later than 2016, according to a report on Wednesday.

Ecclestone has already completed a deal for the race which will debut in 2015 or 2016 according to the English Daily Mail newspaper.

“We’re going to Azerbaijan,” the paper quotes Ecclestone.

“The people out there (in Azerbaijan) are talking about holding a race in 2015. That may be a bit soon — unless it’s at the end of the season, that’s a possibility. But 2016 is more likely.” The 83-year-old Ecclestone is attempting to explore new markets for Formula One races and this year there will be a Grand Prix in Sochi, Russia, for the first time.