Capelli says Ecclestone wants Monza to stay

May 27 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone wants the Italian grand prix to stay on the calendar.

That is the claim of Ivan Capelli, a former F1 driver who now represents the organisers of the historic and endangered Monza race.

Capelli travelled to Monaco last weekend for key meetings with Bernie Ecclestone, but some reports suggested he was desperately trying to save Monza from being axed from the 2016 calendar.

Actually, negotiations about extending the current contract into 2017, 2018 and 2019 are only just beginning, Capelli said.

"I came to Monaco with the leading people to meet with Ecclestone, but we have not yet begun to talk about money issues or anything like that," he is quoted by Finland’s Turun Sanomat newspaper.

"He (Ecclestone) made it clear that he wants a new three-year contract, and explained to us how important Monza is to F1 and how much he wants Italy to stay on the calendar," Capelli added.