Ecclestone slams call for 2012 calendar rethink

Bernie Ecclestone has slammed suggestions the F1 teams will negotiate changes to the 2012 grand prix calendar.

A revised version of the provisional schedule for next year shows seven ’flyaway’ races within a ten week period on four separate continents, causing figures including deputy FOTA chairman Eric Boullier to call for "a rethink".

"We have a thought between us (the teams) already and we would like to suggest a couple of ideas," added the Renault boss.

F1 chief executive Ecclestone, however, baulked at the suggestion he will re-jig the order of the races at the teams’ behest.

"It is not the teams who make the calendar, it’s me," the Briton is quoted by German-language reports including SID news agency and sport1.de.

"They cannot come to me now with their proposals, it’s my decision. If someone’s going to do something, it’s going to be me," added Ecclestone.