Ecclestone said it’s been long time that they have signed the contract with the promoters in India and there was no question of the event being shelved despite the Indian government’s refusal to give concessions.

Asked specifically whether the F1 race in India would go on, Ecclestone told PTI from London, “It’s been on for a long time. There’s never been any doubt. The contract has been signed long time back.”

Ecclestone, the President and CEO of Formula One Management, said that the foundation stone for the project in Greater Noida would be laid at the end of October. “We are waiting for the circuit to be constructed. The foundation stone would be laid in late October. I will be in India to lay the foundation stone,” he said.

Ecclestone made light of sports minister MS Gill’s view that Formula One was not a sport. “Everybody is entitled to his views. That’s the good or the bad part of democracy. If the Sports Minister doesn’t think it’s a sport, I can’t do much about it. That’s his view. The rest of the world thinks it is a sport,” Ecclestone said.

Motorsports administrators in the country have reacted sharply to the Sports Minister’s views against Formula One with Force India co-owner Vijay Mallya questioning the basis of Gill’s assessment for F1 being “expensive entertainment”.