This is F1Minute - Bernie Ecclestone confirms Bahrain paid for their cancelled F1 race.

Formula One Management boss Bernie Ecclestone has been speaking about the sport’s finances recently, and told how Bahrain paid for their race and were satisfied not to receive a refund, despite the fact the event did not go ahead. Talking to The Independent newspaper, Bernie said: “I think turnover will be flat because we were paid for Bahrain. I said we will give them the money back and they said don’t bother. I think the turnover and profit will be more or less the same as 2010.”

Ecclestone added that he had spoken to the organisers of the Bahrain race about next year’s calendar, and they are confident that everything is going to be fine, and they won’t need another cancellation.

Also in circuit news, former BRDC chief Damon Hill has said that F1 needs to pay more attention to the tracks that host their races - specifically in terms of not charging too much for tickets.

Talking about the existing circuits, not new entrants, he said: “There is a balance to find between the VIP level, the people who pay for the sport, the sponsors, but there is a point where you have to give the ordinary fan access to the sport and a feeling of getting repaid for their devotion.”