Ecclestone: My aim was to race Formula 1 through Red Square!
F1 NewsWednesday, 20 August 2025 at 12:02
Bernie Ecclestone has revealed just how close Formula 1 came to staging a Soviet Grand Prix in the early 1980s, recalling plans to run cars through Moscow’s iconic Red Square before the death of Communist Party leader Leonid Brezhnev ended negotiations.
Media reports in 1982 announced that there would be a Soviet Grand Prix for the following year. An article in Grand Prix magazine outlined, with insider (aka Ecclestone) supplied information, details of the project.
Ecclestone, who ruled over Formula 1 for nearly half a century, revealed in an interview with Speaking to Károly Méhes of F1 Destinations: “My aim was to race Formula 1 cars through Red Square! We went to see what we could do, but nothing happened in the end. We had to postpone everything when the Communist party chief Brezhnev died [in November 1982].
"We were unable to continue negotiations with his successors. I always thought of Formula 1 as a World Championship, and Russia – or the Soviet Union at the time – was an important part of the world. But in the end, we gave up on the idea.”
Although the Moscow dream collapsed, Ecclestone did not abandon the idea of bringing the sport behind the Iron Curtain, and soon turned his attention to Hungary.
How Hungary joined the Formula 1 calendar
With the help of his long-time associate Tamás Rohonyi, Ecclestone pushed through a deal with Hungarian authorities in the mid-1980s. But as he recalled, the negotiations came with unexpected challenges.
“I remember on one occasion Tamás telling me we had to meet some government officials to discuss preparations for the race. It turned out they were from the KGB. They just wanted to make sure that Formula 1 wouldn’t cause any harm to the Communist regime.
"On the practical side, I wanted to stage the race in the city, at the old Népliget circuit [then and now, a city park]. But the authorities said that F1 would disturb the animals and ruin people’s holidays.
"When we realized it couldn’t happen there, we had to look for somewhere else. That’s how we ended up in Mogyoród, which has been home to the Hungaroring circuit now for almost forty years.”
Ecclestone said the Hungarian Grand Prix was a personal triumph: “Yes, absolutely! The race got better year on year, which was satisfying to see. The local organizers suggested improvements and if they looked sensible, we agreed. I’ve always said that Hungary deserves to be on the calendar. Formula 1 shouldn’t lose the Hungarian Grand Prix.”
Disappointments in South Korea and India
Despite huge success in Hungary, not every new market for Formula 1 flourished. Ecclestone admitted he still regrets losing races in Asia: “South Korea and India! I was very, very unhappy after losing these races. Again, there was always politics in the background.
"With India it was very simple. The people there did an incredible job, really. But then the payment to us wasn’t carried out correctly, and we didn’t really know why. It turned out to be an issue with the tax system in India. That’s why we couldn’t continue, although it was a very good circuit," recalled Ecclestone.
Both venues joined the calendar in the early 2010s but lasted only a handful of seasons before financial and political disputes brought them to an end.
South Africa, Montreal and Baku stand out venues
Looking to the future, Ecclestone believes one destination in particular still deserves a place on the Formula 1 calendar: “South Africa. The African continent deserves a race. It’s getting closer, I think, but as always, it is a question of politics and finding the money.”
As for his favourite event, the former F1 supremo was emphatic that it was not his home race: “Definitely not Silverstone, not at all! If I were asked which race I would attend, I would probably say the Canadian Grand Prix. It’s a very good circuit and Montreal is a very nice city. Baku is another great city to visit.”
In closing, history shows that Ecclestone did not get his wish to race in Moscow; instead, the Russian Grand Prix, was held at Sochi Autodrom in 2014, marking Russia's first Formula 1 race.
Built around the 2014 Winter Olympics infrastructure in Sochi, the 5.848 km circuit features 19 turns and a mix of high-speed straights and technical corners. The race, initially held in October, later shifted to April or September. Russian President Vladimir attended as Ecclestone's VVIP guest.
Mercedes dominated early, with Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas claiming multiple victories. The 2021 race saw dramatic rain, impacting results. Political events led to the event's cancellation after 2021, ending its run after eight editions.
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