[Wrex]

Originally posted by zootv
Today, Belgian press announced that Bernie has given Belgian authorities time until december to sort out a solution for the tobacco advertising.

It's dead for 2003.

From F1newswire.com

The President of the FIA, Max Mosley, has insisted there will be no reversal over the fate of the Belgian Grand Prix after it was dropped from the calendar last week. The legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit will be subject to a tobacco advertising ban from the 1st of August next year, and after a meeting of team bosses at Heathrow Airport the unanimous decision was not to visit the circuit in 2003.

Speaking today, Mosley said he will stand firm on the decision taken and advised organisers of the Belgian event to concentrate on solving their differences with the FIA in the hope that the race - a favourite with drivers and spectators alike - can be reinstated to the calendar for 2004.

"The decision was just that: a decision. It was not an attempt to open negotiations," Mosley revealed to BBC Sport Online. "The politicians have known about the problem for more than a year. They could have solved it easily for 2003 by moving the date of implementation by just four weeks: from 1 August to 1 September. They should concentrate now on trying to get things sorted out for 2004, 2005 and 2006.

"What the Belgian politicians have done will not reduce tobacco publicity, not even in Belgium, where everybody can go on seeing tobacco sponsorship on television from outside the country. All they have achieved is to damage the local Belgian economy and deprive Formula One™ fans of a good circuit."