Bernie Ecclestone: We Don't Need No Stinkin' British GP

And it took all of, what, a day for us to get to this point?

The BBC has the latest ratchet-up from Bernie Ecclestone, who clearly is not going to just hand the British GP back to Silverstone now that Donington Park is all but out as a possible venue.

Read it all here ; here are the bits that will get your blood a-boiling:

"

Ecclestone said: “I want a British Grand Prix, of course, but we are not going to do special rates for Britain.”

[snip]

Ecclestone told the Daily Express: “Silverstone have a contract in front of them. We’ve no commercial arrangement in place for a British Grand Prix for next year.

“That is why the race has an asterisk beside it on the 2010 calendar.

“If they can’t make it work then don’t do it. If that happens, there won’t be a British Grand Prix. Simple as that.

“No-one is forcing them to take it. This is business. We have offered them a deal.”

Ecclestone ruled out the prospect of Britain being given a discount rate, similar to those enjoyed by Monza and Monaco as the sport’s “traditional” grands prix.

He added: “The contract they have is the contract we like. We are not prepared to charge less. Do we need a British Grand Prix? No.”

"

Please try to keep your responses beyond three words ending with “...Bernie.”

Seriously, though. Is there any hope for Britain in 2010?