Ecclestone wants Baku night race in 2017

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Bernie Ecclestone declared himself positively satisfied with Baku's first running of a Formula 1 Grand Prix, and considers the Azerbaijan event has set a standard which other cities seeking to stage a race should follow.

While F1's supremo believes that an event should always seek improvement, he isn't forecasting any major changes for next year, but would ideally like to offset the start of the race by a few hours and have it run under the floodlights.

"We need to have a good think about it, but I don't think so [that there would be changes]," Ecclestone told Motorsport.com.

"They could open the streets a bit more. They're going to do that for sure. This year was difficult, because they didn't know.

"I'd like to see a 7pm start. We'll find out, they're looking at it."

All in all, Ecclestone was delighted with F1's weekend in Baku, and the feedback he received over the Hermann Tilke designed layout.

"It's super, very, very good. If all the places that we go to made the effort that these people have made here, it would be fantastic, they've done an incredible job.

"The circuit's turned out to be really good as well. When we laid out the circuit, there were one or two ways we could have changed it, but I wanted to go past the old castle. It looks good."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.