Cotter insisted at the time that the track was ahead of schedule but
Ecclestone said: “No. Definitely, no.”
“We’ll have to see, I need to go and have another look,” Ecclestone said.
“What I’ve seen up to now, and what’s been going on, I’m not quite as sure
as they are.
“If they can get it completed and confirm to us it will be done, for sure,
they’ll be on the calendar.”
Cotter will leave his position at the end of the month, with chief operations
officer Dennis Robinson and Richard Goldschmidt, special assistant to race
promoter Leo Hindery Jr, taking over his duties.
Hindery Jr said: ”We’re all thankful for Tom’s leadership in bringing Formula
One to Port Imperial.
”During his stewardship we’ve made great progress and are less than a year
away from the sport’s top racers speeding around a street course with New
York City in the background.
”We wish our friend Tom the best as he returns home to North Carolina.”
Cotter is to focus on his motorsport promotions company once he leaves his
role.