Promoter: 'Spa not hurt by Shell's sponsor axe'

The promoter of the Belgian Grand Prix has played down reports that the Spa-Francorchamps race has lost its naming sponsor.

Oil giant Shell announced this week that it is pulling its trackside advertising deal with Formula 1 as well as the naming rights to the Belgian race.

However, Andre Maes told La Derniere Heure, a Belgian newspaper, that it is Bernie Ecclestone's FOM company that actually collected the sponsorship money.

"On the contrary," he said, "Shell bought from us 500 grandstand tickets.

"We sold out last year and we are six, seven per cent ahead in pre-sales this year, so I'm not too worried.

"The announcement of the promotion of Max Verstappen at Red Bull last week has boosted our sales even more."

The Belgian Grand Prix takes place on August 28.