Bernie Smack: Ecclestone Fires Shots At Potential Defectors

Ecclestone Says Main Priority Is Keeping F1 Together

F1 Management Chair Bernie Ecclestone said that his “last wish as F1 chief was to head off the threat” of a rival series by car manufacturers, according to Oliver Holt of the London MIRROR. Ecclestone said key execs at the manufacturers “do not understand the side-effects of the decisions [they make]. We have got a few new kids on the block now. They don’t know what they don’t know. They put a hat on that says ‘president’ or ‘chief executive’ and they find themselves in a position above their ability. They are like guys who have read dirty books but have never been to bed with a woman.” Ecclestone added, “At the moment the sport is a so-called democracy where everybody wants a say but nobody knows what to say. They seem to think they can try and run the sport as if it was a big company. But if they do that they will be in trouble. You have got to run [F1] like a boutique, not a supermarket.” Holt wrote Ecclestone is “confident that the breakaway leaders will back down.” But Ecclestone added, “We could still fill our grid up if some of the manufactures walked away” (London MIRROR, 7/9).

HEARING SET: The FIA has confirmed that the seven Michelin teams that withdrew from the U.S. Grand Prix on June 19 will have their appeal heard in Paris on September 28 (FORMULA1.com, 7/11). In London, David Tremayne reports F1 President Max Mosley will meet later this week in Monaco with McLaren-Mercedes Team Manager Ron Dennis and Red Bull Principal Christian Horner (London INDEPENDENT, 7/12).