F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone admits he may have "gone over the top" after his TV business "limited coverage of Lewis Hamilton and his winning Mercedes team at the Japanese Grand Prix to just a few minutes," according to Kevin Eason of the LONDON TIMES. Fans started to ask questions on social media as the race unfolded on Sunday "with very few shots of the Mercedes cars, which ended up finishing first and second." Mercedes Non-Exec Chair Niki Lauda said that he wanted an explanation from Ecclestone, "whose FOM television is responsible for the worldwide feed." Lauda "was in Ecclestone's Kensington office first thing Tuesday morning," and after their meeting said, "Bernie admits he went over the top. He said it is our fault because we keep winning by too big a margin. I have to admit that is what happens when one car is out in front." Mercedes Motorsport Exec Dir Toto Wolff hinted after the grand prix that "retribution might have been a factor." Ecclestone laughed off Wolff's complaints and said, "Toto is only upset because he wasn't on the telly. It is difficult just to show the leaders when they are miles out in front on their own with nothing much happening. ... There is no revenge. That is silly" (LONDON TIMES, 9/29).
