F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone said that F1 "has no qualms about holding a grand prix in Azerbaijan next year despite concerns raised by rights activists," according to Alan Baldwin of REUTERS. Ecclestone said, "Baku? No problem. That's going to be another good race." F1, heavily criticized by campaigners over the years, "this week quietly published a statement of respect for human rights in which it agreed to carry out due diligence on future hosts." Asked whether he would now "check out the human rights record in Baku," Ecclestone responded, "We have. I think everybody seems to be happy. Doesn't seem to be any big problem there." Rights groups "accuse the government of muzzling dissent and jailing opponents, charges it denies" (REUTERS, 4/19). ITV reported Human Rights Watch's 2015 report on the former Soviet republic stated there had been "a dramatic deterioration in its already poor rights record" particularly in its treatment of opponents of the political regime. The Human Rights Watch report on Azerbaijan for '15 "was pretty damning." The reported stated, "The Azerbaijani government escalated repression against its critics, marking a dramatic deterioration in its already poor rights record" (ITV, 4/19).
ENGINE CHANGES: In London, Giles Richards wrote Ecclestone "appears to be losing patience with the Formula One teams in his attempt to push through engine changes for 2017 as a way of improving the show." Ecclestone said in Bahrain before Sunday’s grand prix that talks "were not working and the teams would have to be told to accept new regulations." The purpose he said was to make “cars that are difficult to drive.” He "had originally raised the issue of changes to regulations on Thursday." Talks with the teams "appear to have lacked the urgency Ecclestone requires." He said, "It’s no good talking to these people. They will have to be told." Asked who would do that, he "was vague, no doubt aware he still needs the teams’ agreement." Ecclestone: "Let’s see, let’s see" (GUARDIAN, 4/19). REUTERS' Alan Baldwin wrote a proposal to increase F1's power unit allowance from four to five per driver this season "will be discussed at a meeting next month, leaving some in danger of being penalised before change is agreed." Mercedes Motorsport Head Toto Wolff said, "The proposal is with the (governing) FIA and I guess it’s going to be discussed the next time around in a strategy meeting." Ferrari Principal Maurizio Arrivabene said that meeting "was scheduled for May 14, which is after the fifth round of the season in Spain" (REUTERS, 4/18).
F1 PROBLEMS: BBC's Andrew Benson reported Ecclestone said the sport is too expensive and claims that "it has a litany of other problems that need to be resolved." He complained that F1 was "too democratic" and continued his campaign against its turbo hybrid engines. Ecclestone: "We have got past sticking plasters and we need an operation. We need to really seriously address costs because there are a lot of teams having difficulty trying to keep up." In the interview with BBC F1 chief analyst Eddie Jordan, Ecclestone said:
- He "tried to rescue the German Grand Prix but could not come to a deal"
- The engine manufacturers "did not want the current engines"
- He "would step down if his presence as boss was preventing Audi entering the sport"
And talking to journalists in the media center at the Bahrain Grand Prix, Ecclestone also:
- Cast "doubt on the future of the Italian Grand Prix"
- Said that "engines had to be affordable for all teams, whatever design was decided" upon for '17 (BBC, 4/19).
