In an interview with the Financial Times, Bernie Ecclestone has said that the only team he would really be sorry see to go is Ferrari.
He had previously said that Honda’s recent exit from Formula One was “no great loss” but these latest comments will do little to quell suspicions that Ferrari receive favourable treatment by the sport’s administrators.
Ferrari is the only team to have been in F1 since the inaugural Championship season in 1950 and Ecclestone has previously admitted that Ferrari receive more money than the other teams.
Ecclestone told the FT:
Its bad for me to say this, but the only team we would really say we would miss is Ferrari.
I was starting to worry that Bernie Ecclestone hadn’t said anything controversial for a while but his surprise visit to ‘Wrooom’, Ferrari’s annual ski trip at Madonna di Campiglio in Italy, last week provided ample opportunity.
He surprised everyone by showing up last Thursday wearing a bright red ski jacket, leading some to suggest he was trying to make up with Luca di Montezemolo who has been critical of the way Ecclestone has been running F1 and the amount of money the teams receive.
But when he was asked whether he would be meeting with the Ferrari president, Ecclestone replied:
I’ve no idea. It is not my intention. To be honest it is a cheap weekend for me.
And as for his 50 percent share of Formula One’s commercial earnings he said :
Now that we have really managed to reduce the costs a lot, we will be able to pay them less money! They don’t need so much money.
He also used the opportunity to respond to Sir Jacki Stewart’s recent criticism in the Times:
Most times and I am frightened about this when people get older, they become a bit senile and hes just caught it a bit early, thats all.
December 21st, 2008
David
It was Andrew’s suggestion that I write a regular post covering the latest crazy thing to come out of F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone’s mouth. Whether it’s saying that Honda’s departure was “no great loss” or suggesting some new medals scheme instead of points, you just know it won’t be long before the 5′ billionaire says something controversial.
This week the Times reports that, responding to Ferrari boss Luca Di Montezemolo’s remark that the sport did not need a dictator, Bernie put an actual figure on the extra money that Ferrari get over the other teams:
The only thing he has not mentioned is the extra money Ferrari get above all the other teams and all the extra things Ferrari have had for years the general help they are considered to have had in Formula One
He went on:
They know exactly what they get, they are not that stupid, although they are not that bright, either. They get about $80 million (about £54 million) more. When they win the constructors championship, which they did this year, they got $80 million more than if McLaren had won it.
Personally, I like the little dictator. I always enjoy Martin Brundle’s interviews with him on his pit walks. Bernie never seems quite sure where he is or what he’s meant to be doing.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Bernie Ecclestone has said that the only team he would really be sorry see to go is Ferrari.