Bernie Ecclestone takes aim at teams for woes afflicting Formula One’s ‘old house’

F1 chief spoke candidly about the sport's current plight

Bernie Ecclestone admits he doesn’t know if Manor will race (Getty Images)

Where Fernando Alonso had caused confusion on Thursday, Formula One ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone shot from the hip yesterday. While praising Lewis Hamilton as “the best world champion we’ve had,” he spoke candidly of the sport’s current difficulties.

“The trouble is we’ve got an old house and we keep repairing it. It’s not really the way to go. But we have signed contracts, we can’t tear them up unless all the teams agreed.”

In an expansive mood, he asked the media what was wrong with F1.

He can take his pick. How about the fact that CVC Capital Partners take far too much money out of it and put nothing back; that it is carved up by a few well-heeled teams, some of whom believe it is their right to win and snivel when they don’t; that the gap between the haves and the have-nots is massive; that sponsors are staying away?

How about, too, that there’s no scope for the small teams the fans love and which give upcoming stars their chance (remember Alonso starting with Minardi in 2001?); and that the teams now make the rules after Jean Todt at the FIA sold out to Ecclestone’s FOM group?

He conceded that the sport is stuck with the complex but relevant hybrid turbo engines, but claimed far too much is spent on telemetry and aerodynamic development.

“I would support getting rid of wind tunnels,” Ecclestone said. “I proposed a couple of things which didn’t go down too well. One is to sort something out for the people who said they couldn’t go to Melbourne without the TV money, to get them a standard chassis. We could provide two cars for £15m a year. Force India said they would agree with it. But Mr Dennis [McLaren team principal Ron Dennis] said it’s not Formula One, it’s degrading. But I think you would get good racing.

“If you give the teams more money they spend more and it makes no difference. It’s not going to happen because they won’t agree.”

Ecclestone also suggested having 10 points for qualifying and 10 for the race. “Ten points for pole. The one that’s on pole starts maybe 12th on the grid, so you’re going to get a whole bunch of decent guys starting in the middle of the field.”

Hamilton is the one thing he is really pleased about. “Apart from the fact he’s talented, he’s a good guy, he gets out on the street and supports and promotes Formula One. He’s box office, 100 per cent. That picture he took recently of a couple in Sydney... What’s wrong with that? At least he took the picture. Some of the others wouldn’t. They’d have been pissed off because they weren’t recognised.”

He accused Sebastian Vettel of going to ground as champion, and pointed out that Jackie Stewart is still making money, “and he hasn’t been in a car for quite a few years. It works because he’s looked after his image and he still does a good job.

“As for what Mercedes are doing, I have no complaints. The complaint I’ve got is the others not doing the same.”