Ecclestone keeps running F1 as long as possible

  • Published on 15 Sep 2015 12:50
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra

More than a year after avoiding jail over a corruption scandal, Bernie Ecclestone says his path is clear to keep running formula one. "I don't want to walk away from something that I have been involved in all these years," the Briton, who turns 85 next month, told the New York Times. "At the moment, with our shareholders, zero problem, and I more or less run things as if it was my company. So it's good," Ecclestone added.

What the F1 chief executive - or so-called 'supremo' - is not happy about, however, is the decision-making governance of the sport, presided over by the democratic processes involving the Strategy Group, and Jean Todt. Unlike Todt's predecessor, the much more confrontational and dictatorial Max Mosley, Ecclestone and the current FIA president do not always see eye-to-eye.

Ecclestone admits that he would like to change many of F1's rules fundamentally, but is hamstrung by an FIA president who likes to keep a low profile. "Jean and myself, if he would, we could say 'These are the rules, forget the teams, forget anybody. These are the rules, if you want to be in the world championship, these are the rules'," he said. "But Jean doesn't want to upset people. He wants everyone to be happy and everyone to agree."

So the Ecclestone-Mosley dictatorship of the past is now gone, replaced by democracy, which the 84-year-old admits he is no fan of in any context. "We have allowed this to creep into things, which we should never have done," he said.

So if he has a regret, it might be that F1 lost Mosley. "I suppose I regret we lost Max," Ecclestone admitted. "It's nothing wrong with Mr Todt. Because in fairness he doesn't do anything in formula one, doesn't interfere. So he's not causing trouble." (GMM)

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2023

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
3 - Mar 5
Bahrain
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia
31 - Apr 2
Australia
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan
5 - May 7
United States of America
19 - May 21
Italy
26 - May 28
Monaco
2 - Jun 4
Spain
16 - Jun 18
Canada
30 - Jul 2
Austria
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom
21 - Jul 23
Hungary
28 - Jul 30
Belgium
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands
1 - Sep 3
Italy
15 - Sep 17
Singapore
22 - Sep 24
Japan
20 - Oct 22
United States of America
27 - Oct 29
Mexico
-
Spain
3 - Nov 5
Brazil
17 - Nov 19
United States of America
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates
-
Italy
-
Italy
-
Italy
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
3 - Mar 5
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
31 - Apr 2
Australia Albert Park
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
5 - May 7
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
19 - May 21
26 - May 28
Monaco Monte Carlo
2 - Jun 4
16 - Jun 18
30 - Jul 2
Austria Red Bull Ring
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom Silverstone
21 - Jul 23
Hungary Hungaroring
28 - Jul 30
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
1 - Sep 3
Italy Monza
15 - Sep 17
22 - Sep 24
20 - Oct 22
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
27 - Oct 29
3 - Nov 5
Brazil Interlagos
17 - Nov 19
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule
show sidebar