Ecclestone denies ordering Mercedes TV boycot

  • Published on 29 Sep 2015 17:00
  • comments 2
  • By: Rob Veenstra

Bernie Ecclestone has denied he manipulated the coverage of Sunday's Japanese grand prix to exclude Mercedes. The silver cars, finishing first and second at Suzuka after the Singapore slump, were shown for just 5 of the 90 broadcasted minutes of the official race coverage.

Bosses Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda admitted they noticed the discrepancy, and suggestions elsewhere noted that Ferrari was also not prominently featured on the so-called 'world feed'. Lauda vowed to meet in London with F1 supremo Ecclestone this week to ask about the Mercedes 'blackout', amid rumours the carmaker was being punished for refusing to supply engines to Red Bull next year.

But Ecclestone told Germany's Die Welt newspaper: "There was no manipulation. "A few weeks ago we talked about the directing of the races and came to the conclusion that the midfield should be shown more often. To just show the leading cars is boring, but we're also doing it to better support the midfield teams," the 84-year-old explained.

"Lauda and Wolff know about these considerations and will understand," Ecclestone added. "The directors in Japan maybe went a bit far with it, but I did not intervene," he insisted. (GMM)

Replies (2)

Login to reply
  • I could honestly believe him on this, and I like the thinking behind it if it is true, but it wouldnt surprise me if Eccelstone really did issue an order like that.

    • + 0
    • Sep 29 2015 - 17:29
  • khasmir

    Posts: 893

    Even if he did intervene, he will never admit it ;)
    But it makes sense not to show a single car driving by himself all the time, that is boring.

    • + 0
    • Sep 29 2015 - 20:06

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

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 - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar