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Only days after Bernie Ecclestone was ousted from his lengthy reign over Formula One, rumours are gathering that the 86 year old might be planning a breakaway series.
Suggestions are that Ecclestone will sell his remaining $28 million stake in the series, which will leave him with a total share of 0.5%. Flavio Briatore, former manager of Benetton and Renault, and long time friend of Ecclestone has predicted that Formula One's darkest days are yet to come.
"The picture is bleak," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport, "with teams in financial crisis, circuits collapsing and this hybrid formula that serves no one."
Suggested by Germany's Auto Bild, a 'GP1' series in Ecclestone's most likely concept if he follows through with current rumours. The idea was devised by Briatore many years ago. The report also added that 'GP1' would feature current GP2 and GP3 teams featuring normally aspirated engines and lower budgets.
Another theory is that teams who are against Liberty Media's planned budget cap will follow Ecclestone into his new series. Head of driver development at Red Bull Dr Helmut Marko said: "We are fully behind Formula One and want nothing to do with any other planned series."
Fergal Walsh
Grand Prix of Belgium
C. Sainz jr
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Replies (4)
Login to replyianf1
Posts: 185
Just... why?
Kevin
Posts: 5,383
Because it is all he knows..
f1fan0101
Posts: 1,804
This would be a very wrong and vindictive decision..
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Dont think this is likely, but wouldnt surprise me if he did. He only really care about one thing: money. He doesnt really care where he get it from either.