Stewart slams F1 chiefs

Stewart: Strong words

I think Max should remove himself from the FIA completely and from motorsport and the motor industry.

Sir Jackie Stewart
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Sir Jackie Stewart has called for Bernie Ecclestone and Max Mosley to leave Formula One.

The Scot has not held back in his criticism of the sport's supremos - who have come under increasing pressure of late.

Stewart acknowledged the role Ecclestone played in building the sport, "but having done it, he now rules and nobody is up for taking on a battle with him," the 69-year-old claimed in The Times.

"Bernie has such power and influence that he could suffocate almost any performer who would dare to suggest that there must be change.

"I don't think Bernie can bring people in to help him in a transition phase. He has been so used to total control that if you look at his structure you have to ask yourself, 'Is there a successor?' and you would say 'no'. That is wrong."

Condemnation

Stewart has also called for FIA chief Mosley to vacate his position.

"I think Max should remove himself from the FIA completely and from motorsport and the motor industry," he continued.

"The FIA should replace him with somebody not from within its organisation or even within motorsport. They should go out and headhunt a CEO who is going to rebuild the structure in line with modern practice to satisfy the investors in the sport and to give the FIA total transparency."

The three-time world title winner also insisted that the two F1 chiefs were largely responsible for the poor financial situation the sport finds itself in.

"Nothing is coming back into the sport," Stewart added.

"The financial distribution of Formula One appears to have been sorted out by two people who have directed it in whichever way they have seen fit.

"Although this has been a significant benefit in some ways, it has also hurt the sport because the balance of contribution within Formula One is absolutely untenable.

"The teams have got all the capital investment, yet they get no more than 50 per cent of the revenues. The next largest capital investment is by the racetracks who currently receive little or nothing from the revenues apart from what they get for bums on seats.

"Hardly any of them receive anything from TV revenues or the circuit advertising or the title sponsorship or the commercial hospitality. How can they reinvest when they have little or no income outside of spectator attendance fees?"

Stewart's words are sure to cause controversy in the build up to the first grand prix of the season in Melbourne at the end of March.