Ecclestone: No need to panic

F1 supremo refuses to rush into changes

By Rachel Griffiths   Last updated: 16th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Ecclestone: No need to panic

Ecclestone: Against rash changes

Before we start thinking of changes we should take a serious look at the technical regulations.

Bernie Ecclestone
Quotes of the week

Also see

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone insists the sport should not be hurried into any rash changes following a tedious season-opener in Bahrain.

Critics have called for alterations to the rules following Sunday's grand prix, which saw Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa secure a comfortable one-two finish for Ferrari after an uneventful race.

But 79-year-old Ecclestone is adamant knee-jerk changes would be damaging to the sport and has adopted a laidback approach to the situation.

Relaxed

"I thought that Sunday's race was on a par with many of the races of the last five years," said Ecclestone.

"Before we start thinking of changes we should take a serious look at the technical regulations.

"We'll have a chat in Malaysia (the third race of the season) I'm sure."

Ecclestone believes headlines hitting out at the "dull" events in Bahrain are the result of sky-high expectations prompted by the comeback of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher and the arrival of new teams.

However, many have called for rules to be tweaked after the Sakhir race, with team bosses from Red Bull, McLaren and Mercedes all behind the introduction of a second mandatory pit-break or changing the durability of the Bridgestone tyres.

Ecclestone, who insists it would be a mistake to let "the inmates" decide the technical rules, has suggested the sport should eliminate tyre choices altogether, with teams using just one type for qualifying and the race.

"I think that there should be one type of tyre for the whole race," he added.

"It's the same for everyone, you qualify on the tyre and use it in the race as well. It should be the same spec for the whole race."

Serious

Ecclestone also defended his idea to allow 'shortcuts' so drivers can cut out a corner a given number of times in a race, a suggestion some interpreted as a joke when he first put it forward in January.

"I'm dead serious," he said. "What is a joke is the technical regulations at the moment and what they are producing."

"I'm pushing but sometimes people don't understand these things too well, they don't see the advantages. But it would be good for a TV commentator, you'd get a lot of excitement out of it."

Comments (28)

  • Page 1 of 2
  • 1
  • 2

Ian Megilley says...

After reading the comments above, I am in total agreement. Bernie should go and someone with a bit of interest in the sport and not money should take over. Boring is not the word, tedious, depressing.... As for the qualifying, well, they might as well turn it into a parade hour for all its worth!! I think a good idea would be to start the race in the reverse order of finishing in the previous race. For example, you finish 1st, next race you start last etc...etc

Posted 08:56 18th March 2010

Peter Gillibrand says...

Bernie the ringmaster you have been great for F1, but I¿m afraid you have lost your marbles well and truly, short cuts you say its wacky races folks. This was by far the most boring F1 race ever and I have been an F1 fan for 20 years or more. Bring back fuel pit stops quickly and let the teams change tyres when ever they like. This is worst than American CART racing and that¿s saying something, F1 is meant to be the pinnacle of motor racing pushing the boundaries and technology to the limit. The drivers and this was said by most it¿s a train, a slow boring train no over taking no excitement sterile mind numbing dross. Bernie change it now not discussions in four races time or you will bore people away F1 for ever.

Posted 23:56 17th March 2010

Paul Scott says...

F1 is finished as a spectator sport if changes are not made to make it more exciting , overtaking would be nice . Ecclestone out , younger fresher person to run the sport with the fans interest the no1 priority not making more money for himself . Mansell for boss

Posted 22:54 17th March 2010

Pratik Gajjar says...

I find it rather annoying now, there's no real excitement in the race, wherever you start is where you're most likely to finish, no chance of over-taking at all. Anything Schumi says i'm most likely to agree with because no one knows the sport as well as he does. Even Mark Webber a great driver says it's getting boring. I say bring back refuelling, or maybe atleast do what they do in Nascar, everyone has to pit on the same lap at the same time... Just do something, we have the greatest cars in the world created by the greatest teams in the world being raced on the greatest tracks in and around the world... Yet there is no excitement at the moment...

Posted 14:58 17th March 2010

Brian Levine says...

I would have commented earlier but I have been asleep with boredom since Sunday!! The whole idea of completing a whole race with a full fuel tank was never going to get off the ground.(!) The cars are too heavy and so the laps are slower and as the cars are are just not able to generate enough additional speed for any overtaking manoeuvres the race became dull with the only excitement being when Vettel's car developed a problem. That's not racing but the question is how quickly will the FIA get a grip and realize that this no refuelling business does not work and if we want to see RACING then allow the cars to be lighter and faster, take away the super downforce elements so that the drivers actually race each other and perhaps we might see a spectacle rather than a procession. Not sure if I will be able to stay awake for the OZ GP.

Posted 13:50 17th March 2010

Darryl Bell says...

The sport is becoming a farce now. Year after year there is rule changes that are not needed. And how can bernie say that the Bahrain Gp reflect some of the racing over that past 5 seasons? Over those 5 seasons throughout the season it has been neck and neck for the championship and the majoratly decided on the last day. He is trying to fix things that aren't broke. Bring back refueling! And the idea of being able to cut corners is ridiculous! Since the sport began the idea of cutting corners is unsportsman like conduct! Get a grip Bernie! Just please stop fiddling with the sport!

Posted 12:12 17th March 2010

Chris Holmes says...

Either get rid of most of the aerodynamic downforce and let them rely on mechanical grip or rip up the rule book, give the teams a maximum budget and let them design and race whatever they want. What would you rather see, a bunch of identical cars with identical fuel loads and identical tyres or a real life wacky races!?

Posted 12:08 17th March 2010

Phil Berriman says...

Having read the comments above i am in complete agreement, Ecclestone has to go or at least offer some control to FOTA to help things on their way. The introduction of fuel tanks big enough to last the entire race now does not make it a race but somewhat a procession with the car finishing on pole after qualifying winning the race, ok so not on this occasion but if it werent for the problem that Vettel had he would have won the race comfortably. All the teams using the same fuel load changing for tyres at or around the same time are going to make F1 this season one of the most boring seasons in a long time and i've watched F1 for many many years. So come on Bernie get the system changed back lets make a race a race again and let the drivers have some fun and not just having to drive round looking at the guy in fronts exhaust!!!

Posted 09:52 17th March 2010

Miguel Martinez says...

The FIA is the one that single handed is destroying the sport, with all this changes everry year, when the fans start to get use to the new changes the FIA come back and change everry thing again. starting from slowing the cars down ( V10 to V8) tyres, aerodinamics, now refulling!!! whats up with that?! It wass exiting to see all that happening in the pit!! flams smoke and people running around the cars!!,last weekend in the pit lane was like watching paint dry! I think the FIA shuold stay right away from F1 becouse they dont seems to know what is good for F1 or what the Fans want.

Posted 09:11 17th March 2010

Tony Lodder says...

Boring, Boring F1, almost as bad as darts. If you want excitement, Moto GP is the sport for you. Ecclestone has lost the plot (if he ever knew what it was) there is little or no competition in F1. It is all about the big boys with the big bucks.

Posted 06:59 17th March 2010

Dean Henderson says...

Shortcuts? And this guy is charge of F1, oh my. And what does he mean by "the inmates"? Does he mean the teams and drivers who know a heck of lot more about F1 than he does? In the short term an extra pit stop is all that is needed. The potential for a great race was there in Bahrain, the problem is that the top 10 drivers are all going to start on the soft compound and make one stop, which negates the who strategy of pit stops. Bring in a 2nd mandatory stop and this should make for better racing.

Posted 05:12 17th March 2010

Henry Smith says...

I think F1 should scrap qualifying and have the leader of the drivers championship start at the back of the grid (with second in the drivers championship in the penultimate position etc) and have to overtake everyone to make it through the field and score points. If two or more drivers haven't scored any points, they can draw lots for the top grid positions. In the first race of the season, the constructors championship from the previous year will be used to determine grid slots, with new teams drawing lots for the spots at the front of the grid. To keep interest in Saturday, for TV advertising and the crowd at the circuit, they could still have an event similar to qualifying, but with the award being world championship points, rather than grid positions. Perhaps using the old world championship points system to reward performance on the Saturday. So 10 points will be given for finishing first in the Saturday qualifying session, with the top 8 getting points fitered down, then 25 points for a win on the Sunday with the top 10 getting points filtered down, just as it is this season. Anyone agree?

Posted 00:49 17th March 2010

Greg Carlow says...

The only way forward is to limit downforce - because it is the loss of downforce when cars run closely that stops a car behind getting into an overtaking posistion. Because cars need aerodynamic balance over the whole car a severe restriction at the front is all that is easy - ask any car aerodynamicist. So ban all wings in front to the front wheels and job done. It is that simple - it really is. Why not give us everything, overtaking, close running, drivers climbing up through the field with one simple change. Otherwise F1 will lose the audiences, and thereby the money and other races will take over - like bikes!

Posted 21:26 16th March 2010

Paul Pym says...

Ditch F1 and switch to Indycar. If you want you motor sport to be technologically advanced but dreadfully boring then stick with F1 but if you like your motor sport to include exciting wheel to wheel racing all the way through, spectacular overtaking on every lap and women drivers competing on an equal basis with their male counterparts then watch Indycar or quite frankly anything other than F1. The cars are much more equal and the winner is the best driver not just the team with the biggest budget. If you want British involvement then Indycar has F1 beaten in that aspect as well. Indycar also has more British drivers than F1 and and as many British champions in the last few years as F1. The old argument about Indycar just going around in circles has also gone away as now there are more street/road circuits than ovals and even on the ovals the racing is more exciting than F1 with the lead often changing many times per race. Dont get me wrong, I want F1 to succeed and will keep watching the races but currently as a sport and as a spectator experience it is currently a total failure and I find Indycar is a far more enjoyable experience.

Posted 21:12 16th March 2010

Doug Stratford says...

What a boring race,with all those corners to slow the cars down the sponsors on the cars got value for their money Unless the drivers can overtake its a waste of time calling it a race Get it sorted quick if they want people to carry on watching

Posted 21:06 16th March 2010

Lizwe Nkala says...

At best, the current F1 rules have produced a zero sum game. Take all cars on the grid, fill them with fuel to the bream, give them the same engine design restrictions, the same aerodynamic restrictions, the same tyre choices as dictated by whether conditions and track conditions and ask them to race eventfully. What happens is a predictable damp squib of the sort we witnessed last Sunday. If Bernie's supremo title still holds, I want to bring to his attention one revealing statistic from black Sunday. With 16 laps left and unfortunate Red Bull's Wettel running what was audibly and visually a sick car, only 3 cars managed to catch and pass him. Even with such drastic loss of power, all the cars behind him including both of the well capable Mercedes GP and the sister McLaren, could not pass, why? Well they started on the same fuel weight, travelled at more or less similar speeds throughout so they were burning it at the same rate, pitted for tyres at more or less the same time and therefore they were eating them up at the same rate. So when it came to hunting down and catching Wettel, all drivers including him were on the same weight and same tyre wear and it was left to one of them having serious mechanicals to gift others a place. Sick as he was, Wettel's power differential to the others was not substantial to get into their clutches. Ask Nico If he had enough fuel left to chase Wettel at will without risking going on empty before the race ended, he will tell you no! Ask Schumi, he will also tell you no! So the sum is? ZERO!

Posted 17:20 16th March 2010

Mike Baudry says...

Having watched F1 since the early 1980's I think that the lack of overtaking at the Bahrain GP shows that the new rules changes have not made the sport any more enjoyable to watch - in fact rather the reverse as F1 has become boring as there now is little action after the first few corners - try something new to bring the cars closer so that real driving ability is then put to the test.

Posted 16:44 16th March 2010

Toby Hunt says...

What a joke? Bernie has no idea! Get someone dynamic and fresh in to run Formula 1 and listen to the teams. Last race was the most boring I have seen in many years. Most exciting thing was the clashes at the back which were infrequent. The guy has got no idea what the public want and people will be leaving the sport in droves and droves. Thinking of just watching BTCC instead (although that too is nowhere near as good as when A.Menu and the like raced!).

Posted 15:19 16th March 2010

Tony Thouless says...

Boring,Boring,Boring. Been a F1 fan for many years but turned off on Sunday ,songs of praise had more life. Don't keep changing the rules change but the people in charge,Bernie should step down he's lost the plot and turned F1 into a joke. This is the man who didn't like Mansell but at least Mansell was a fighter and not a patsy.

Posted 14:56 16th March 2010

Paul Edwards says...

It was a dull race not because of the expectation or the change in rules but solely because of the awful track, Bahrain lacks charecteristics that say SPA or SILVERSTONE have. The problem with F1 is that there are too many uneventful tracks just because Bernie likes the facilities and the hospitality / corporate side of things. Michael Schumacher even said that the track was lifeless because overtaking is impossible unless u pit. So why is F1 racing at a place like this when there are plenty of great tracks out there!

Posted 14:34 16th March 2010
  • Page 1 of 2
  • 1
  • 2

Add Comment*

Send us your views

Are you a Sky Sports subscriber?

*All fields required, your email address will be kept private