F1 - Bernie Ecclestone describes the new teams as an embarrassment

PinkFloyd

PinkFloyd

PinkFloyd

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Bernie Ecclestone is renowned for being frank, and despite turning 80 last week it doesn't look like this will let up. Writing in the Financial Times, Pitpass business editor Chris Sylt reveals that at his recent lunch with Ecclestone the F1 boss had a few choice words to say about Hispania, Lotus and Virgin Racing. "We need to get rid of a few of those cripples," he says adding "they do nothing for us. They are an embarrassment."
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Bernie out to stir some trouble here!
Bit extreme to be slating there performance considering they have much lower budgets than the other teams (not to mention the cost cap that didn't come in that the new teams expected) and the lack of testing.

No comment on him avoiding choosing the teams with the bigger backing, ignoring Stefan GP with the old Toyota guys, and instead choosing Hispania?

He's still mumbling on about medals too, I'm also surprised at his comment about John Todt...
 
Lotus have had lower budgets than the established teams and the same lack of testing as everyone. But they're making real progress, and are showing some ambition for next year by getting rid of the Cosworth deal foisted on them by the FIA and into a deal with Renault. And at least Virgin are trying something different with their all-CFD approach to car design. But I certainly wouldn't shed a tear if Hispania fell by the wayside (as much as I'd like to see as full a grid as possible).

PinkFloyd said:
No comment on him avoiding choosing the teams with the bigger backing, ignoring Stefan GP with the old Toyota guys, and instead choosing Hispania?
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The FIA chose the new teams PF, not Bernie :)
 
The testing ban doesn't really help them to be able to hit the ground running and it doesn't appear to be preventing the richer teams from dominating either so why bother? those embarrassing "cripples" have had to use race weekends for testing because of the stupid ban.
 
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I don't know what he was expecting this season? As mentioned, Lotus and Virgin are making good plans for next season already.
 
All things considered I think all 3 teams have done well really considering they only got their applications granted 5 months before the winter testing started, so thats 5 months to build an F1 car from scratch!

As already mentioned by others too, im not too fussed about HRT, but hope that Virgin and Lotus both continue and start to pick up the odd few points next season :)
 
You guys underestimate him. He knows what he's doing, he only said that to give them a royal boot up the jacksie so that next year is more competitive (and more viewers as a result!). Of course he knows F1 needs as many teams as possible so he's trying to grab the beard of Branson and tell him to put his money where his mouth is.
 
Perhaps I do Alex but he still gets on my wick and at risk of sounding inappropriate, I confidently say that his stunning ex wife 30 years his junior was getting rammed 6 nowt behind his back by someone who didn't look like Dopey with a mop stuck on his head.
 
Indeed, it's never as black and white and clear cut as it appears, I don't doubt there's elements of all our opinions that are true. As for his wife, not much to do with it except I see you're trying to show he may be a bit clueless at times. I can believe that. When it comes to keeping the sport running and well-lubricated with cash, he seems to be on top of things in my opinion.
 
He'll burn out in a couple of years (quote him retiring is waiting to die, or something like that) so I assume he'll just not turn up one day and is found dead... Not to sound unpleasant but it would generally be nice for all concerned if we didnt really have to see him as ring master on F1, he's good at getting people into the the sport that have money/no clue, but the tough love thing on some classic tracks really has tried to kill it for the core audience... (Down with Valencia and bring back the San Marino gp)
 
PinkFloyd said:
Agreed, I'm also enjoying Lotus and Virgin picking up the pace - should hopefully be stepping on the toes of STR and co!
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One thing I've wondered the past couple of years; why are STR so ****? I mean they got the RB5 (and I'm presuming much of the IP for the RB6) from their 'parent' team and the ferrari drivetrain is certainly no slouch so what exactly is the problem?!
 
Aren't STR now meant to be an independent team, but im wondering if anyone actually bought the team from Red Bull, as such are they just on a shoe string budget till RB can get rid?
 
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