Bernie threatens to quit.

F1 Chief Executive Bernie Ecclestone has threatened to walk away from the sport if Kimi Raikkonen's newly-won world championship is on Thursday snatched away.

McLaren appealed Brazilian GP stewards' decision last month to not penalise four rival cars despite their fuel being found arguably cooler than the regulations allow.

Should the FIA Court of Appeal in London exclude three of the four cars and promote Lewis Hamilton up the Interlagos finishing-order, the 22-year-old rookie could be belatedly handed the championship.


Briton Hamilton, however, has said he does not want to win a title away from the race tracks, and Ecclestone now reveals that such a scenario could compel him into retirement, 35 years after he bought the Brabham team in 1972.

"If anyone thinks that's the best thing for Formula One then I'd have very serious thoughts about me retiring," the 77-year-old is quoted as saying by The Guardian.

 

Lets hope that Raikonnen retains the title and that Bernie does quit. Twice the reason to celebrate then.

 

I thought the hearing won't change anything anyway because technically McLaren had to protest Williams and BMW right after the fuel temperature numbers were announced. They didn't but instead they protested only after the fact that the FIA announced that they wouldn't punish Williams and BMW. So I don't think Kimi has to fear a thing, although with FIA you never know.

 

I don't know if formula 1 could survive without Bernie Ecclestone, nowadays. Probably we should see a different F1, more amateur, like it was in the 60' or 70', and this was not interesting for the medias.

 

So it'll be good news + bad news either way?

Maybe it should be Bernie and Max: pistols at dawn. (Another win-win scenario )

(joke.) (The way the world's going, the "green prix" may be the econcomic wave of the future. If they can avoid micromanaging the tech, it might even be somehow appropriate for a "manufacturer's series". But it'd be a sad day for traditionalists.)

 

the reason Bernie threatened like this, is because the WDC is not gonna change hands.

 

As long as Bernie fires Max before he walks I'll be happy....

 

+1

 

Now I am worried, he is giving WMSC and F1 community an even better reason to take the title away from Kimi, just to get rid of Bernie. If Max says the same thing, WMSC will take away the title for sure.

 

The F1 community really does not want to get rid of Bernie or Max. You don't have to like them personally, or agree with their decisions, to understand they have propelled F1 to the world class status it holds today.

I personally hope Bernie does not leave, mostly because I would fear his replacement.

 

Bernie I don't want to see to leave, but Max has to go. Too many crazy decisions and not addressing the real issues.

 

Bye Bernie, so sorry to see you go! Kimi is not going to lose he championship, but you can leave Bernie if you want to.

 

+1

 

+1000 and letting his personel feelings effect decisions.

 

If there is no real problem with Kimi winning the championship, why would Bernie make a threat like this?

Does he just want more attention?

Time to grow up Bernie. Making threats like this is childish. It tips your hand as a non-professional. The sooner you vacate the premises the better. And if you leave becasue they take away Kimi's WDC I can say it would almost be worth it!

 

WOW dont hold back now.. it is worth it if MAX goes.

Bernie I give him the benefit of doubt he is a very clever business man..

 

Hopefully and spot on regarding FIA. It's been said before, but if they want to penalize, deduct points from the WCC from both manufacturers and leave their WDC points intact. Precedent's already been set.

 

Nobody is indispensible. F1 will survive just fine.

Why people think Bernie made F1 completely by himself is beyond me.
Pete

 

Bernie is an excellent businessman and has done so much for F1. F1 simply would not be where it is today without him.

Go to Bob Varsha's next public speech and ask him, then you will understand. I didn't understand until I learned many details from Bob about the past state of F1 and everything that Bernie has done.

 

Bob Varsha is one person who I would believe. He is professional, pleasant and they knowledgeable.

 

Sorry don't care what anybody says the fact is NOBODY on this world is indispensible. Yes Bernie did some good things, but F1 will survive with out him.

Just as the company I work for currently will survive without me. Change is just change.
Pete

 

Agreed. Certainly Bernie is the lesser of the two evils. (the other evil being max moseley)

 

Bernie's cool. He gives Peter Windsor a hard time.

 

+2