http://www.planetf1.com/story/0,18954,3213_4085201,00.html Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso have "not acted like World Champions", according to Bernie Ecclestone. The duo is not the most media-friendly drivers around. Reigning Champion Raikkonen appears to be embarrassed by his celebrity status and has made it clear that he won't stay in Formula One for too long. Raikkonen's Title-winning predecessor Alonso is a little more outspoken, but he also prefers to shy away from the spotlight. Formula One surpremo Ecclestone believes the Finn and Spaniard have not done enough to promote motorsport, unlike seven-time Champion Michael Schumacher. "They've not acted like World Champions," Ecclestone told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek. "Don't forget Michael was World Champion a few times, so he grew into it. "They're not available or accessible, they don't want to talk to people, don't want to do anything." Ecclestone, though, believes Lewis Hamilton winning the Drivers' Championship would be good for F1. "I unfortunately can't think just of Britain, I have to think worldwide," he added. "Whether it would be good for Lewis to win the Championship, I think the answer to that is yes. "I think it would be very acceptable."
Another prove that Bernie doesn't care about the sport, but only about the media coverage = more viewers = more money.
I disagree. If more people like the sport, then more people will watch it. So, by definition, what's good for Bernie is good for the sport as a whole. *some* groups of fans won't like the changes - but overall, what Bernie does is generally good for the sport as a whole, even if it's not good for some minority of fans within the greater group of all F1 fans.
Although I agree with this statement and Bernie's statement that LH winning the WDC would be good for the sport, this is crap. Bernie to the Kid- "I know you have won 4 Karting Championships and the F3 WDC, but you can go no further because you don't fit my idea of the public's perception of an exciting guy. You just don't fit my mold Kid. Now go home and watch some MS videos".
all 3 of you make good points, but its not like F1 is going broke.... there are already plenty of viewers, but to get more you dont need the likes of kimi and alonso to get out there and promote the sport, you need to change the rules so that (keyword) more overtaking and generally more entertaining races will happen. for instance: no more winglets which disturb airflow making drafting virtually impossible (which will happen next year). remove the engine development + rev limit freeze. its simple. give a team x amount of fuel for practice, qualli and the race, they can run whatever engine they want. turbo V12s, rotary engines, V10's, V8s...so teams can find out the limit themselves.
Of course you're right, but that doesn't mean that every driver *must* be a media whore, although it seems that's what Bernie wants those who don't seek the spotlights to be.
I doubt that Bernie has quite that much influence. If a team finds a quick driver and wants to employ him they will, whether or not Bernie approves. Examples? KR and FA!
