Bernie's attempt to broker Hamilton to Red Bull

I don't think that its healthy for a sport when someone with Bernie's power and interests gets involved in such matters.

 

I'd be pissed if I were Whitmarsh or Ron Dennis. Instead of allowing them to try to clean up the situation, Ecclestone helped to accommodate the departure of Hamilton. I mean, is that considered tampering, or does the principal of F1 have the right to interfere/influence driver movement without penalty?

 

+1,000 (speaking for others lol).

 

Who is going to tell Bernie that?

BTW Is he in Malaysia this weekend?

 

In the article, it says his first GP will be China...

 

+ another 1.

However, playing devils advocate;

- this is "Bernie being Bernie".... He "attempted to broker a move".... I read that as he mentioned to his buddy Dieter that McHam wanted out of Mclaren, and may be available. The chief can told him he was staying with the moonwalker...... Same kinda 'talk' as all managers, VP's, GM's etc have all the time IMO.

- he goes onto give exactly *two* examples of previous "interference" during his reign. Sure, there's others too, but in ~50 years that ain't a bad record for any 'commish'.

- getting Todt to Ferrari arguably doubled the value of the sport?.....


Cheers,
Ian

 

Indeed.

However, I can very much imagine Mr Goodell, Mr Kraft and Mr Bills sitting down and discussing Toms future free agency & so on....

Cheers,
Ian

 

I wouldn't read too much into it - Bernie always likes to take credit for situations in F1, whether he's really involved or not!

 

+1 *Exactly*.

As I've said, he may indeed be omnipotent, and has certainly "steered" drivers places over the years. But contrary to popular belief he's not running a team and doesn't hire & fire drivers.

Cheers,
Ian

 

I don't think he has much power (if any) in those matters... and the results speak for themselves . But yes, it's wrong to even attempt it indeed.

 

Healthy? Hahahahahahahahahahhhahhhhhhaaaaa...!

 

Well, not so fast....at least 2 drivers would ignore team orders!

 

Well enough said right there.

Bernie is a mover and shaker IMO, apparently I have read in some rag somewhere, that he sorted the Ham move to Merc, as Ham was about to pull out of F1, his relationship with Mclaren was at a all time low.

 

Coincidentally this month's MotorSport has Nigel Roebuck quoting Brundle saying that he lost his seat at Jordan in 97 when Bernie suggested to EJ that Fisichella needed to be moved up from Minardi.
Now this is what Brundle says that Eddie told him so the details may vary but it seems that Bernie's been doing this stuff for quite a while.