Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo has hinted heavily that Bernie Ecclestone, F1's 78-year-old long time boss, should consider retirement. Asked by the media about FOM Chief Executive, and the 68-year-old FIA President Max Mosley, he said: "Time goes by and in a few years I will retire too." Montezemolo, 61, is sided strongly with Mosley and F1's other teams in pushing Ecclestone for more than 50 percent of the sport's revenue pie. "We'll see. What's certain is that the time to divide and conquer to rule in F1 is over," he said. In the London newspaper The Times, Montezemolo was ever clearer about Ecclestone's role, which dates back to the late 70s. "I think sooner or later he has to stop," the Italian said. He suggested a clean page in F1's financial governance, currently overseen by Ecclestone and the sport's majority owners CVC, is required. "We have to open an important page with Ecclestone and (CVC's Donald) Mackenzie, not only in terms of quantity of money but in terms of how to do many things - circuits, spectators, hospitality, television, types of track and timing of races." Montezemolo said F1 is currently not being run like a 'normal' business. "Do you think it is normal that we don't have one race in North America?" he charged. "Do you think it is normal that we pay unbelievable amounts for hospitality to promote ourselves at the races?" http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/081218085137.shtml
Formula One needs to be in North America! With so many fans, tracks, streets, and cities drooling to host this event, how can it stay outside?
It's stays outside because apparently we're a country full of rednecks that like to drive in circles in cars made to look like some of the ugliest cars available... made by companies that can't afford to pay their unions because they think they deserve $100k/year to screw on bumpers.
Steve, I was going to post this earlier. He also mentioned Alonso as well in the same interview going to Ferrari in the next couple years. I too am liking Luca more and more.
Luca is a straight shooter and calls it like it is. One of the few people in F1 whose words aren't 100% bull****. Have to respect a man like that.
So many fans? What country are you living in? F1 is a backwater sport in the U.S. and probably always will be. The viewing audience here is minuscule compared to other sporting events and I doubt it will ever improve.
Finally! We need the heavy bats in the sport to step up to the plate. Here is the remainder of the article - love what he says, and couldn't agree more: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/formula_1/article5361826.ece Bernie Ecclestone lacks ideas for the future and sells teams short, says Luca di Montezemolo The Ferrari president said that the sport was not being run in a normal manner and remarked that Formula One does not need a dictator, another reference to Ecclestone. Do you think it is normal that we dont have one race in North America? he said. Do you think it is normal that we understand from the newspapers that the Canadian Grand Prix is over? Do you think it is normal that we see important sponsors decide to leave the small and moderate-sized teams? Do you think it is normal that we pay unbelievable amounts for hospitality to promote ourselves at the races? Do you think it is normal that we cannot discuss the timing of races? Di Montezemolo dismissed Ecclestones recent comments published in The Times, to the effect that if the teams come to him asking for a bigger share of the revenue of Formula One in the new year, he will offer them less money because they have cut their costs by 30 per cent. We will discuss this starting from one point, Di Montezemolo said. There is no professional sport in the world where the players get less than 50 per cent of the total cake. He added that he and the teams want far greater transparency from Ecclestone on the sports huge income. We want to know more about the revenues, he said. On the racing side, one of Di Montezemolos biggest disagreements with Ecclestone is over the trend for new street races. He believes that the sport can support only one street race, Monaco. Otherwise such tracks Valencia and Singapore, for example are difficult to overtake on and should be scrapped. At least Monaco has its own history but to have three or four Monacos is too much, he said.
Luca was born rich. He's from an aristocratic family linked to the traditional Piedmont nobility and his mother is from the Agnelli family. Anyway, he is spot-on about Bernie. However I bet he's not in it for money anymore - I bet that deep down Bernie is terrified of being side-lined, getting out of the spotlight after 40 years would probably kill him. Probably it's the wheeling and dealing in F1 that's keeping him going. From a human point of view, I can understand it. You know, at that age, if you quit all you have left to do is die. Not a nice prospect. I'd keep working too.
Not letting go of your work is fine; however the relentless greed and constant screw you attitude is very 'Madoff-like'...... In today's economy people have had enough. I think Bernie has pushed everyone too far; the one group he has never pushed too far has been Ferrari. Who is probably the only team in any major sport, that is bigger than the sport itself. I hope Luca takes 'he-who-must-not-be-named' to the woodshed.... Kevin
The respect comment is aimed at B Hecklestone, his wife has had enough so has F1, along with Pornostar Max. He has made himself very rich out of F1 not knocking him for that, but his comments and interference are now reminding me of a crazy dictator clinging on in the last throws of a fading empire.
Now that you mention it, he reminds me of Mugabe. OK, Mugabe should be tried by an international tribunal for crimes against humanity, Bernie is nowhere as evil but you can find parallels about their psychotic, irrational clinging to power and the damage they are doing as their empire unfolds and they are no longer able or clear-focused enough to control it.
very true.....My dad is 81 and refuses to just sit back and enjoy the golden years!!...he screws with everycar in our collection without any idea hes doin it the wrong way!just like Bernie!!
F1 "hospitality" is not for the fans. When the circus rolls into town yes the fans pack the seats but its the infield show that pays the rent for the Teams. Sponsor and client events (the real clients; dealers and sponsor big wheels). Do you think Luca really cares about the fans in the stands to any great degree ? Its Marlboro, Shell, and your local F dealer the team is catering to. Remember; everyone's new pal axed MS. I think its classic his comments about a united Manufacturers front vs Bernie. The ultimate "e tu Brute ?" The year before he was stabbing the knife between FOTA's shoulder-blades. Machiavelli would be proud.
*F* Luca and his crocodile tears. Next to Bernie, there is nobody more responsible for the current financial state of Formula 1. The teams had all agreed to the GPMA and Bernie was trying to break them up. He did this by offering a huge sack of ca$h to Luca, in order to get him to sign the new Concorde agreement and ensure Ferrari had a preferential stake in F1. Luca was MORE than happy to do that... to break it off in the rump of the other teams, provided it was to his personal benefit (and Ferraris). So screw you Luca... YOU are the one who turned your back on the teams and worked a side deal with Bernie. Now you don't like the terms of your side deal that you made happen? And now you want to 'represent' all of the teams, united against Bernie? HA! On this one, I hope Bernie tells Luca to "swivel".
SRTMike - you're taking Bernie's side?? Wow - have fun in your group of one.... Just kidding. The point is..Luca...and others...are not happy with they way F1 is today, and where it's headed. When Bernie paid Ferrari - F1 was pretty different - and that was only 3 years ago. You had two North American races; two in Italy; two in Germany etc. Now Bernie is scorching the earth chasing $$ with no regards to past successful venues. His only motivation is to pay down the massive loan that is due when he re-financed the business. (The current loan interest payment is $263m a year); the total outstanding loan in $5B. (the re-fi dumped $3b into his pockets) The teams expenses have gone up dramatically in part because a majority of the races are not in Europe..... Kevin S.
So in theory Ferrari are running the whole show, case example: the FIA considered a proposal to introduce standard engines as a way of slashing the financial outlay of teams. However, after Ferrari threatened to walk away from F1 over the plan FIA president Max Mosley backed down. And if it is as Mike said, Luca is not happy with Bernie who knows where this will lead.
It's not so much taking Bernies side as laughing at the hypocrisy of Luca. Yes, the economy is a different place now. But in a way, Bernie has a point... the teams are making cuts, so by that they will save huge amounts of money. And they are asking Bernie just to give them more money, for the sole reason that "well because we could really use money right now". When you look at the financials, Bernie could use money too. If you went to your boss and asked for a raise, and he asked why, and you said "well because YOU make a lot of money and it's not fair that I get less than you". And he says "but we gave you free parking and a company cell phone and a gas card which have reduced your expenses drastically" and your only reply was "but I still would like some more of your money". What response would that get? I don't agree that F1 is pretty different. There is still a given ROI that will dictate how much teams want to spend on it. Ferrari has success in F1, largely because they leverage wins into sales of road cars. Of course it would be in the best interests of the teams to have more of the pie, but it's an ironic twist of fate that Luca is the man going to Bernie asking for this... Luca, the most weasely slickest two-faced BSing lying salesman around is crying poor to Bernie and being humble and utterly honest in his request. Luca, the same man who precipitated this not but a few years ago. Bernie would be NUTS to cave into Luca's request.
Not sure LdM is the best guy to get things back on track so to speak, but he certainly has a lot of pull. No one can continue to ignore that BE seems to be taking the sport in the wrong direction and it's important in a tough car sales environment not to allow him to do too much damage.
