The Bernie Ecclestone Story

Wow!

There's New Bransfuls again!

Simpson Safety products and now this guy...Deep in the Heart of Texas!

 

JANUARY 4, 2018

Ecclestone no longer attending races


Bernie Ecclestone says he may no longer attend Grands Prix.

The former F1 supremo began his first year as nominal 'chairman emeritus' in 2017 whilst still attending some races.

But towards the end of the year, Ecclestone was conspicuously absent, and he now tells Auto Motor und Sport: "I have the feeling that my successors do not want to see me at the track anymore."

In his annual Christmas card, the 87-year-old poked fun at his successor Chase Carey, but he denies he is "bitter" about the new Liberty Media era.

"On the contrary. I'm proud of formula one and I want it to be good," he said.

He applauded the fact that newly-released figures show that TV and spectator figures rose in 2017.

"The Ferrari against Mercedes duel mobilised the fans," Ecclestone said.

"I actually apologised to the promoters, because they paid for the old formula one and all they got was Mercedes winning. Now, they're getting value for money again."

Asked why he thinks Ferrari is suddenly more competitive, the Briton answered: "They were smart enough to look at the other teams and bring on board good people.

"Mercedes supplies three teams. Whoever does what Mercedes is doing is successful," Ecclestone added.

As for Liberty Media, he admits he doesn't like that the American company is heavily investing in F1 marketing.

"It is important that the teams market themselves, and that the promoters promote their event," he said. "If FOM competes as a third party, that's only confusing."

Ecclestone also sided with F1 manufacturers who are railing against Liberty Media's proposed engine changes for 2021.

"I would have scrapped this (current) engine. It was a disaster from the date on which it was introduced.

"But two years ago I told the teams they could keep the damn engine if they increase the fuel flow and the fuel load," he said.

Finally, Ecclestone warned Liberty to take Ferrari's threat to quit F1 after 2020 seriously.

"You didn't have to take Luca di Montezemolo seriously, because motor sport was his life," he said.

"But Sergio (Marchionne) can live without F1. He is only interested in the business. If Marchionne doesn't like what he sees, he will stop.

"I'm afraid that Ferrari can live without formula one, but not vice versa," Ecclestone concluded.

 

"I'm afraid that Ferrari can live without formula one, but not vice versa," Ecclestone concluded.

I wonder how many people who bought a new Ferrari in the last 5 years know who Sebastian Vettel is?

 

Bernie Ecclestone says he may no longer attend Grands Prix. Horay!

But towards the end of the year, Ecclestone was conspicuously absent, and he now tells Auto Motor und Sport: "I have the feeling that my successors do not want to see me at the track anymore." Maybe he finally got a clue!

As for Liberty Media, he admits he doesn't like that the American company is heavily investing in F1 marketing. Why does he think they BOUGHT F1 ? Maybe he still doesn't have a clue !?!

Finally, Ecclestone warned Liberty to take Ferrari's threat to quit F1 after 2020 seriously. Yep--no clue.........

 

I certainly do, and I bought mine last month.
If you're correct, I didn't realize there was such a disconnect.
I thought many/most Ferrari owners and fans were appreciative of the F1 connection.

Kevin

 

Hysterical duo: Max Mosley, the son of a Nazi, and Bernie Ecklestein, the Hebrew.

 

I don't have any factual statistics to back it up, but all the Ferrari enthusiasts I talk to (both owners and tifosi), know a lot about Ferrari in F1. Not only do the know who Vettel is, they know Kimi as well and many prefer the Finn.

 

The majority of the owners of the newest Ferrari that I have met recently, pronounce Modena as Modeena, have never been on a track in their life, drive their cars 300 miles a year, and don’t know Montezemolo from Montezuma.

 

That might be because of the F1 trans. You don't need to know how to drive a manual any more! So people buy them for status instead of love of driving and performance.

 

LOL . . . I know you said "The majority" but I think it's still a gross generalization based on people I've talked to. It may be an older crowd that I'm involved with.

 

Singapore 2017 certainly resembled Montezuma's Revenge.

 

Bottom line... "I'm afraid that Ferrari can live without formula one, but not vice versa"

 

Good point. I would guess only very few.

 

JANUARY 29, 2018

F1 at risk of political turmoil


Toto Wolff says he misses F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone's ability to get things done.

The Mercedes boss says Liberty Media has been in a "honeymoon period" since succeeding the Ecclestone era, but many are now predicting a fiery showdown with top teams including Ferrari.

One criticism from Wolff is that while the Ecclestone era was contentious, he would regularly pull off lucrative deals.

"Bernie invented this sport so to speak, and he had strong qualities to increase sales," he told DPA news agency.

"If I picked one point, it would be the ability to complete deals that he had."

On the other hand, Wolff pointed out that Liberty has made many plans and ideas public, but the real test will be putting them into action.

"We've heard many interesting things," he said. "But the difficulty is not having good ideas, but actually implementing them."

For instance, Liberty has unveiled plans for new engine rules and a budget cap, but Ferrari is already threatening to quit.

"Right now, many in formula one are moving in different directions," former F1 driver Gerhard Berger told Auto Motor und Sport.

"You have Mercedes and Ferrari on one side, Ross Brawn and the Americans on the other, and the FIA in the middle," he explained.

"In the good old days there was unity between Bernie Ecclestone and Max Mosley, so it was hard for the teams to have an influence. So at the moment there is the danger of great political disruptions," said Wolff.

 

Doesen't sound to promising! F1 is heading downward.

 

I have never met Bernie. But there are plenty of stories about him, some shady!

 

I was never a big fan of Bernie. However, what fair is fair. He put Formula1 on the map. He made it the way it is . ok... or at least the way it was. Did he benefit from it? Absolutely, but without him I doubt Formula 1 would gain a worldwide recognition.

 

I met with Bernie once in 1991 for a meeting with him and Paddy Mcnalley and Ann Richards from Allsport . He was very nice direct and fair. We got a deal right away predicated on them having the Usgp .... sadly they did not.


Sent from my iPad using FerrariChat

 

So sad but frankly pretty true. owning a Ferrari is more status symbol period vs. a high performance precision machine.

 

Modern F-1 owes more to Bernie than almost anyone else. I would say the 3 top names in F-1 ever : 1. Enzo Ferrari 2. Bernie Ecclestone. 3. Colin Champman. each of them contributed to how F-1 is the way it is today.

 

I have a feeling we have not heard the last of Bernie..

 

I doubt it. Don't forget he is 87 years old.

 

MARCH 27, 2018

Ecclestone to be back in court in 2019


Bernie Ecclestone will be back in court next year as the bribery scandal returns.

In 2014, the now former F1 supremo escaped jail over corruption charges after paying $100 million to the Munich court.

Ecclestone, now 87, had been accused of paying $44 million to a German banker to ensure formula one was sold to his preferred buyer, CVC.

But the matter is now returning to court, with London's High Court confirming reports that a trial date has been set for 1 October 2019.

In 2014, a company called Bluewaters claimed it was the high bidder to buy F1 in 2005. But it said CVC secured the deal because of Ecclestone's alleged bribes to Gerhard Gribkowsky, who served jail time after receiving the $44m.

In 2014, Bluewaters' case was dismissed by a New York judge, but now the case will be heard in London.

"Our client is pleased that the judge has now set a date for the trial in London," said Bluewaters' lawyer Simon Bushell.