Former F1 supremo, Bernie Ecclestone admits that he’s not a fan of the expanded calendar or Dash occasions.
The 95-year-old was attending the Austrian Grand Prix the place he was a part of the rostrum ceremony, presenting the winners medal to George Russell, giving the Mercedes driver an affectionate pat on the cheeks within the course of.
Handing over the reins to Liberty Media in 2017, Ecclestone admits that the game has flourished however nonetheless has reservations concerning the ‚Americanisation‘ of the game.
„They made issues a bit bit extra American, which is mainly what they wished to do,“ he mentioned. „In any other case, they’re doing all of the issues that look good, which can be necessary and, from that viewpoint, it is constructive.“
Nevertheless, he’s no fan of the calendar, that now options 24 races, or of the Dash format.
„Each issues are mistaken,“ he mentioned. „24 races is mistaken for everybody, together with the general public. You lose lots of people who miss a race and say ‚Oh, we will see one very shortly in one other couple of weeks or one thing‘.“
As for the Sprints…
„I’ve no thought what that is all about,“ he mentioned.
Ever the wheeler-dealer, Ecclestone admits that it’s the enterprise aspect of the game, a enterprise which he ran from the 70s and changed into a world phenomenon, that he misses most.
„Simply desirous about it, I miss a part of it,“ he mentioned. „I miss placing issues collectively on the monetary aspect.
„Did I ever cease to the top of a race? No,“ he admitted, „whether or not that is good or dangerous, I do not know. I’ve finished my job.“
The Briton all the time admitted that the demographic the game was focused at was that which lived – or sought to reside – a high-end, luxurious way of life, of costly watches, yachts and tremendous vehicles, versus youngsters wanting to purchase caps and T-shirts.
Paradoxically, beneath the game’s new administration, with the complete compliance of the groups, barely a race weekend passes with out one other ‚restricted version‘ T-shirt or cap, as all concerned search to additional line their coffers.
