Bernie Ecclestone

Bernie Ecclestone attempted to qualify for a single World Championship event. He was in a Connaught-Alta, one of a fleet of three entered by himself. He finished qualifying 265.2 seconds off the pace, and his two team-mates failed to qualify as well.

He is, however, the most important single person in Grand Prix history. He took charge of Motor Racing Developments in 1972, from Ron Tauranac. He was the team principal for Nelson Piquet's two drivers' titles, but he'd lost interest by the time Brabham missed the deadline to enter the 1988 World Championship.

Into the governance of the sport he went, and he modernised it, and quickly controlled Formula One. He is now the leader of a billion-dollar industry. He is a divisive figure, but he's not done badly for someone who was four minutes off the pace on a Saturday in Monaco.
 
For all his faults, Bernie makes things happen and there is no better negotiator. I remember reading about Estoril 86 and how that iconic image of Senna, Prost, Mansell and Piquet came about when they were fighting for the championship. At the time it was almost impossible to get one driver let alone four drivers to do a shoot but Bernie made it happen.
 
He did F1 a lot of good in years gone by. Unfortunately he has out-stayed his usefulness and should retire. He has also produced some hot-looking daughters, whose looks must all come from the mother's side of the gene pool.
 
I think that over all he's great. Thanks Bernie, for making the sport what it is - regardless of all the bollocks that keeps us moaning and keeping our favourite sport in the news.
 
I think that over all he's great. Thanks Bernie, for making the sport what it is - regardless of all the ******** that keeps us moaning and keeping our favourite sport in the news.
That's what he does best, keep f1 in the news!

He reminds me of the old sayings "there is no such thing as bad publicity" and "I don't care what you say about me, as long as you spell my name correctly".

I think the alchemy died a little though when he and Max fell out over the notw. They were the perfect team...
 
I think Bernie is much more sane nowadays with Max gone and F1 is making more money than ever I believe. More importantly sponsors have more confidence in the sport. Todt doesn't seem prepared to give him the sort of commercial carte blanche he had when Max was around but however this develops, Bernie's ticker will rest easy. Max was simply causing too much upheaval and it can't have been good for someone who's had a double bypass heart operation. Don't forget Bernie wanted to get rid before whipping boy decided to quit a year later.
 
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