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.

 

[KekeTheKing]

http://www.campaignasia.com/Article/392088,Exclusive F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone on his billion-dollar brand.aspx

http://sniffpetrol.com/2014/11/14/ecclestone-f1-doesnt-need-cars/#.VGX5U_msU8R

I'm so glad you followed the first article with the second because I was going to say that some of that actual interview reads like a "Sniff" piece. Some of the answers may start out sensibly but by the end you're almost invariably shaking your head.

BCE is a prime example of how reality is truly stranger than fiction though.

 

[Westy]

http://m.bbc.com/sport/formula1/30066873

I am speechless.

 

[Titch]

He really is a prat. He's showing the signs of an ageing brain. He should retire.

 

[Splash]

Double points for the last three races would have made absolutely no difference to the state we are in now. There would still be exactly the same gap.

 

[rufus_mcdufus]

How about double points for all the races?

 

[soccerman17]

I'd prefer half points for all races

 

[Titch]

It's all mad.

 

[Bill Boddy]

Whoever it was who had the stupid ide4a about double points should be sacked.

 

[Jen]

Did BE think that all by himself?

 

[Bill Boddy]

Well he did at the time but he may backtrack now.

 

[F1Yorkshire]

Not sure on the source but there's a twitter regular reporting that Bernie wants to stop online media having access to the paddock. The guy is getting worse.

MiniDrivers ‏@OfficialMinis 6 minutes ago
Bernie doesn't like that the online media have access to the paddock and want to erase them and don't allow them to have acreditations

MiniDrivers ‏@OfficialMinis 1 minute ago
Maybe Bernie is a genius at marketing, but closing the door to internet is the worst thing he can do. We're on 2014, not on 1950.

 

[Bill Boddy]

If there were a good feed I could be persuaded to pay for F1 viewing over the internet. But unfortunately Eccles seems to have a mental blockage when it comes to the internet. Mind you, he did screw the fellow who used to own www.Formula1.com, there was no way he could deal with the army of lawyers claiming it belonged to Eccles because Eccles wanted it.

I suppose that when he read about the internet being free he thought they meant cash so he had to go sit in a quiet dark room for the day.

 

[teabagyokel]

He seems to be under the impression that F1 is competing with social media, which is one heck of an indication that he doesn't have the first clue what he is talking about.

If social media were competing with live sport, why would the biggest event in Twitter's history be the World Cup?

It is a wise man who knows the extent of his own ignorance. Ecclestone, on the other hand...

 

[The Pits]

I think it more likely that he simply does not see a way that he himself can make sufficient money out of it to warrant getting involved, it is after all something for young people and those who cannot afford Rolex watches.

 

[Jen]

Is this forum not a small part of 'social media'?

 

[The Pits]

I suppose it is.

Can you afford a Rolex?

 

[Jen]

Absolutely not and , even if I could, wouldn't want one.

And your point is?

 

[The Pits]

No need to be rude.

My point was simply that mr ecclestone has stated that young peoe and f1 are not really matched, as young people cannot afford the products of the sponsors, like rolex watches.

I was suggesting a reason why he may be clamping down on the online media.

 

[siffert_fan]

http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/only-a-coffin-will-end-ecclestone-s-reign

This should come as a surprise to absolutely nobody.

 

[cider_and_toast]

He may think that but never forget, he is just an employee of CVC. I think it rests with them if he goes or not.

At the end of the day, if CVC sense he is doing more harm to their cash flow than good then they will ditch him because at the bloated value they paid for F1 they are never going to get their money back by selling it so they have keep on milking it until they've made enough money.