Comments on: Ecclestone rattles his sabre again

By: Keith Collantine

Keith Collantine — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 08:07:24 +0000

I might have a look at doing something on the FISA/FOCA war Diacho thanks for the idea – perhaps post it to the Skribit box on the right and I can judge how popular it is. Thanks!

By: George

George — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:08:48 +0000

There is some great material on the FISA/FOCA war in Nigel Roebuck’s ‘Inside F1′ – which Keith has reviewed on this site: http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2006/08/18/inside-formula-one-nigel-roebuck/

By: Diacho

Diacho — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:47:31 +0000

Keith, if it’s not too much to ask, how about an in-depth article over the FISA/FOCA wars 25 years ago? Bernie’s mentioned it (something about how the sport has been run like this for 25 yrs) and I guess what we’re seeing now is just a new chapter in that one.
So, who aligned with whom, who won what, who lost, that kind of stuff, I think could really help us understand what’s going on.
Thanks!

By: Oliver

Oliver — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 10:18:14 +0000

They hve both taken F1 to great heights and they will bring it crashing down before they depart the scene. The viewer does not care who controls F1 all we want is exciting racing.

Msx as the head of the FIA will only make costs go higher believe it or not

By: DG

DG — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 10:06:18 +0000

Hmmm ITV have reported this same interview as Bernie trying to keep the whole shebang from falling apart (ie Good Old Bernie to the Rescue)
But, I think Ferrari, Renault and Force India – and therefore GP2, are with Bernie whatever he decides to do.
The likes of McLaren, Williams, BMW and Red Bull are fighting to gain control of the media rights etc from Bernie/FOM (hence no Concorde Agreement), and are more likely to want to split away, but aren’t powerful enough to do it by themselves, and would probably still want FIA affiliation.
This is why I think Bernie keeps trying to change tack and get as many people on side as possible. He wants Max as a friend but not a boss. He wants to run F1 entirely, and is upset that all the teams aren’t backing him, and that the EU rules are against him and Max isn’t helping him either (even though I think he could offer Max a decent retirement plan)
So instead of being in charge, Bernie finds himself having to pay attention to what other people (including the Jewish investors?) are telling him.
And if he doesn’t sort it out soon, he may find some of the teams leaving to form a new series under the FIA, but without him!

By: George

George — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 09:49:58 +0000

Did anyone else pick up on this comment by Bernie in the same interview?

‘Ecclestone added that Jewish investors in Formula One are extremely unhappy. “The thing that worries me is that the Jewish community controls an awful lot of the finance which comes into Formula One, directly or indirectly,” he said. “They say the FIA shouldn’t let somebody like Max represent them.”‘

Any thoughts? I certainly didn’t realise there was a substantial Jewish investment in F1. Or is Bernie simply pressing as many buttons as he can?

By: Ray

Ray — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 09:28:09 +0000

I love this quote of Bernie from the Times article you referenced Keith:

“If Max comes back and says we should give more money to teams, I will tell him to mind his own bloody business.”

By: Sush

Sush — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 09:00:29 +0000

empty threat i say.

he’s just saying “FOR GOODNESS SAKE!, SIGN THE CONCORDE AGREEMENT ALREADY!”

By: Michael K

Michael K — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 08:14:00 +0000

I still think this is a carefully choreographed piece by Bernie and Max. Why else would Max keep so quiet about it?
Of course the whole spanking affair was something that at least Max couldn’t have planned, but how this is all potentially working Bernie’s way right now makes me suspicious…

By: F1Wolf

F1Wolf — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 07:35:49 +0000

I would say mind games it is all it is (at least for now). Bernie has to accept he is stuck with Mosley and all this noise is probably about making sure Mosley really goes after his term is up in 2009… Why would he risk the unknowns of breakaway when in a year or so he may have very FOM friendly new FIA boss ?