Comments on: F1 links: Briatore to replace Ecclestone?

By: Bartholomew

Bartholomew — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 22:37:16 +0000

Its amazing that Bernie is 20 years older than Flav, and seems in better shape. Flav likes pancakes too much.
Bernie, tell us your secret ! and with a full head of hair and everything. Outstanding.

By: dsob

dsob — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:29:22 +0000

needs to be very considered in what they say……And if we are honest that is probably not one of Flavios strengths.

Agreed. And during the Max & Bernie Show of recent years, I’ve had my fill of “colourful” characters and remarks. I wish now for sanity and reason.

Replacements for Max & Bernie should be good business people and good administrators. While I still favor someone outside of motorsports as FiA President, I don’t suppose that will happen as it’s the car clubs that cast the votes.

Well, perhaps Vatanen will win the election. At least as a politician he did accomplish some good things.

By: Bigbadderboom

Bigbadderboom — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 08:56:37 +0000

Out of the frying pan into the fire! Flavio is a fantastic, colourful and enthusiastic character, but recent events has taught us that anybody in Bernies position needs to be very considered in what they say……And if we are honest that is probably not one of Flavios strengths.

By: PJA

PJA — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 08:46:03 +0000

While I think Ecclestone does need replacing I hope it is not by Briatore.

Also I don’t have anything against Bulgaria but I am not looking forward to the prospect of a Bulgarian GP, mainly because of all the other countries which I think should get one first.

By: DGR-F1

DGR-F1 — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 07:20:48 +0000

I think Flavio is much more of a ‘hands-on’ leader than Bernie, and does appear to have more respect in the paddock, even if he does come across as a one-horse salesman to the fans, and since he already has links with GP2, he may be seen as a natural successor by CVC. Maybe he is already on their payroll…..
It looks as if Bernie has settled his future with his pre-German GP remarks, so I wonder if CVC would ensure they have more control over his replacement?

By: Maksutov

Maksutov — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:14:49 +0000

I think, as you say, this whole Flavio thing was instigated from his position as a FOTA representative working with the commercial side. But if there is any chance of this, I honestly have doubts if Flavio would be the best choice..

By: Maksutov

Maksutov — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:05:52 +0000

As much as I support FOTA and all members within it, I honestly hope Briatore does not grab power of anything alone. He would be much worse than Bernie. We just need him to be seated in the background and help where he can. that is all.

By: Red Andy

Red Andy — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 14:15:53 +0000

There were rumours that Flavio would hand over day-to-day running of Renault to Bruno Michiel, currently GP2 Series head honcho, at the start of this season. So I can imagine it wouldn’t be too much of an issue for Flav to leave Renault to Michiel and step into Bernie’s shoes should the situation arise.

By: persempre

persempre — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 13:27:59 +0000

Yes, dsob, pretty much exactly my thoughts.

CVC &, currently, Bernie have covered themselves whichever way FOTA goes.
I, too, think, the only way CVC would have agreed to Lehman passing its’ shares to a holding company was because the value is not in danger.

I’m not sure whether to believe the Flav thing. I think it may come from the fact that Briatore was going to be the FOTA representative working with the commercial side.
I don’t know whether Bernie has actually been grooming him to take over. It’s possible, of course. They are good friends. I have an open mind on it, though, as it may just be media, as usual, making 2+2=5.

Whether we see Bernie & Max go as soon as you say (or even if we see Bernie go in the next year) I also keep open.
I think it’s definite that Max will have to leave but Bernie may have more of a reprieve.
CVC will, if they are sensible, want someone onboard with real F1 contacts & experience. If not, as suggested, Flav then someone else will need to be in place before Bernie goes, I think.

By: dsob

dsob — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 12:05:23 +0000

Absolutely correct, persempre.

Also worthy of note is that Epsilon LTD filed for trademarks on “GP1″, “GP1 Series”, and some other related terms on June 19th. Which I missed at the time. Not surprising, though, since Bernie owns it.

Now, the real question is: Was that Bernie covering his butt so FOTA couldn’t use those terms? Or, was it Bernie doing as CVC told him to do, in case CVC & FOTA go it together in 2010?

Probably a moot question, at this point, as it appears almost certain that CVC is going to kick Bernie upstairs. So CVC will control the new trademarks, anyway.

But I think the trademark papers for GP1 will lay gathering dust. A decent settlement with FiA is practically a certainty. CVC got involved in the negotiations firsthand, and all of a sudden Lehman juggles it’s possesions from one held company to another, to keep hold of it’s F1 stock. Not a move they’d make if they weren’t certain FiA Formula 1 is going to survive and succeed. Lehman holds 15% of DeltaTopco, which is the CVC-held company that nominally ‘owns’ Formula 1.

So I’d bet the farm CVC won’t screw longtime associate Lehman, and that in 2-3 weeks time Bernie & Max will be gone, or neutralized, and we will have nothing but the racing to discuss.

Flavio as the new media head? Oh my, not what I was thinking at all. And wouldn’t he have to relinquish his racing holdings to avoid charges of conflict of interest?