Ecclestone: “We are sitting around waiting for Formula 1 to disappear”
Main critic of the new direction taken by Formula 1 since last year with the hybrid V6s, Bernie Ecclestone has spoken out again, accusing, notably, Toto Wolff and Mercedes of killing the discipline.
If there’s one person who would like to turn back the clock a few years, it’s Bernie Ecclestone, president of the FOM and known as the financial mastermind of Formula 1.
The new era of V6 hybrid engines is, according to him, responsible for the constant disenchantment of the public with the discipline, and he doesn’t hesitate to name names when it comes to blaming those he considers guilty: « Toto [Wolff] might have a nice inscription on his tombstone that says, ‘I helped kill Formula 1.’ He didn’t do it alone, of course, but he contributed to it. » he declares to *Sport Bild* in his own distinctive style.
He continues: « Generally, you can make up for your mistakes. But here, we haven’t even tried. We are sitting and waiting for Formula 1 to disappear. I will not watch Formula 1 self-destruct because some people made mistakes. Fans want noise, teams want lower costs, and [with the V8s], even the races were better. »
Ecclestone will not hesitate to involve the highest governing bodies to defend his vision of Formula 1, which he has built over decades: « I will try to intervene and convince the FIA. And if some people complain, let them complain. I guarantee you that we will win. After 50 years of work, I will not allow Formula 1 to be destroyed by pure selfishness. »
