German TV Interview With BE and Mad Max

[Casper]

http://www.zdf.de/ZDFmediathek/beitr...-1-hat-Zukunft

I haven't got time to watch it all now but BE does a bit of ducking and weaving in the bit I did watch.

[wnut]

Thanks Casper, best interview I have ever seen with Bernie.

Pretty much illustrates that he is not the real problem, but Ferrari and Mercedes and the engine manufacturers are.
Good point about the normally aspirated V8s being at a state of development that meant that no matter how much you spent on them they would never be the performance differentiator!
So the manufacturers insisted that the units changed to the point where they dominate F1.

Interesting point about the anti competitive nature of the unequal profit distribution being taken to the European Competition Court.

Loved Max's point that the punters would not notice a difference between all the teams spending $40 million a year and $300 M.

Also liked Bernie saying that he would like to see how Lewis would do in GP2.

F1 an engineering competition and not a driving competition!

[Casper]

Read Saward's column and the comments that were made, in particular one quoting a transcript of an interview some years ago. I am beginning to wonder if RB have told him to stick F1 where the sun doesn't shine and this is his way of getting in first and making the running. Time will tell.

[wnut]

Originally Posted by Casper

Read Saward's column and the comments that were made, in particular one quoting a transcript of an interview some years ago. I am beginning to wonder if RB have told him to stick F1 where the sun doesn't shine and this is his way of getting in first and making the running. Time will tell.

Hindsight being a wonderful science and all, it looks like Newey knew that the game was up when the new rules came into being.
He said that F1 had become an engine formula, and he could not see his way forward there.
RBR's key area of expertise is aerodynamics, and they are at the mercy of whoever supplies there engines.
It would appear Renault were merciless and Mercedes and Ferrari are running a closed shop.

No future for RBR in F1, so I think you are right Casper, and they may have told Bernie to stick it.

[JeremySmith]

Good interview... If we had someone more like Max Mosley as head of the FIA we would see a far better direction for the future of the sport ...

[Mike Harte]

It was a good interview, for a number of reasons.

Firstly, it amply demonstrated that BCE has not lost his marbles, and is actually very far from being senile. This wasn't a case of him just saying the first thing that slipped into his mind; he gave thoughtful answers throughout. It was also noticeable that he deferred to Mosley throughtout the interview.

Secondly, the interview showed just how much it misses and needs a figure such as Max Mosley; a person who is not afraid of ruffling feathers. BCE was right on the money when he said that Todt doesn't want to upset anyone. My own view is that he should never have been chosen for the Presidency considering that he was just coming from leading a dominant Ferrari. He probably feels that he cannot be seen to favour them, so it's easier to just ignore everything that is going on in what is supposed to be the pinnacle of motorsport.

It was interesting that Mosley acknowledges that it was his idea to introduce the more sophisticated power-units; however, he cannot be blamed for the fact that the FIA let the teams/PSU suppliers decide the rules, as by that time Todt was in charge.

The two of them were a good team, and they did a whole lot that improved Formula 1 immeasurably; and I get the impression that neither one of them was able to do something without the support of the other.

[djinvicta]

Shame they can't crack a whip or two..

[wolfhound]

I would'nt mention whip's in Max's company.

[chillibowl]

nice massive Bernie bust in the background.

i liked the honest interaction between the two. both have different views but seems like they still have a very open way of talking to each other.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

nice massive Bernie bust in the background.

i liked the honest interaction between the two. both have different views but seems like they still have a very open way of talking to each other.

After a 45 year association, including business deals, I think that they know that they can trust each other. And, even if they might not be best of friends socially (I don't know whether they are or not, and it doesn't really matter one way or another anyway) I am sure that there is a bond of friendship and comradeship between the two.

There was a commonality between the two in the 1960s that allowed them to join forces and create FOCA, and I don't think that either of them have looked back since.

[chillibowl]

well they were looking way back in that interview

dont get me wrong i thought it was a great interview, very candid and refreshing to hear BE essentially highlight problems that we talk about here a great deal...but its telling when the promoter basically says there is nothing he likes about the sport he promotes and cant think of anything good to say about it other then cite examples from 25-30 years ago.

mixed optimism. happy he sees the problems but wish we heard more about potential solutions going forward.

side note...i actually liked the quali trim cars a lot. there was a thrill for me to see what a stripped down F1 car do.

[Mike Harte]

It would seem to me that the reason behind the interview was that BCE wanted to spur Todt into actually taking control of F1, and stop worrying about upsetting any of the teams. BCE would appear to have started a media campaign to prod Todt into taking action, as he knows, that between them, the two of them can out-vote the teams on the Stategy Group.

BCE probably wishes that Mosley was still in charge because they could actually force through changes.

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

BCE probably wishes that Mosley was still in charge because they could actually force through changes.

no doubt that was true but by the end of his tenure he had already lost not just the support of the teams, he also seemed to be regarded (maybe incorrectly but perceptions do matter) by the media and fans as a bully.

this might be hindsight or worse even revisionist history on my part (im just going by memory) but iirc after his position to ban Mclaren for spygate (affected Mclaren's view of him) and then the fine to Mclaren while issuing no penalty to Renault (affected the public's perception of him) his ideas failed to get any traction. he and the FIA lost their credibility perhaps even creating a greater divide between the FIA/FOM and the teams that he and BE were talking about in the interview.

i agreed with his belief that budgets had become unsustainable and the looming global recession would force manus to pull out (Honda, BMW, Toyota) so he was proven right, but after spygate no one was listening to him any more.

the 40mil budget cap was a drastic and unreasonable reaction and (might be off on the timeline here) gave the teams the reason to create FOTA.

[Paradise City]

Eccelstone just wants an ally in the FIA whilst Eccelstone wields the real power.

He doesn't give rats ass about the FIA except as an institution that plays his game. Todt completely impotent isn't good but Todt powerful isn't good either. He wants a pal in the FIA so they can both do a Ronnie and Reggie on the teams and manipulate them like the old days.

Eccelstone feels threatened by three pivotal teams potentially leaving F1. Mateschitz, Renault and Mercedes now realise they have huge leverage over Eccelstone and Ecclestone's tried and tested divide and rule tactics are ineffective in the face this.

Eccelstone is being beaten back and it's not helped by the fact that, while still indispensable, his standing with CVC has fallen. Add to that with the EU complaints from some teams that he'll find ill-timed and the intensive schedule for next year, Eccelstone isn't bringing in the bacon as he once was.

It's no surprise that Eccelstone wants the FIA back as an able lieutenant but not in a way that would ever challenge him. In sum, neither Eccelstone nor Mosley would see the FIA as the truly independent body that it needs to be.

[wolfhound]

I saw a little glint in Bernie's eye when the subject of the EU came up.
I think Eccelstone is not too worried about the EU investigation because he sees a possibility that they will rule against the big teams getting the big payments and the way the rule making is currently structured. Both of these are a major part of the grief he has at the moment.
The other part is that the engine manufacturers now appear to hold too much power.

[Casper]

That interview was to me a part of a plan by BE but I don't know what the plan is and I don't trust him to tell the truth on any matter. He is over a barrel in his dealings at the moment and can't really have a win. If he could or does force a return to old style IC motors then MB & Renault will most probably walk and Ferrari willed be p*ssed off and he can't do it next year anyway. If he does not do something about the motors RB is out taking four cars with them, he most probably loses Lotus and Renault takes a hike as well and unless the category is made more viable as far as costs are concerned at least two other teams are marginal.

To go to three car teams is lunacy because the teams then hold more influence in getting what they want by using exit threats and leaving huge holes in the grid if they were to do so. Call me cynical but I agree with the thought that he is on a hiding to nothing at the moment and the whole interview was one big act put on by a man that specialises in con jobs.

[bjohnsonsmith]

A very interesting interview, having read and seen the interview with Bernie on RT.

Smart of Bernie to bring his lawyer along and blame him.

In both interviews Bernie talked about tearing up the rule book and F1 being in the Entertainment Business, so some consistency there.

I thought it was very telling, earlier on in the interview when Max was asked about the cost of developing the PUs and he said, no body knows because the manufacturers don't reveal. Later on, towards the end of the interview, he seemed to follow that up by talking about changing the rules and reducing the cost so that the cleverest engineer, not the richest team produces the best car.

[wolfhound]

After those two interviews I wonder who Bernie will choose as his best driver if some sticks a microphone under his nose in America?

[Taxi645]

I don't agree with Ecclestone that performance bonus are a good thing to have.

Front running teams (mostly a manufacturer) generally get's to that position because they have sufficient resources in the first place, they don't need extra.

Secondly they already got the reward, namely the very reason they are in F1, the publicity and prestige they get from a win.

Thirdly. If you're a wining team you already get rewards thrown at you that make you more competitive no need to add to that with performance bonuses. As a winning team you will attract more sponsorship money, often more corporate money approved by the CEO in case of a manufacturer to protect your position, you'll attract the best drivers, the best engineers, mechanics and strategists as they all want to be with the best team.

So there is zero need for performance bonuses, but they have been allowed to make the field less competitive over decades. They are simply harmful for the competitiveness and attractiveness of the sport. They have to go and I think Mosely feels the same (perhaps the EU ruling can help out here).

[Casper]

They are not performance bonuses in the first place, they are contracted appearance money to ensure that the top teams have to stay in the F1 category and not depart to another series as was threatened before. BE woke up that to keep them he had to pay them appearance money and he did.