War of words continue between Ferrari and Ecclestone

[fpv_gtho]

http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=31166

BERNIE BRANDS FERRARI 'SELFISH'
Last Updated: Thursday, 23, September, 2004, 11:02


The war of words between Bernie Ecclestone and Ferrari continues to escalate with the F1 supremo dubbing the world champions ‘selfish’.

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo delivered an outspoken attack on Ecclestone at Monza, accusing him of failing to split the sport’s revenues fairly.

Ecclestone has now responded by accusing Ferrari of vetoing plans to improve the sport if they would erode the team’s competitive advantage.

He told The Guardian: “They have a policy to win the world championship.

"They don't want to take any risks, but what's a little bit bad is their selfishness over not wanting to compromise over the regulations to make the racing a little more challenging.

"The one-by-one qualifying, for example, has been a complete disaster, and Ferrari haven't done anything to help as they won't agree to change anything. They are terribly selfish like that."

Ecclestone went on to suggest that the manner in which Michael Schumacher has won his seven world titles is not as glorious as the way Ayrton Senna won his three.

He said: "Don't get me wrong, I'm a Schumacher fan. But would he have won as many championships as he has done if Senna had not left us? I very much doubt it."

"Of course Ayrton never had the luxuries Michael has had. Michael has never had anybody in his team who has been able, or been in a position, to challenge him, and he's certainly in the best team there is."

[Matra et Alpine]

Sorry Ecclestone calling anyone selfish is UN-f-believable !!

He has personally manipulated, destroyed F1 and is clearly getting more riled that everyone's not falling into line to become his lap dogs again.

I'm not a fan of Ferrari F1, they played the game the rules dealt just as EVERY F1 team has done since the 70s and the huge injection of sponsorship, so lets not see this as Ferrari versus Bernie. This is the strongest team verus Bernie !! If McLaren were winning or Williams had a decent setup then it would be THEY who would be the willing partner to take on Bernie.

MotoGP has supplanted WSB as the premier bike racing formula, it's time Bernies' F1 circus was ended and real racing and competitive teams were back to the fore.

[fpv_gtho]

more i read lately on the battle between the teams () and ecclestone i get the impression that theres ultimately only going to be one way out of it, and unfortunately the only answer i can come up with is a boycott from F1 like the GPWC, but hopefully a miracle happens and the teams come up with a qualifying system thats great to watch AND works, as well as the teams agreeing on a setup that doesnt leave people ike Minardi, Jordan, Sauber and possibly the new (if any ) buyer for Jaguar, scratching around for funds

[Coventrysucks]

He is being hypocritical, but he has a point.

I still think the reason Ferrari threatened to pull out is because they think they won't be able to afford to win.

Next year is shaping up to be another disaster.
In-fighting, yet more rule changes, and no firm word on Jaguar/ Cosworth could leave Minardi and Jordan without engines.

[fpv_gtho]

Jaguar are claiming from the minute Ford made the announcement, theyve been getting calls from potential buyers and now theyve just got to find someone who can stick by the team for 2-3 years, but surely Cosworth Racing would be attracting a few buyers as well with its heritage

[jameswithington]

I found a couple of little of articles speculating on the future of the Jaguar team's assets on a good little website I found called Planet F1:

http://www.planetf1.com/news/story_17403.shtml

http://www.planetf1.com/news/story_17411.shtml

It seems Coulthard is trying to sneak in on the act at Jaguar in his increasingly desperate search for an F1 drive next season, very interesting. I for one hope that Jaguar does find a buyer and that we don't lose any teams from the grid. The thought of some teams being able to run three cars per team and others not just doesn't seem right to me. It'd make a right mess of the constructors championship that's for sure.

PS. While visiting that Planet F1 site be sure to check out the "Off on F1" section in the features menu. It's a wryly comical look at the world of F1. Particularly amusing is the 'Das Sekret Tagebuch Michael Schumachers' series; if only he were that funny in real in life he'd be the most popular sportsman on the planet!

[NAZCA C2]

Why can't there be a racing series where the teams make the rules and run the show? Eccelstone is a greedy just like anybody in his position would be. He wants all the money to himself.

[Matra et Alpine]

Why can't there be a racing series where the teams make the rules and run the show? Eccelstone is a greedy just like anybody in his position would be. He wants all the money to himself.

yep, bernie went head-to-head with FOCA years ago and played his power card and neutered the team owners as he offered them money. Faust hasn't a look in as long as Bernies around

[Ferrari Tifosi]

Why can't there be a racing series where the teams make the rules and run the show? Eccelstone is a greedy just like anybody in his position would be. He wants all the money to himself.

Like CART and the team owners running the show?

Some common ground needs to be reached soon so everyone can move on and get back to making an exciting, competitive, world class racing series.

[Fabio Ferrari]

That is horrible, Every team has had to adjust to new regulations every year, because Ferrari are winning everything. They create rules to try to make a level playing field, and Ferrari have just mastered these new rules. It must be very hard to be Jordan or Minardi who spend Millions in developing a car to compete and then next year have to build something which is completely different, to satisfy the new rules. I can promise if it were Mclaren winning every race that there would be no rule changes. I think Ferrari have done everything that they can do to try to please the needs of F1 and the FIA. I think that Eccelstone should watch what he says, because Ferrari is the most famous make in F1 therefore if Ferrari were not to compete in F1, the sport would eventually go bankrupt. I think the only reason the Eccelstone says that Senna was the best driver was because he drove for Mclaren, but as everyone know Schumacher is the most succesful driver of all time. I think he should look at the big picture, and see what Formula 1 would look like without Ferrari, I would never attend a race, and there will most likely be no Italian GP or San Marino GP because everyone there is there to see Ferrari.

[fpv_gtho]

Different times have different classes of drivers, its unfair to compare someone like Brabham who drove in the 1960's to someone like Coulthard or Webber as the latter 2 drivers have a much easier car to drive. Bernie's words about Senna though as said in the article were because he was offered a challenge from his own team mate, many people think Ferrari are purposely giving Schumacher a team mate he can beat

[PerfAdv]

I get the F1 Racing magazine occasionally and you get the feeling that F1 is a British venture. Granted Williams, Mclaren, BAR, Jaguar are UK based. There does seem to be bickering along national lines. Why is it such a problem that Ferrari is winning? Their cars don't breakdown and the pit crew always delivers. I don't even get the big deal about team orders. If Barrichello lets Michael pass to get more overall points for the team, what are teammates for. Rubens has accepted his support role, sorry Rubens. There are rules against that too?


"Ferrari is the best and will always continue to be the best"--Fabio Dal Colletto
The challenge has been made.....thus the frustration? Pretty arrogant, sooner or later they know they're going down. What if Honda comes back full force!

[Fabio Ferrari]

I get the F1 Racing magazine occasionally and you get the feeling that F1 is a British venture. Granted Williams, Mclaren, BAR, Jaguar are UK based. There does seem to be bickering along national lines. Why is it such a problem that Ferrari is winning? Their cars don't breakdown and the pit crew always delivers. I don't even get the big deal about team orders. If Barrichello lets Michael pass to get more overall points for the team, what are teammates for. Rubens has accepted his support role, sorry Rubens. There are rules against that too?


"Ferrari is the best and will always continue to be the best"--Fabio Dal Colletto
The challenge has been made.....thus the frustration? Pretty arrogant, sooner or later they know they're going down. What if Honda comes back full force!

Yes I agree with you mate, it is a battle between nations Italy and Engliand, and it is plain and simple, Eccelstone wants rule changes to make Ferrari not win, yet Ferraru keep on mastering these new rules, if Mclaren was on top well then there would be no complaining about the dominance. In Eccelstones perfect world Mclaren and William will always be on top, while Ferrari strugle to come 3rd, he would want Ferrari in F1 because of the number of spectators they draw, because we all know if Ferrari was not in F1, that they would not draw the number of spectators to the races as they do now. I think it is F1s best interest that Ferrari stay in F1. I think they should just let them race, and not always stirring up something silly to get back at them. Alright as for call me arrogant, I agree I am arrogant, because I know what I am speaking about, but that signature is nothing more than patriotic phrase. It is just to support my team.

[PerfAdv]

Hey, if I was Italian I would be just as proud of Ferrari....I hope they don't pull out because it will kill F1.

[Matra et Alpine]

nations Italy and Engliand,

??
All I have to say is much of the TEAM success has to be attributed to Jean Todt and Ross Brawn. Neither of whom are Italian oh, wait, neither are the drivers Italian

So don't see hte national view as consistent.