Racerick48. Good comments well made. But what does the sport need, a dictatorship that in large keeps the finances ticking over whilst trying to enlarge its presence. Or the alternative a management focus group politically driven by the major motor manufacturers. Some are very quick to critisise Max and Bernie without realising how they have changed F1 for the better.

Racerrick48, I couldn't agree with you more. I too attended F-1 races at the Glen from 1974 to the last race there in 1980, and after that to Detroit. In my opinion, Bernie is all about the money and that is all. He doesn't care about the history or the fans that were born without silver spoons in their mouths. Between Max and Bernie they have turned F-1 into a circus. I've just about given up on this sport because of the ridiculous way it is being run with rules changing every year, races being run at night to satisfy marketing demands, etc. God do I long for the good old days when you could actually approach the drivers, talk to them and grab an autograph or two. F-1 needs to return to its roots and I think the only way this will happen is to have FOTA break away and create a new series. One that puts racing for the fans first. Bernie and Max have seem to forgotten it is fans like you and me that supported the series for the past 30 plus years and helped build it to where it is today. Too bad they won't listen to what the fans are saying. I truly believe the sport is at a critical point in its popularity and needs some new leadership that will provide clear guidance that isn't clouded by visions of stacks of money.

Bernie is a tough old man who knows how to make things happen. He may say outrageous things but he gets press coverage and it keeps all us F1 bloggers hopping from site to site seeing who's p....ng on Bernie's parade today. The man is in his 70's and is still making lots of money for CVC and don't forget himself. He still holds a significant minority position in the commercial rights. So until a bigger dog comes along we are stuck with Bernie and his outlandish public pontifications.

I'm so disgusted with F1 it hurts. Given the lack of protest from the F1 sponsors, I'm now inclined to see all of them in a negative light. They're all too greedy to do the right thing and demand CVC remove this fool.

What would he say if DANICA comes to f1 with the USF1?? BRUNO!! BRUNO!! BRUNO!! LOL

I'll tell him. Just arrange the meeting and I will curse him out!!!!

You couldn't make this up.....

Two point from me on this story... 1) A "senior F1 insider"? No names? sigh, what's the point of a quote like that without a source? And what's the point of saying a quote like that if you don't want people to know you said it? 2) No-one close to Bernie will say anything to him. They know that if they did, they wouldn't be close to him any more.

amen to that racerrick48!

Dictators don't quit, they usually die in office unfortunately.

Just to calibrate this fascinating but very odd sport and culture, if anyone in any other venue I know of had uttered any of the amazing comments attributed to Mr. Ecclestone or been revealed to practice the amazing hobbies of Mr. Mosley, they'd have been out on their ear within hours. You have to admire the defenses these gentlemen have constructed against any threat to their respective realms.

racerrick48 - "I went to Montreal in 2000 for the Canadian GP the two tickets (for race day ONLY) cost me nearly $1000 USD..." Bernie response to people who complain about access to GP races would probably sound like this... "These people are scroungers.¿ We need a new series with some old venues, one that is physically and financially accessible to most of the fans...not just some vanity races for wealthy dwarfs and despots...

Bernie's recent comments makes it more difficult to perform his duties such as commercially developing the championship. CVC already has majority control of Formula 1. If they decided to replace Bernie with Flavio, then it would be shareholder (in this case private equity investors) replacing a fading CEO with one that they feel could manage/turnaround their investment.

The press and other media should give this man the attention he warrants- NONE. Please stop feeding his ego and maybe he will starve and die away.

It is now more apparent than ever the FOTA needs to do their own series. With Max at the FIA, Bernie at the FOM and CVC Capital Partners being the owners of Formula One, it's time. How obvious does it need to be. Think of the financing the teams would have if they got the money and Bernie/CVC didn't. Really, how important is it that it be called Formula 1?

There are good and bad points about having F1 run by venture capitalists...On the one hand, they are out to MAKE money, not lose it! But, on the other hand, who's to say whether or not they actually have the best interests of the teams and fans in their minds whenever they make a deal...As you can easily see, when Bernie made deals with Malayasia, China, Bahrain, Turkey, it was all about finding someone who would put up the incredible fees he was asking to host an F1 race. Since all of these countries were desperate to increase tourism, the governments caved in and pais his price. While he (and CVC) got plent of money, the share that the teams were getting was pittifully small...AND, the fans were displeased because of A) The craces were too far away to actually go to and B) When there was a race nearby, it cost an outrageous amount for tickets, etc. I used to go to Watkins Glen for the USGP back in the '70's and '80's and the ticket price plus a camping pass cost about $50 USD!!! When I went to Montreal in 2000 for the Canadian GP the two tickets (for race day ONLY) cost me nearly $1000 USD...Something has got to be done to make the racesmore accessable to the "common man"...And Bernie being the little dictator he is, couldn't care less about us commoners...I thibk it's time that he followed Max out the door!

What is truely amazing about Bernie's admiration for Hitler, is that Bernie is old enough to have first hand memories of all the problems Hitler caused. Since Max demands apologies from anyone calling him a dictator, Max must have been aghast, if he read the article in the Guardian. Yet I doubt Max reads the Guardian. You can call Max many things, but "leftie" isn't one of them.

Maybe the FIA sans Max can divert all of the $$$ and technology wasted on KERS into developing an effective muzzle for Bernie

it make me laugh like someone posted here he had his banner removed that said max and bernie retire,i like many before me have had there comments not posted up on this site due to it attacking either bernie or max yet they can both say what ever they want and nothing is done,bernie is a disgrace to humanity with his comments,he should be made to go to the death camps to see just how hitler "got the job done" and also made to speak to survivers to explain himself to these people,how a man who has races held in certain countries can say such rubish is a disgrace and these countries should take steps to bann him from entering,british goverment banned an american radio presenter for havin outspoken views from entering the uk but because bernie donated 1 mill pounds to the labour party do we think they will do or say anythink.... its about time both max and bernie left F1 before the completely distroy it and to the fota grow a spine,if you had of gone ahead with your plans then we would be rid of both these 2 clowns

Im sure Flav would like to take over from Bernie given the chance, although i'm sure he would like to be an employee of CVC. Maybe Bernies doing it on purpose so he has to be 'replaced' Lets face it none of us know the deal he made with CVC ..

What wiil it take to wake FOTA up?

Can I point out, if Bernie does step down, Formula 1 is owned, to all intents an purposes, by CVC Capital Partners. Not sure if having F1 owned and run by a bunch of venture capitalists is better or worse than Bernie. Look at what a mess the banks made of our economy. Is it perhaps better the devil you know?

and I thought Andy Warhol was dead.

Totally argee - the man needs to retire. In fact I believe he needed to a long time ago. You did great things for F1 Bernie - don't be remembered for these silly unnecessary rants.

FOTA make your own series and forget these two like minded people that have disgraceful tastes.Bernie should meet people that have gone through the hell these historical dictators produced.Maybe they could show him some common sense.

He wont go yet, someone has to pay for his divorce!!

We are all entitled to our own opinion. But when it comes to people in highly influential positions, they bust have a huge degree of restraint on the things they say if their thoughts are anything like Bernies... or Max's for that matter. Sadly, in age, they are both reverting to childlike behaviour, a very sure sign that they should be replaced. In Bernie's case, as he partially owns the setup, someone of authority in the other part should force him into the background... unless, of course, they are enjoying the filth coming out of his mouth. Bernie is convicted by his own mouth. HE IS NO LONGER FUNNY. Is there no one to dethrone him?

It was time for him to go long ago. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, him and MM are perfect examples of this. It is laughable how these people said Balestre was dictorial and now equally dictorial people have replaced him. FOTA must be seriously regretting not breaking away when they had the chance. While these people are there F1 will only go downhill.

It's sad to hear these comments from Mr Ecclestone. It's sad to see both Mr Mosley and Ecclestone come to such a low, to even think of commenting anything like they have done lately. Can someone please make them realize it's time for new blood and new ways in F1.

I've said it before, the monkey cannot function without the organ grinder.

I had a banner up at Silverstone saying MAX, BERNIE, RETIRE. The stewards didn't like it and took it down! I still reckon both of them should sling their hook.