'Someone needs to tell Bernie it's time to quit'

Monday 6th July 2009

"It's time to call it a day" are the words coming from one senior F1 insider after Bernie Ecclestone's latest shocking comments.

Ecclestone, not for the first time, courted controversy in a recent interview, saying that Adolf Hitler was a man who "was able to get things done" and that Max Mosley would do a better job governing Britain than Gordon Brown or Tony Blair.

The F1 supremo's remarks, though, haven't gone down well with one F1 insider saying it is a clear indication that it is now time for Ecclestone to retire.

"The saddest thing about it is that no one close to him has got the guts to put a hand on his shoulder and say: 'You aren't the man you used to be and it's time to call it a day,'" a source told Autosport.

"And the man who should do it is Max."

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the board of Deputies of British Jews believes Ecclestone clearly overstepped the mark.

"Mr Ecclestone's comments regarding Hitler, female, black and Jewish racing drivers are quite bizarre. He says 'Politics are not for me' and we are inclined to agree," he told The Guardian.

Related Links
A step too far for Ecclestone?

Your Comments

aston21

"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.

111sixth

"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."

rukdng

"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."

GoDogGo

"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.

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