I'll offer this caveat at the outset: we all know that Ecclestone is not the sensible one in the handful of people who wield supreme executive power in F1 and that he deliberately plays the part of clown in order to generate publicity (positive or negative, it's all publicity) for the sport. Highly respected he may not be but, like everyone, he is responsible for his own words. please log in to view this image I'd like to explore some of them. To be more specific, I'd like to put together a list of all his suggestions for improving the sport that have been put forward over the years and to understand how people feel about them individually and how the sport would look if he had his way. Lately he's resurrected his farcical aquatic ceremony of inducing a rain-like effect by turning on a sprinkler system at random points in the race. Like most F1 fans following an especially electrifying wet race (figuratively speaking), I entertained this idea myself for a couple of minutes back in the mists of the 90s (or whenever you start watching) before realising what an utterly pointless idea it is. The reason wet races are so enthralling is because the cars are not designed for those conditions. Once wet weather at some point in a race is guaranteed then the cars will be designed to take advantage of the conditions and the races will be far less spectacular or, to reference another great idea, as boring as Bahrain. As well as perennially press-popular pet proposals like the medal system and a night race in Melbourne, one of his more bizarre has to be the introduction of shortcuts on a track, with drivers allowed to use them a limited number of times in a race. This was intended to facilitate overtaking when a fast car couldn't get past a slower car because of the aerodynamic effect. Fortunately, the FIA invented DRS instead (and you might well argue that, if it wasn't for Ecclestone's stupid idea then the FIA wouldn't have come up with a slightly less stupid one) but that really brings home just how close F1 was to considering, and potentially implementing, anything to combat the stifling aerodynamic effect. Shortcuts. I ask you. Medals System (Gold, Silver, Bronze for podium finishes) Sprinkler System for guranteed wet races Track Shortcuts to facilitate overtaking Yellow and Red Cards to penalise drivers Night-racing so Europeans don't have to get up early Customer cars: allowing the little teams to hire last year's cars from the top teams Budget-capping (on again, off again) Grand Slam events for more points than usual Expanding into territories afflicted by civil strife What were your favourites and are you (seriously?) in favour, or at least feel neutral about any of them?
I don't think he's suggested covering parts of the track in fine sand? Imagine the scene - cars going through at say 150 mph , spray going everywhere, temporary blindness for cars following, then after a lap or two cars sliding around on the debris. Possible added fun of random early tyre wear. It all makes for a spectacle! Hire me Bernie - I have much better ideas.
The referee hasn't been appointed but there is now a system of three yellows (reprimands) = a five place grid penalty. Customer cars is another recent one: the top teams hiring out last years cars to the smaller teams.It's a step on a road best left untravelled. If one team is permitted to buy a chassis from one manufacturer and an engine from another then what's to stop midfield teams struggling for sponsorship demanding the same? Before you know it you've got a multi-class series and you've crushed F1's innovation, spirit and purpose. You'd probably reduce the controversy to a level quite unacceptable to the sponsors, too.
What about all drivers are given the same car model for each race : Ferrari 458, next race Mclaren MP4-12C, third race Aston Martin DBS, KIA Ceed...etc no? - I'll get my coat.
Can we have the Ernie Becclestone vision of the future, please? Great choice of photo on this thread, incidentally
I bet you a million dollars that someone is wandering through the paddock with a carefully concealed sniper rifle looking for Ecclestone.
Hmm... more points for Grand Slam events? He's been scoping out +/–, a 2012 game for 2012 people. He's also backed off from budget caps and is back onto customer cars.
It has just occurred to me what all of this is about: the old man is desperately trying to change as much as he can before he goes. He wants to create a lasting legacy so that his ideas and his changes live on in 'his' Formula 1 after he's gone.
I thought the DRS came about as everyone was immitating Mclarens F-Duct (j-Switch/rear wing stalling device) rather than because of the lack of overtaking? The sprinkler thing was a fad, as in 2009/2010 we had a series of interesting races due to the rain. But again, this was because we had some overtaking, which was rare then, and because Brawn started winning, then 2010 was a great season in general. Everyone this year is crying out for dry/non safety car affected races to see the teams' true pace. Plus we now have overtaking, and passing due to drs/kers systems.
No, I never read that. It was introduced with the hope that it would "boost overtaking opportunities during races." Many of Ecclestone's ideas are, of course, intended to go no further than generating publicity for F1 - something Ecclestone is obliged to do in his position as CEO to increase attendance at circuits, sponsor interest for teams, and audience figures for TV broadcasters. Fads or not, he does resurrect them from time to time if F1 is not being talked about.
please log in to view this image Actually I don't see a lot wrong with his vision of the future in this picture
