Bernie Ecclestone says 'don't panic', despite Bahrain criticism
The Bahrain GP failed to meet the hype and expectation, with very few overtakes
Also In The News
|
By Darren Estwick. |  |
Tuesday, 16, Mar 2010 10:29
By Adam Leveridge
Bernie Ecclestone has denied there is a crisis in formula one, despite the widespread criticism from fans, the media, teams and drivers over the processional season opener in Bahrain.
With much hype and anticipation in the lead up to the start of the 2010 season, the Bahrain grand prix failed to deliver the exciting spectacle everybody hoped for.
Mercedes GP CEO Nick Fry was among the first to call for immediate action in response to what was dubbed the "Bore-Rain" grand prix by the Sun newspaper, to save the reputation of the sport and to help it take advantage of the interest created over the winter period.
However, F1-supremo Ecclestone denies there is a need for a "knee-jerk reaction", blaming the teams for creating a boring spectacle by being too concerned about tyre wear and engine temperatures, rather than creating an exciting race.
"There is no panic, no crisis for F1," Ecclestone is quoted as saying by the Times.
"I think there is nothing we can do immediately and we should not just knee-jerk into changes.
"I had a meeting with the teams and tried to explain to them what our business is about - racing and entertaining the public, not about playing with computers and going fast over one lap.
"The problem is that you cannot really have teams in any shape or form having a part in the sporting or technical regulations. You cannot have the inmates writing the regulations."
According to the Times, Ecclestone plans to hand responsibility for the regulations over to a team of outside experts, rather than allowing the Fota member teams to make the regulations.