Ecclestone to get involved in F1 promoters dispute
Bernie Ecclestone says he is willing to help resolve a dispute between F1 race promoters and Liberty Media.
The Formula One Promoters' Association, representing 16 of the 21 race hosts on the calendar, held a meeting and afterwards revealed that the circuits are threatening to quit the sport.
Although not supported by some race hosts including Russia and Mexico, they are nonetheless concerned about the loss of free television coverage, the addition of new races, and the terms of their contracts.
Former supremo Ecclestone, now the nominal 'chairman emeritus' of F1, has also been largely opposed to how Liberty Media has run the sport since the 2016 takeover.
But he told the Daily Mail newspaper that he is willing to get involved in the dispute with the promoters.
"If people say I should be involved that is up to them," Ecclestone, 88, said.
"I am an employee of the company and will do what I am told. If they want me to help, I am willing to do so. I don't want to lie on my deathbed and see the sport I created go downhill."
Also not involved in the promoters' revolt are Monaco, Bahrain, Japan and Abu Dhabi.
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Yanks are ruining F1. They should stick to Brickyards and Ovals as they know zilch about F1
Bernie created the problem by building escalation clauses into many of the contracts, and getting governments to subsidise some of the cost. With economies now poorer in many countries, Govt's are pulling back at at time when the contract costs are ratcheting up.
Best thing Bernie can do is to stay out. Liberty are looking for long term solutions not the quick fix, one-off deals that Bernie always used.
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