Bernie trying to keep Hispania Racing in the game

[John S]

Some would say it may not be worth saving HRT, but I guess it's the principle that low cost teams can work in F1 that Bernie is trying to save. His quote, in this piece from Autosport, about F1 being quieter without Mr Mosley around is sure an understatement. 

Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone says he is working to make sure all 12 teams finish the season, suggesting the Hispania Racing squad is in trouble.

"HRT have got problems. I will sort it out," Ecclestone told the Telegraph in an interview on Friday. "I'd like to see 12 teams finish the season because they have made the commitment to come in. We might lose one of them. But I'm doing my bit to make sure it doesn't happen."

HRT made it to the grid in Bahrain after an eleventh-hour rescue deal, but arrived in the first race without any testing and has struggled at the back of the grid.

In the interview, Ecclestone also admitted he has been disappointed with Lewis Hamilton's performances so far this year, despite the Briton's charges through the field in some races this year.

"Hamilton has been disappointing," he added. "He was unlucky in the last race but that's what happens when things are going badly for you. People praise his overtaking but you don't get any points for passing cars."

The F1 boss said he was missing former Renault boss Flavio Briatore from the sport, while he conceded the FIA was now quieter without Max Mosley.

"Yes, I miss having Flav about the place. He is good company and he was good for this sport. People associated him with F1. He was a character. We miss Max, too. Max got a lot more right than wrong.

"The biggest problem that Max had was that he couldn't package things in a nice way. You tell people to take it or leave it and it doesn't work. It's quieter now at the FIA, which is how we like it."

Autosport.com, Today

[Jericoke]

Some would say it may not be worth saving HRT, but I guess it's the principle that low cost teams can work in F1 that Bernie is trying to save. His quote, in this piece from Autosport, about F1 being quieter without Mr Mosley around is sure an understatement. 

Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone says he is working to make sure all 12 teams finish the season, suggesting the Hispania Racing squad is in trouble.

"HRT have got problems. I will sort it out," Ecclestone told the Telegraph in an interview on Friday. "I'd like to see 12 teams finish the season because they have made the commitment to come in. We might lose one of them. But I'm doing my bit to make sure it doesn't happen."

HRT made it to the grid in Bahrain after an eleventh-hour rescue deal, but arrived in the first race without any testing and has struggled at the back of the grid.

In the interview, Ecclestone also admitted he has been disappointed with Lewis Hamilton's performances so far this year, despite the Briton's charges through the field in some races this year.

"Hamilton has been disappointing," he added. "He was unlucky in the last race but that's what happens when things are going badly for you. People praise his overtaking but you don't get any points for passing cars."

The F1 boss said he was missing former Renault boss Flavio Briatore from the sport, while he conceded the FIA was now quieter without Max Mosley.

"Yes, I miss having Flav about the place. He is good company and he was good for this sport. People associated him with F1. He was a character. We miss Max, too. Max got a lot more right than wrong.

"The biggest problem that Max had was that he couldn't package things in a nice way. You tell people to take it or leave it and it doesn't work. It's quieter now at the FIA, which is how we like it."

Autosport.com, Today

All around fairly reasonable.

Who is this man, and what has he done with Bernie?

Or is this a matter of an F1 reporter simply quoting someone, without adding out of context editorialising?

"Hamilton has been disappointing," he added. "He was unlucky in the last race but that's what happens when things are going badly for you. People praise his overtaking but you don't get any points for passing cars."

I think this would be a radical idea that would change the spectacle of the sport tremendously.  Qualifying produces an inverted grid:  a car at the back has the most opportunity to pass the slower cars ahead, and score the most points.

It would also remove 'pit lane pasing', so that cars wouldn't have to fear going in for tires, or changes to the car to suit conditions... you just go in, fix up the car, and then repass everyone.

Remove the blue flag, and then backmarkers are welcome, rather than avoided.

A cascade effect would be that all the best teams would insist on rule changes that genuinely encourage passing (why would McLaren spend $300 million a year, and then agree to changes that make it easier for a Force India to squeeze by?)