GPWizard F1 Forum
F1 News & Discussions => General F1 Discussion => Topic started by: John S on July 01, 2012, 11:40:24 AM
-
Will Bernie regret giving Merc cold shoulder on board seat & Concorde?
Mr Eccelstone always likes to use opponents weaknesses against them, especially with large slow decision making corporations, are we set for payback to begin under the guise of proper corporate responsibilities?
Oh! - and will we see the one hit wonder, BrawnGP, return to the grid once again? ;)
Daimler-Benz, The Mercedes F1 team's owners, have reportedly demanded a 'full investigation' into the F1 sale bribery case, which could result in the company leaving the sport.
Having been found guilty of taking nearly $44 million in bribes and failing to pay tax on the money, former banker Gerhard Gribkowsky was on Wednesday jailed for eight and a half years by a Munich court.
The charges related to his part in the sale of Formula One rights from German bank BayernLB to CVC, in which he allegedly received cash bribes from Bernie Ecclestone.
And although Ecclestone faces no charges and denies having bribed Gribkowsky, the Daimler Group have reportedly demanded an investigation into the events.
According to Handelsblatt newspaper, Daimler "does not tolerate the immoral or corrupt practices of its employees or its business partners."
The paper added that there could be "serious consequences" that could include Daimler, and therefore Mercedes, withdrawing from Formula One.
PlanetF1.com, Today.
-
Is it really revenge against Bernie, or is Merc playing a wild card that would allow them to bail from F1 for moral reasons if they find F1 not providing much value to them in the end?
-
I don't think Mercedes wants to back out from F1, rather I agree with this fact they are pushing for a privilege in the Concorde agreement. If they fail to achieve the goal, they will held their head high saying they are backing off the sports. What I am really concerned if that happens is that, Mclaren and Force India as well as Mercedes itself, there teams will be out of engine supplier, for Mclaren I am most concerned.
I don't want Mercedes to leave the sports, I want Bernie to rot for his money-sharking of this sports, but my wishes no significance to the decisions that are going to be make over the few months of time.
-
What I am really concerned if that happens is that, Mclaren and Force India as well as Mercedes itself, there teams will be out of engine supplier, for Mclaren I am most concerned.
I thought Mclaren already said they were going to look at other engine suppliers (as well) once their last contract runs out with Merc. Renault seems to be doing a decent job of providing engines now that they don't have to worry about all the other headaches of an F1 team. Besides, if Mercedes leaves F1, they could very well still provide engines, and if they don't even do that, there will always be another manufacturer ready to step in and take over - VW/Audi for one would be very interested in small turbos.
-
I had no idea that bribes were taxable income.
I don't think that Bernie is worried about Mercedes. The sport appears to be in better shape than it's been in a while... certainly better off than many of its sponsors! If Mercedes does pull out, I think the sport is ready for more privateers.
I suspect that if Mercedes pulls their engine supply, they'll just sell Ilmor. Surely another auto company would be happy to take over a factory with a proven pedigree.
-
I had no idea that bribes were taxable income.
That's how they've gotten so many gangsters on tax evasion, clear back to Al Capone. Even income from illegal sources is taxable. I know it's true here in the States, and I doubt that other countries haven't enacted a similar Catch 22.
-
I had no idea that bribes were taxable income.
So it's just a tax deduction for Bernie then? :DD
-
As I said, British tax people are very interested in finding out what Bernie would be willing to pay that much to keep quiet. They would also like to know why half of it was paid by the Bambino Trust, which Bernie is not supposed to have any control over. I think he will be paying a lot of lawyers to spend time with the Taxman.