user icon
icon
link-icon
<< Return to the news list
Ecclestone a little bit disappointed in Vettel, Alonso

Ecclestone a little bit disappointed in Vettel, Alonso

  • Published on 09 Dec 2014 11:27
  • comments 1
  • By: Rob Veenstra
Bernie Ecclestone has credited Mercedes' team management for preventing a "lousy" world championship in 2014. Considering the German team's utter dominance this year, the F1 'supremo' admitted he was disappointed with the "attitude" of the struggling reigning champion, Sebastian Vettel. "I'm a super supporter of Sebastian," said Ecclestone, "but I'm a little bit disappointed with his attitude, which I think has changed."

As he struggled with his Red Bull alongside Daniel Ricciardo in 2014, Vettel was highly critical of the sport's new regulations and decided to switch to Ferrari for a new challenge next year. "He's acting like a defeated guy," Ecclestone said, "and he isn't -- that's not his mentality."

Writing in the foreword of the official F1 season review, the 84-year-old Briton also criticised the man Vettel is replacing at Maranello. "Ferrari was very disappointing," Ecclestone said, "getting lost somewhere. Fernando (Alonso) got a little bit like Sebastian halfway through, so I'm a little disappointed in him, too."

2014 did, at least, crown a new winner, as Mercedes totally dominated following years of Vettel's supremacy. "I don't think we could have lived with another Red Bull year," Ecclestone said, "any more than we could have lived with another Schumacher (Ferrari) year. I thought perhaps Ferrari or Red Bull or one of the other teams would catch up (with Mercedes) halfway through the season and make up a few points at the end."

He said that, in light of Mercedes' unchallenged supremacy, it was "lucky" the Brackley team's bosses decided to let Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg fight almost unfettered for the drivers' crown. "We've been extremely lucky with what happened," said Ecclestone. "These two guys have been racing each other and it's good that Mercedes allowed them to do that. If not, we would have had a really lousy championship." (GMM)
F1 News Daniel Ricciardo Lewis Hamilton Nico Rosberg Sebastian Vettel Ferrari Mercedes

Replies (1)

Login to reply
  • BtwnDitches

    Posts: 204

    These statements by Bernie are almost too trite and "over the top" (in context) to warrant comment. Overall, he should be darned grateful for the intrigue that Alonso and Vettel generated in their changes-of-station, since they drew a lot of attention that would otherwise have been spent on Bernie, his embarrassing bribery court case, and dumber comments about youth versus rich old guys as the preferred F1 audience, etc.

    Bernie is soooo past his prime!

    • + 0
    • Dec 9 2014 - 17:22

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Pos
Team
Points
1
McLaren
666
2
Ferrari
652
3
Red Bull Racing
589
4
Mercedes
468
5
Aston Martin
94
6
Alpine F1
65
7
Haas F1
58
8
Visa Cash App RB
46
9
Williams
17
10
Sauber
4
Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia
Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China
Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco
Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria
Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy
Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
-
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
-
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

AU Daniel Ricciardo 3
  • Team Visa Cash App RB
  • Points 1,061
  • Podiums 24
  • Grand Prix 188
  • Country AU
  • Date of b. Jul 1 1989 (35)
  • Place of b. Perth, AU
  • Weight 64 kg
  • Length 1.75 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Ferrari
Ferrari
Show full profile
show sidebar