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Bernie Ecclestone has proposed another radical change to the Grand Prix weekend.
The Formula One supremo has suggested a number of radical changes over the years, with almost all of them failing to come to fruition.
His latest suggestion is to split the Grand Prix into a pair of 40-minute races.
"I don't know if we have the courage to change," said the 86-year-old. "Times change though and it is something we must look at."
He also said that it would take time before F1's new owner Liberty Media would need time before they find their feet.
"Let's wait," he said. "It's like a wedding -- you need to be married for a little while before you know if it works."
Ross Brawn is reportedly being lined up by Liberty Media for a top job in F1, but Ecclestone is denying any such proposal.
"He never spoke to me about it," he said. "But Ross has never done what I do. He has never negotiated with organisers and TV stations.
"He's been out of the business for a while - I don't know what he could give to the sport."
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Replies (5)
Login to replycalle.itw
Posts: 8,527
I think thats a bad idea, it sounded nice when DTM began with it, but it wouldnt work for F1, methinks.
Nick13578
Posts: 11
The guy is a lunatic, it's called a GRAND PRIX. It's not a Touring Car weekend.. Leave it as it is, it's worked pretty well for 65 years. The problem is the cars and the racing quality itself.
There is an extended quote on another website where Bernie says something about people not having the attention to watch a full length 300km Grand Prix, I call bull because most Motorsport watchers and fans have no problem watching WEC races, or Bathurst, or Le Mans, or the Indy500..
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Yeah, they reported on it over here aswell. Utter bollox. If that'd be the case Le Mans would've been long dead, but instead it has gained attention, and championships like Super GT has done nothing but gaining interest over the last few years.
f1dave
Posts: 782
With walls, sprinklers, etc. Good plan.
Ram Samartha
Posts: 1,172
Sounds like Bernie has officially gone senile. Seriously though, usually when he says something off the wall like this it's to stir the pot and get somebody moving on something. He's a master at strategy and hidden agendas.