Formula One Management’s headquarters overlooking London’s Hyde Park is very much the heartbeat of F1, and the heart of this ever-moving roadshow is Bernie Ecclestone. Before the start of the new F1 season, The Red Bulletin’s Norman Howell met the man himself. Here is a selection of a few of his choicest comments:
Bernie Ecclestone on Michael Schumacher:
“Michael is a very competitive person, in everything he does. He wants the best at whatever he is doing. He is charming and unique, he is a very nice guy. People who don’t know him will criticize him sometimes, saying he’s a bit standoff-ish, but it’s not true, he’s not.
… on Fernando Alonso:
“Fernando is a different character. Maybe because of where he comes from: he is very Spanish in his ways, also, as far as I am personally concerned, we are very close friends. He is a nice, sensible, reliable person. He has very high morals, about what he thinks is right and wrong.
… on Button:
“Jenson is Jenson. I call him ‘old’ school’, for his way of performing. He is charming, nice and a super guy. He is a good world champion, but is he as talented as some of the other guys that have been world champions? I don’t know, this year we’ll see."
'Sebastian will be there for as long as it takes' – Ecclestone
… on Hamilton:
“Lewis is unique, coming from where he has, so suddenly. He is extremely talented. Also it’s so nice these guys are such nice people, charming people, they really are.”
If Bernie was still a team owner, would he sign Schumacher or Vettel?
“Sebastian. We don’t know how long Michael intends doing what he is doing, but we do know Sebastian will be there for as long as it takes. Hopefully as long as Michael is now, and I am a big supporter of his.”
… on Flavio Briatore:
“Flavio (Briatore) is a character and we needed him in F1. He always had something to say to the press and TV, which was good.”
… on Max Mosley:
“He got criticized for doing things, and they picked out the things which they thought he did wrong. All of us do things wrong, but they [the Press] forgot to praise the good things Max did. So I think he is going to be missed as time goes on.”
“We are still friends, we always have been friends through the changes, although I was not too loyal with him when he had his problem, for which I apologized.
… on endless meetings in F1:
“…an unnecessary waste of time, with people who want to have meetings. If I could retire gracefully from what I do, I would like to get the mineral water concession for these meetings: I would make an absolute fortune.
… on Enzo Ferrari:
“That was the man I could shake hands with. Human trust is fundamental. I don’t want to deal with people I can’t trust.”
Read the full interview with exclusively in The Red Bulletin. The Bahrain Grand Prix on March 14.
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