Ecclestone determined to fix F1 for future

Nov.15 - Bernie Ecclestone sounds determined to lead formula one into a better future.

The F1 supremo says that despite some opposition from powerful carmakers, the sport will have faster cars in 2017 and an independent supplier of a new, more affordable engine to run parallel with the controversial current rules.

Mercedes' Toto Wolff, however, is opposed to the idea of 'equivalency' rules for two sets of engine regulations, and in Brazil has also raised doubts that F1 can safely make its cars suddenly 5 seconds faster for 2017.

"We are not satisfied," he told the Sunday Times.

"Some of the teams have different agendas and think that rolling the dice makes a lot of sense. We are not in the rolling-the-dice business.

"We need to be sure that the tyre manufacturer can cope with the proposed aero rules. And because some teams are just seeing the new rules as an opportunity, having a different agenda or political perspective, it is still up in the air and needs to be discussed," Wolff added.

It is believed Mercedes, Ferrari and perhaps even Honda and Renault are preparing to raise their objections at the next strategy group meeting, which is a precursor body to any new rules being rubber-stamped by the FIA.

Ecclestone is no fan of those "very democratic" processes.

"I think the world and certain sports need not a dictator, but a good leader who thinks about what is best for the sport and not what is best for himself," he told Brazil's Globo at Interlagos. "I have always tried to do that."

As for those reportedly preparing spoiling tactics for the proposed changes, Ecclestone told Auto Motor und Sport: "They are not thinking of the sport, only themselves."

He argues that the independent engine supplier is necessary because the carmakers are setting extremely high engine prices and even refusing to supply certain customers at all.

"We cannot destroy formula one due to people who believe they can take the sport hostage," Ecclestone said.

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Leopold

Leopold Pleijsier founded F1-Fansite.com in 2001 and has followed Formula 1 since the early 1980s. He writes about daily F1 news, race weekends, drivers and the sport’s history.

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