bernie ecclestone

Renault Threatens to Quit F1 if New Engine Formula Not Adopted in 2013

Thumbnail image for Renault Threatens to Quit F1 if New Engine Formula Not Adopted in 2013 June 8, 2011

The FIA has been trying to paint a greener image for Formula 1 during the last few years (as if anyone would mistake an F1 car for being energy efficient).  Theoretically, the move to 1.6 litre four cylinder turbo engines (which would replace the current 2.4 litre naturally aspirated V8s) was a step towards the [...]

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Max Mosley Condemns Bahrain Decision

Thumbnail image for Max Mosley Condemns Bahrain Decision June 6, 2011

Although it hasn’t been officially confirmed yet, there have been reports that the Bahrain Grand Prix has been reinstated to the 2011 calendar, with a tentative date of October 30.  The Indian Grand Prix will be pushed back to accommodate the change. There had been some talk of holding the Bahrain event in December, but [...]

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Will Rupert Murdoch and Carlos Slim Make a Bid for F1′s Commercial Rights?

Thumbnail image for Will Rupert Murdoch and Carlos Slim Make a Bid for F1′s Commercial Rights? April 25, 2011

Last week, Uncle Bernie claimed that a reported plan to mount a takeover bid for Formula 1 was pure rubbish.  But the fact is, since the Evil Gnome actually sold his commercial rights to F1 (which are actually leased from the FIA), he really has no say over the matter.  Bernie Ecclestone is simply an [...]

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Is Formula 1 for Sale?

Thumbnail image for Is Formula 1 for Sale? April 20, 2011

There’s an old Hollywood joke that runs something like this: Two old style movie producers (think portly, bald, expensive Italian suits, too much gold jewelry and leathery tans) are wandering around in the dessert (God knows why, but this is Hollywood, where most narratives aren’t expected to make much sense), about to die of thirst.  [...]

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Pirelli Defends Tire Degradation, Supports Bernie’s Fake Rain Idea

Thumbnail image for Pirelli Defends Tire Degradation, Supports Bernie’s Fake Rain Idea March 4, 2011

A number of drivers, following early pre-season testing, have been critical of the new Pirelli F1 tires.  Last year, it was seen that when Bridgestone brought to a number of race venues super-soft tire compounds that degraded quickly it made for some interesting racing. When tires degraded quickly, drivers were forced to make more frequent [...]

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Bernie Says Let It Rain

Thumbnail image for Bernie Says Let It Rain March 2, 2011

El Supremo Bernie Ecclestone is at it again.  For the past couple of years he’s been touting his Olympic medals system as replacement of the current points system that has been the mainstay of Formula 1, albeit with periodic revisions, since its inception.  Uncle Bernie seems to think that the drivers will race more competitively [...]

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Bahrain GP ‘Postponed,’ Aussie GP to Open Season

Thumbnail image for Bahrain GP ‘Postponed,’ Aussie GP to Open Season February 22, 2011

The season-opening race at Bahrain has been canceled – or postponed – the ultimate result depending on the outcome of civil unrest in that island nation.  Protests against the ruling government have been proceeding for the past week as part of a wave of turmoil that is spreading throughout several Middle Eastern countries, including Tunisia, [...]

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Will Civil Unrest Disrupt the Season-Opener in Bahrain?

Thumbnail image for Will Civil Unrest Disrupt the Season-Opener in Bahrain? February 17, 2011

There are growing concerns that the Formula 1 season-opener in Bahrain might be threatened by the civil unrest that has erupted in that country in the wake of the recent events in Egypt.  Yesterday, thousands of demonstrators congregated in Pearl Square in the capital city of Manama.  In the early hours of Thursday morning, they [...]

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The FIA Repeals Team Orders Ban for 2011

Thumbnail image for The FIA Repeals Team Orders Ban for 2011 December 12, 2010

In one of the most sensible moves the FIA has made since they mandated the return of slick tires, the F1 sanctioning body has announced that the team orders ban, introduced in 2002, will be repealed for 2011.  Specifically, the announcement said that “article forbidding team orders (39.1) is deleted.”  As a fallback position, however, [...]

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New Turbo Era to Begin in 2013

Thumbnail image for New Turbo Era to Begin in 2013 December 5, 2010

In yet another effort to appear “green” to the world at large, the FIA is about to mandate yet another rule change to the F1 engine formula.  Currently, the F1 engines are 2.4 liter V-8s, but these are set to be swapped for 1.4 liter four cylinder turbos in 2013.  According to word leaking from [...]

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