A fierce critic of the new regulations from the moment they were first mooted, Bernie Ecclestone has slammed the new rules as they become reality.

If nothing else, the return of F1 has got the sport back in the headlines, if only for the strange sound, even stranger appendages and the problems Red Bull is encountering.

After months of anticipation the first day of the Jerez test was a disaster. Fans, already disappointed by the general lack of razzmatazz surrounding the unveiling of the new cars - having got used to some of the more theatrical launches including those of Benetton and McLaren at the Allly Pally complete with Spice Girls - were treated to a day of limited running.

While things have improved since, though not for Red Bull, Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo completing just 14 laps between them, Bernie Ecclestone – surely a man with other things on his mind - is incensed.

"Look at the last few days," he moaned to the Daily Mail. "I said it was going to be like this... a total farce. They insisted on these new engines. If they wanted to race like this they should go to Le Mans.

"They talk about saving fuel," he continued. "They don’t need these new engines to achieve that. They should get smaller motorhomes. Then they wouldn’t need so many trucks going all round Europe. Mercedes are taking 23 trucks with them everywhere. If they really wanted to save fuel they should stop that.

"The whole thing with the new engines is totally absurd. People want noise... something special, that’s what F1 is all about, and now we have quiet engines and nobody on the track."

Before fans rush to cancel their F1 TV packages, he grudgingly admitted: "The good thing is that the season could be extremely interesting... really unpredictable, and that is the exciting thing."

Of course, whilst Ecclestone has a point, this is the man who wants to see such farcical manipulation of the sport as double points for selected races and, if the rumours are to be believed, trackside sprinklers that can turn a dry race into a wet one at the press of the button.

Furthermore, when he says the FIA has messed things up, especially in terms of the increased costs brought about by the new regulations, Bernie's proposals - which are usually followed through - have only further damaged the sport especially in terms of its credibility.

In other news, the F1 supremo has denied claims that Red Bull will be given double points in the first three races in order to allow it to maintain the gap to Mercedes, McLaren, Ferrari and Marussia. Then again…

Chris Balfe

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by GoodPublicity, 02/02/2014 13:28

" GrahamhG, Bernie isn't "loosing it" - he never had it!

His clandestine wheeling and dealing with commercial and government promoters and the teams themselves has made F1 boardroom poison to all but petrolhead CEOs and desperate demagogues.

In lieu of public financial statements, one can only imagine how many millions have been siphoned off during his clandestine negotiations.

And his intemperate public utterances have made F1 a laughing stock.

It's a safe bet that the teams would have have been significantly better off financially, and F1 would have a far better public image, had a more responsible and trustworthy organisation looked after their affairs.

It's a poor reflection on the F1 teams' judgement that they ever handed control of their destiny to such a 'colourful business identity'."

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2. Posted by Paul C, 01/02/2014 4:31

"If Bernie thought the new rules would end up in lame cars, why did he let them go into effect? Isn't Formula E, the full scale Scaletrix series enough?"

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3. Posted by West York, 31/01/2014 12:14

"Double points for the 1st 3 races may not be of much help if Red Bull & Renault don't sort out their problems encountered in Jerez.

I heard that they would just be able to bank their points difference to 2nd place in last years championships.

That would mean that Seb would have 155 points and RedBull 236 points to withdraw at leisure and deposit into this years accounts should the need allow.

And no doubt bank of bernie will be allowing the points to accrue interest and bonus payments throughout the season! "

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4. Posted by GrahamG, 31/01/2014 11:56

"Doesn't all of this - particularly the daft double points thing - point to the simple fact that Ecclestone is loosing it but is trying to prove he is sill in total control of everything.
There was a need for a change in the regs, but it should have been to something simpler in engines, a derivation of what was before, hence cheaper, which would have made the whole sport less expensive. That plus less emphasis on aero and decent tyres which allowed people to race would have made the sport much more attractive. Instead we have increasingly hysterical nonsense from Ecclestone to prove he is still the big man."

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5. Posted by Simon in Adelaide, 31/01/2014 11:10

"Sorry typo, should read 'does NOT move'"

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6. Posted by Simon in Adelaide, 31/01/2014 11:04

"If F1 does move with the times it will, once again, become irrelevant to the greater motor industry, energy efficient motive power is here to stay. If people want particular noises then let them play a soundtrack of their choice into their headphones.

I hope the last paragraph isn't too close to the truth."

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Ecclestone unimpressed by 'new look' F1

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