28/11/2007
NEWS STORY
One cannot help but feel that Bernie Ecclestone, not the most internet savvy person on earth, has been spending some of his (rare) spare time checking out various F1 forums and message boards.
In an interview for the official F1 website (Formula1.com) the former racer and team boss, was asked if he thought the ban on electronic driver aids next season would improve the quality of the racing.
"It's difficult to say," he admitted. "The big problem we have is that the tyres are a bit soft. They produce so many marbles that by the end of the weekend there is only one line to race on. Therefore the drivers follow each other on that line. The only exception is in the rain, when all of a sudden you have many lines to drive. That is why rain produces the best racing.
"Whether removing these driver aids will help the situation, I don't know," he continued. "I suggest that the promoter cleans the track on Saturday night to prepare for the race in order to create conditions like in the rain and that the tyre manufacturer perhaps supplies harder tyres. You lose grip from the tyres but if you then improve the mechanical grip from the car, you will get better racing."
While Max Mosley has championed the return of customer cars, Ecclestone admits that he is dead against the concept.
"I don't think it should be allowed to happen," he admitted. "When I go and buy a complete car from somebody else and race it because I am afraid to compete on my own against the manufacturers, then we will soon have four McLarens and four Ferraris on the grid with all the problems such a situation provokes. If the championship is at stake, they are going to help each other.
"We should go back to where we started and have constructors. If you are not a constructor, you should not be in Formula One. You should be obliged to build and design your own car."
Wise words from the old boy... lets just hope that you-know-who is listening.