05/03/2016
NEWS STORY
Whilst the new hybrid formula was still in its embryonic stage, Bernie Ecclestone was already critical of it, doing his level best to delay its introduction for as long as possible.
Whilst some aspects of the new formula, particularly the sound, not to mention Mercedes total dominance, have frustrated, the fact is that technologically the sport has done a magnificent job, producing, virtually from the outset, engines that are powerful, efficient and reliable.
Nonetheless, Ecclestone remains its fiercest critic, and recently claimed that the sport is the worst it has ever been and that he wouldn't (cough) pay to watch it.
Naturally, this has not gone down well in certain quarters, first FIA president Jean Todt calling on Ecclestone not to publicly criticise the sport and now Daimler's chief executive, Dieter Zetsche, admitting frustration at the Briton's constant carping.
"At the Geneva Motor Show I was not going on stage to say I would never drive a Mercedes and customers should better not do it," he told reporters at the Estoril circuit. "I don't understand how someone who is not only the CEO but partial owner of that product talks that way about this product.
"If he feels that way, it should be discussed internally how to change it, not as a sales pitch."
Ecclestone has since claimed that his comments were taken out of context.
"I wasn't talking down the sport at all, quite the opposite," he told Reuters. "I was trying to sort of explain that unless we did something that's the way we'd be going."