16/11/2016
NEWS STORY
Bernie Ecclestone is to urge F1's Strategy Group to call for a major simplification of the rules.
The F1 supremo, like most of us, is concerned not only at the lack of consistency but the fact that the heavy-handedness of the regulators is compromising the racing.
The very fact that the FIA's Safety Delegate and Race Director, Charlie Whiting, had to attend last Friday's official driver press conference in Brazil to explain stewards decisions taken in Mexico speaks volumes, as does the fact that, for the most part, the drivers still didn't agree with him.
Ecclestone feels that the sport is being over-regulated, leaving drivers fearful of attempting to overtake or defend the positions.
Ahead of today's meeting of the Strategy Group in Geneva, Ecclestone is calling on the FIA to scrap the rules and start afresh.
"Generally we need to have a good look," he told Motorsport.com. "There are too many rules and too many regulations. You need lawyers and doctors and God knows what else to be in F1 today.
"You can't repair an old house," he continued, a favourite analogy of the Briton, "better to pull it down and start again. He's got enough people. We don't need to wait."
"I think what we should do is head our rules up; 'It's forbidden to race. Whatever you do, don't race.'," he sarcastically continued. "Because it takes away everything what people can do and can't do, so they're driving wondering what they can or can't do. It's ridiculous.
"If you and I are watching the race and it's our decision, you might think that's wrong, and then I say I don't see why you're saying it's wrong, it looks alright to me, the guy's a racer. Let them get on with it.
"If I was trying to block you, it's up to you to find a way past. The only thing you can start giving them trouble with is if they cause an accident through dangerous driving, then you deal with it. It's very easy."
Indeed, at a time teenager Max Verstappen is putting the sport back in the headlines for the right reasons, the old hands are seemingly forever complaining to Charlie Whiting over driving standards.
"The world is changing," said Ecclestone. "You have to think about what did those people, when they started driving, what did they do. I haven't had the time, but I'd like to look at some of the old races and see."