Bernie Ecclestone says he is good friends with Scuderia Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel and still enjoys his games of Backgammon with the German.
“That’s not good for the show, of course,” Ecclestone said, reffering to Lewis Hamilton’s domination in recent years.
But he thinks Sebastian Vettel’s failed 2018 championship campaign is not just the driver’s fault.
“Sebastian did not have the backing and support of his team, while Lewis has the team 100 per cent behind him. He does not have to worry about what Mercedes does. Everything is perfect with them,” Ecclestone added. – “Ferrari could have done it but there’s a lot of politics there and Sebastian didn’t feel the backing he needed. I think he was alone,” the Briton said.
Ecclestone suggests Ferrari became lost following the shock death in July of its president Sergio Marchionne.
“I believe a lot wasn’t the way it should have been after that,” he said – “He was a strong, respected man and they missed that leadership greatly,” added Ecclestone.
Ferrari replaced Marchionne with Louis Camilleri, a former Philip Morris CEO. Mauricio Arrivabene, the team boss, is another former Philip Morris executive.
“Ferrari has to decide whether the current management is correct. I don’t want to judge that,” said Ecclestone.
But he says there is no doubt Mercedes has done “everything right since the hybrid era began”.
“I just think they would be even happier if they had more competition. It would make their victories even more valuable,” Ecclestone added.
Finally, Bernie Ecclestone said he thinks Mick Schumacher is “well on the way to formula one”.
“It’s just too bad that his father cannot support him,” he said, referring to Mick’s father Michael who is reportedly stricken at home with brain injuries.”
Leave a Reply