Bernie jumped off the boat ?

**race_director** · 19th June 2009, 21:19

It has been a very eventful and exciting day with shoes flying from all corner's, The real question is that the MAN who is the face of the championship. the man who has a greater power than even MAX, is silent and no where seen today.

I find a single quote from him today , it sounds very interesting.
The man himself was keeping tight-lipped about the situation on Friday morning, however, ducking questions from the media about the situation.

"You'll have to ask Max about it," said Ecclestone about the breakaway plans. "For me, this situation is just back to the future."

full story http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/76305

The reason why i find this very interesting is that F1 has been his baby for the last 20-30 yrs. i do not think that he will so easily allow it to be lost by MAD MAX

Bernie through out the crises has been non commitial on the whole whole issue of budget CAP. expect for the odd words. he has said, never came out openly on the CAP

I even remember a quote from him somewhere a month back, saying that he is ready to arrange things for FOTA if they want.

In short i have to conclusion of what bernie is gonna do.

1) Sign up and manage the FOTA series. since he already have less than 25% of stake in CVC . and also that he know's that he cannot make money by selling a gp3 series to race tracks and broadcaster. He has come to agreement with FOTA and is gonna ditch F1

2) He is also so pissed at MAX, that he has left him alone, and wants to MAX go

This are just a thought. if u have anyone reason chip in

**Sonic** · 19th June 2009, 21:44

Bernie can smell money like my son can smell cake so if there is any way for him to claw back his divorce money then he'll find it.

**Daniel** · 19th June 2009, 22:11

Bernie is a flipping moron. I just heard the **** he said to the media from the next room. What an out and out tool. THat's all I can really say......

I don't think FOTA will let Bernie anywhere near their breakaway series if there is one. Would you? Bernie is part of the problem and certainly not part of a solution.

**Big Ben** · 19th June 2009, 22:27

I think he could be a could tool against max.

**yodasarmpit** · 19th June 2009, 22:48

I honestly think it would be worth putting a bet on that Bernie will be involved in the new series if it ever gets off the ground.

**emporer_k** · 19th June 2009, 23:07

Bernie will no doubt follow the money but I dont think FOTA would want any third party creaming off revenue generated from the series.

**ioan** · 19th June 2009, 23:30

Bernie is part of the problem. The CVC and directly FOM has to service a huge debt they have with RBS.
As long as there was no financial crisis there was no problem, but now that their income from TV stations and tracks has started to shrink they were no more able to pay their debt and the interests out 50% of the F1 income (the other 50% goes to the teams).
So IMO the 40 million cap is more than anything a way to ensure that the teams will not have the right to ask for more than that from FOM.

The CVC debt is what brought things here and that debt exists because a certain Bernie Ecclestone pocketed money that the CVC paid him by taking a loan that needs to be paid back by the whole F1!

No matter how much Bernie will be willing to go with the breakaway series truth is they do not need him and also do not want him.

**markabilly** · 20th June 2009, 02:27

Originally Posted by ioan

Bernie is part of the problem. The CVC and directly FOM has to service a huge debt they have with RBS.
As long as there was no financial crisis there was no problem, but now that their income from TV stations and tracks has started to shrink they were no more able to pay their debt and the interests out 50% of the F1 income (the other 50% goes to the teams).
So IMO the 40 million cap is more than anything a way to ensure that the teams will not have the right to ask for more than that from FOM.

The CVC debt is what brought things here and that debt exists because a certain Bernie Ecclestone pocketed money that the CVC paid him by taking a loan that needs to be paid back by the whole F1!

No matter how much Bernie will be willing to go with the breakaway series truth is they do not need him and also do not want him.

and with debt like that, would not be able to afford him if they wanted him back, as no doubt, when time comes and they don't get paid, the hawks and lawyers will be after his small skinny buttocks

**Valve Bounce** · 20th June 2009, 02:37

My gut feeling is that the fellow from Ferrari will be the chief spokesman for FOTA, but somewhere behind the scene (and not too far behind) lurks sleazy Flav who will somehow be very much involved on the financial side.

Does anyone else share this bad feeling?