F1 testing 'a charade' for Ecclestone

La F1 enters a new era with the 6l turbo/hybrid V1.6 which replaces the V8, a change which is not without causing problems for certain teams during the first tests at Jerez. If the situation of engine manufacturers will certainly evolve in the days to come, the same cannot be said of the show. The new single-seaters offer a much less strident noise than in the past, which even surprised some drivers in the paddock.

Bernie Ecclestone has never hidden his disenchantment with downsizing in F1. The discipline's financier reaffirmed his position firmly using thought-provoking arguments. “Given the past few days, I would say that it seems like a total charade”, commented the British businessman to the Daily Mail. “They (the FIA ​​and some teams) insisted on having these new engines. If they wanted to ride with that, they should have gone to Le Mans. They talk about reducing gasoline consumption but they don't need new engines for that. They should use smaller motorhomes. They don't need that many trucks to cross Europe. Mercedes constantly uses 23 trucks. They should stop this if that's really what they want. »

This is not the first time that Bernie Ecclestone has expressed his fears about negative consequences on public interest in F1 with this new engine. “Everything surrounding these new engines is absolutely absurd. People want noise, something special, that’s F1. It’s not having silent engines with no one at the side of the slopes.”, adds Mr E. who remains worried about the future of F1 at a time when its future also appears uncertain.