Ecclestone: I'm thinking of the fans
Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has said that the idea of introducing a weight handicapping system is not designed specifically to penalise Ferrari, but to create closer racing for the sport's fans
The top three teams - Ferrari, Williams and McLaren - have all made it clear that they are against handicapping those drivers who are successful.
But in an interview with Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, Ecclestone said: "I am thinking about the fans, the people who pay a lot of money to attend a grand prix and who don't want to be in the position of knowing the winner before the start of the race.
"I want a world championship where the big three teams will battle lap after lap, race after race."
Motorsport governing body the FIA sent a dossier of proposals to the teams, which included a handicap plan. Ecclestone argues that over the course of a season, the weight penalties would even out between the top drivers.
"What would happen if in 2003 Ferrari has a weak machine and McLaren a great one?" he said. "Let me repeat that the rules are not against anyone but in favour of a greater balance.
"I hope we would arrive at the last race of 2003 with teams on the same weight. That would say that the ballast was a great idea."
Share Or Save This Story
Formula 1: The groundbreaking women who drove in F1
Friday favourite: When a GP2 race winner “ate steering wheel” in Alpine's F1 winner
The potential pitfalls Mercedes is working to counter in 2021
Hamilton: I don’t want preferential treatment from Ferrari
The deeper meaning of Vettel’s emotional Schumacher demo run at Monza
What the drivers think of the "crazy" Madrid F1 circuit
Leclerc accepts blame for Italian GP clash with Hamilton: "I went too far"
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments