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Gotta give it to Bernie
Topic Started: Jul 5 2011, 11:13 AM (221 Views)
Pasta
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Chief Engineer
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From Planet 1 but these are real quotes....

Quote:
 
Such is Bernie Ecclestone's unhappiness over plans to switch to V6 engines in 2014 that he says he "may have to sue the FIA."

Last week, motorsport's governing body confirmed that F1 will swap to more environmentally friendly V6 1.6 turbo units with energy recovery systems.

However, the decision has not gone down well with Ecclestone.

"(The new engine) is not Formula One - it doesn't sound anything like Formula One," he told The Independent.

"(The race promoters) believe these (new) engines will take away what people want when they go to Formula One races - the glamour and the noise - and therefore they won't be able to sell the tickets and they won't be able to pay us.

"They have got a contract with me and if they can't honour it, because they aren't selling any tickets, I probably wouldn't hold them to it."

The F1 supremo believes that the FIA's plans breach his current contract with them and added that he "may have to sue the FIA."


As perhaps Bernie is feeling left out of the loop in recent decision making, he has created a new ploy that is at least very intriguing. If he can parade a number of sponsors and various other credible witnesses who will testify they feel they are losing money, or are withdrawing financial commitments based on the new engines, the FIA will be very had pressed to argue against the apparent (and likely provable in some fashion) financial losses.

Sponsors get reduced cost, and F1 gets same income via lawsuit.

Furthermore, any judgment would likely take into account a multi-year calculation on the losses.

I really doubt this will go to the end, but it is not an empty threat on paper.

The guy is old, but the mind still works from time to time.
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Rob
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As long at the changed were made through the proper channels and in line w/ FIA bylaws I don't see where Bernie would have standing to sue.
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Pasta
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You would think, but there are so many agreements that all Bernie would need is one narrow item for a legal action that would not be thrown out of court summarily.

I suspect he is positioning, but also suspect he really believes that the changes to now hit inby 2014 are not the right way to go. - In his opinion.

I suspect that somewhere in his arsenal there is a basis for legitimate litigation. It would be creative I am sure.

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