In the round-up: The promoter of the Malaysian Grand Prix, which will hold its final F1 race this year, criticises former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone for saying he charged them too much.
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Bernie Ecclestone made us 'look like idiots' - Sepang boss (The Straits Times)
"As a loyal customer of his for the last 19 years, it showed a total lack of respect, I think, and made us look like idiots in some ways."
"Right now we are firm in our decision to take a long break. We are looking at a 7-10 year break."
Lewis Hamilton 'affected' by British teenager's crash (BBC)
"I think I was affected more by Billy's incident than I probably have been by most, with the exception of what happened in Formula One."
Hamilton rejects Vettel’s ‘sandbagging’ accusation (Crash)
"We never sandbag, there's no benefit to sandbagging. Ever."
Lewis Hamilton Q&A: Friday form shows Sunday is wide open (F1)
"If we win this weekend then it will be because we have worked very hard for it and not because of the opinion that people have that this is a 'Mercedes track'."
Red Bull lacked consistency in practice (Autosport)
"We will try to do what we can, get the job done and then hopefully fight for a bit more in a few weeks."
Revived Massa in no hurry to leave F1 again (Reuters)
"I am 100 percent concentrated on this season but... if I can race still at a good level for a good team, then I can do another year."
Fernando Alonso feels sorry for 'super talented' Stoffel Vandoorne (ESPN)
"I feel sorry for him, because he's a super driver, a super talent but he's having a difficult start of his Formula One career, so I hope he gets a lucky break even if he'll start from the back of the grid."
Wolff admits Ferrari better at switching on tyres (Motorsport)
"There's a pretty good indication what's happening, and what they have been doing, so it's all relaxed until now. In Singapore 2015 we were the only team out of position, and we just couldn't make the tyre work."
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Comment of the day
Andy takes issue with Honda’s defence of its engine programme for this year:
I would say that Honda’s approach has been, at best, a “huge mistake”, and at worst, a complete disaster.
To me, it looks like they need to make significant progress just to complete a whole weekend reliably, let alone be competitive. I find it highly unlikely that they’ll be able to make enough on an in-road to their deficit to make a meaningful difference to Vandoorne’s season. So, yeah. Honda have dropped the ball. Massively.
It’s also worth considering just how deeply this situation affecting McLaren’s engineering development of the new chassis regulations when they can’t push their car to the fringes of the performance envelope without fear of the PU exploding in some way, and thus, incurring more penalties.
Even if, by some miracle, Honda provide McLaren with a power unit that can run at the sharp end, McLaren are well behind on chassis development because they haven’t been able to run at ‘full chat’ for a while now.
I hope a solution is found soon, but it doesn’t look like McLaren will be knocking on any doors any time soon. The new season is barely in to it’s full stride and I find myself already crossing my fingers for McLaren in 2018.
Andy (@Andybantam)
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Strontium (@strontium)
29th April 2017, 0:14
Just a quick thought, who else has noticed how spectacular this year’s cars look going through turn 3? That’s one place where the extra traction is really noticeable.
The article about the Malaysian promoters is sad. Behind F1 having new bosses, I understand it is still the same people who are keeping the sport running from day to day. As fans, we never hear much about this aspect of F1 but it definitely exists. I can’t blame Liberty themselves for not being too interested in arriving, seeing a venue leave, and then helping them in doing that. However the point is interesting because the relationship was between the circuit and the sport, as much as it is with the owners, so I understand their anger in the lack of recognition.
It will be interesting to see what becomes of the plans they will put forward in Spain.
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
29th April 2017, 0:56
@strontium Turn 3 looked great as always, but I can’t say the same for the camera work.
anon
29th April 2017, 9:16
@strontium, surely it is not a surprise that many of the people behind the scenes are still the same. Liberty Media’s takeover of the sport was not formally completed until the beginning of this year, so they’ve really only been in charge for a few months.
Given that most fans seem to complain about botched changes being rushed in as a knee jerk reaction, surely having Liberty Media suddenly making swinging changes without really understanding what might happen behind the scenes is the last thing that you’d want.
mfreire
29th April 2017, 0:22
Wow. Are you surprised? Suckering people is one of the many things Ecclestone and CVC did to F1 for 11-12 years.
OmarRoncal - Go Seb!!! (@)
29th April 2017, 0:46
Why do some journos keep commenting on Ferrari not declaring to the press? I’ve seen many interviews of Ferrari staff (drivers included) on F1.com. Maybe it refers about other (non) official press reporters? Please explain.
AceAce
29th April 2017, 5:07
Fake news. Alonso left, he wasn’t fired, bad hombre’s.. Prepare for war- Donald Trump.
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
29th April 2017, 0:58
@omarr-pepper It’s exactly as you said. There’s the mandatory press events then there’s the team’s own press events and then there’s what you see on that tweet, allowing people to be interviewed.
Jay Menon (@jaymenon10)
29th April 2017, 1:01
“They need to fix the sport,” he said. “MotoGP is so successful because of the product… you don’t have to look far.”
Thats a pretty damning statement.
I also remember reading an interview with the Sepang Circuit’s CEO a few years back, where he stated that FOM were too rigid on how the event should be marketed. However, Dorna on the other hand, were very open to how the event was sold to the public. This in my opinion, has had a massive effect in the growth of F1 in places like Malaysia.
KL is my hometown. I remember back when F1 first started running at Sepang in 99, the fanfare was amazing. It was very obvious when you walked around that there was a race coming. This steadily eroded over the years. I still remember sitting in a pub a few years back when I was still in KL on a weekend before the race. Apart from me, nobody there knew there was a race coming up, simply because it wasnt made obvious to the casual viewer.
Further to that, after 2008, none of the teams/manufacturers, baring Petronas did sponsored events round town. Around 2006/2007, there used to be so many events around town in bars, clubs, malls etc on the eve of race weekend. Obviously, FOM cant be blamed for the global economic climate, but I suspect their rigidity on how the event should be marketed did not allow the local promoter to be more creative in the efforts.
I’m going to miss Sepang, sentimental reasons aside, it is without doubt one of the best tracks on the calendar. Back in the V10 days, it was just spectacular. The atmosphere in grandstand K1 and F, where the hardcore fans typically find themselves, was always enjoyable.
I’m hoping to make the trip in October if circumstance allow it!.
Richard (@rick1984)
29th April 2017, 2:05
Hamilton “nah Mercedes don’t sandbag, we magically get a second quicker as soon as qualifying starts!!!”
NewVerstappenFan (@jureo)
29th April 2017, 8:52
This is not sandbagging. This is just how they turn up engines for oil burn in quali :D
prelvu (@prelvu)
29th April 2017, 4:02
Lewis is sooo touched by Billis Accident
“It Hit him really hard”
Apparently not hard enough to make a donation
AceAce
29th April 2017, 4:17
You Hamilton’s accountant? Sshh.
Gerrit
29th April 2017, 4:25
Maybe not a public one, but privately he may have. You don’t know so cannot make a call like that. A load of other “notaries” did not make a public donation either, but may have made pledges to make it easier for the young fella in the future. Not necessarily monetary ones either.
anon
29th April 2017, 9:22
Gerrit, I do have to agree that it is quite possible that Hamilton may have chosen to take any action in private instead of making a public donation.
After all, there have been times when he has taken part in charity events, particularly for charities supporting those with dyslexia and related learning difficulties, which have been semi private or private meetings and fundraising events, so it is possible that he may have chosen to do the same in this instance as well.
@F1-liners (@f1-liners)
29th April 2017, 7:36
Disgusting comment.
Who are you to question if his feelings are genuine?
MaddMe (@)
29th April 2017, 7:53
I’m pretty sure that Hamiltons feelings are genuine. Most accidents of a serious nature within Motorsport bring the racing community close, acting as a reality check regrading the dangers they face.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
29th April 2017, 9:17
@prelvu And how do you know whether he’s made a donation or not? Many contributions were made anonymously.
Let’s keep things in perspective here. Billy Monger has suffered extremely serious injuries. To exploit that as an opportunity to take an ill-informed cheap shot at someone you don’t like is low.
Drg
29th April 2017, 9:21
Actually he made the SAme donation as Jenson but don’t let the facts get in the way of your twisted little commentary….
MaddMe (@)
29th April 2017, 11:45
@Drg. I thought he had made a similar donation…
I’ve actually got time for Hamilton this year, so far, he appears to have matured and become more focused. I hope he can continues keep the same current composure.
faulty (@faulty)
29th April 2017, 16:43
Yeah such a shame! The entertainment has moved to the tarmac.
I was also really looking forward to take one or two shots at Lewis’ music, but I guess I’ve been too busy watching a great battle of racing teams.
Fukobayashi (@)
29th April 2017, 12:08
@prelvu Had he made his donation as public as Jenson did, trolls like you would be bleating about how he supposedly did it for the good publicity. Absolutely no justification for that comment, disgusting.
Phil-F1-21
29th April 2017, 19:16
+1
grumpy
29th April 2017, 12:15
How do you know whether he donated or not, somwe people keep that kind of thing private … your assumption and your attitude sucks.
PT (@pt)
29th April 2017, 6:20
With Sepang, IndyCar has one great venue to branch out to. IndyCar desperately needs some international exposure, and though they once had races in Australia, Japan and South America they currently don’t have any venues beyond North America. They must exploit the Alonso factor and look to host a round in Malaysia and get McLaren and Alonso to race there. It wouldn’t be nearly as costly as hosting an F1 race, it offers tons of action, and with Alonso onboard the crowds would flock to see a different kind of adventure. Malaysian race organizers are now burdened – they want a break but they’d still be missing some action here. IndyCar would slot in just fine – hope Mark Miles is reading this!
goondu86 (@goondu86)
29th April 2017, 6:36
And in other news…
CVC Capital Partners have bought a controlling stake in Breitling. Looks like the money from the sale of the rights has been used.
http://www.ablogtowatch.com/breitling-sold-cvc-capital-partners/
bukester (@bukester)
29th April 2017, 7:10
Hard to believe any press coming out of Malaysia, one of the most corrupt countries on the planet.
@F1-liners (@f1-liners)
29th April 2017, 8:07
According to CPI less corrupt than:
Hungary
Italy
Bahrain
Brazil
China
Azerbaijan
Mexico
Russia
Todfod (@todfod)
29th April 2017, 8:22
India isn’t on that list? Maybe they bribed someone in the CPI to take them off.
Gabriel (@rethla)
29th April 2017, 10:24
@todfod
India doesnt have F1
grumpy
29th April 2017, 12:22
Dumb comment, not everyone in Malaysia is corrupt, I’m an expat and I live in Asia and I have seen just as much corruption throughout sport in the so called civilized west.
NewVerstappenFan (@jureo)
29th April 2017, 8:49
“Ecclestone “made us look like idiots” – Malaysian GP boss” This exactly this…
In the olden days being a shrewd dodgy car salesman was a good way to go about your business. Your clients would pay you way to much for the product you offer, often with built in flaws etc… and they then look like idiots.
But year is now 2017, selling a dodgy product at sucker prices… gets around to you and bites you in the rear. Word gets out people know, and Bernie was well known around the world for this. In fact exceptionally well known.
How can any state official afford to look like an idiot before his voters? How can countries sponsor this kind of event? Naturally then only dictators sponsor this kind of thing, because they do not care about looking like idiots, or rather state sponsored media shows them to not be idiots via propaganda.
But in all democratic nations race promoters were in trouble. All bar none. Infact most European races either got discounts or were taken off the calendar.
In short, never make your clients look like idiots.
@F1-liners (@f1-liners)
29th April 2017, 8:58
No F1 race in India this year, @todfod (as for Turkey, South Africa, Argentina, etc.).
Bio
29th April 2017, 9:05
Question to Lewis. You never sandbag like you never use team orders?
MrBoerns (@mrboerns)
29th April 2017, 11:01
Nah he’ s just a horribly inconsistent driver is all…
Neil (@neilosjames)
29th April 2017, 11:10
I’ve criticised Bernie plenty in the past, but those comments about promoters paying too much for races were one of the most beautifully executed ‘leaving grenades’ for the new owners of F1 that I could imagine being hurled.
‘Oh hey guys, I overcharged you. Just so you know for when your renegotiations with Chase and his buddies comes round…’
Phil-F1-21
29th April 2017, 19:14
This:
http://f1.channel4.com/video/mclaren-predictions/
I completely agree with EJ here. I think this is a very likely scenario.