Ferrari big boss Sergio Marchionne has fired a New Year salvo at Bernie Ecclestone, highlighting the F1 supremo's age and questioning if the sport is effectively targeting a younger audience.
Marchionne is quoted by various sources saying, "Ecclestone knows that he is not going to be there forever. Maybe this is also connected to the future of FOM. The real challenge for Bernie is to get organized."
Ecclestone has presided over Formula 1 since the seventies, but during this period has not groomed an heir for his role as chief executive of the Formula One Group which manages the sport - there is no second in charge but rather a band of minions, buzzing around the 85 year old, tending to his whims.
Marchionne advises, "He needs to come up with a system where maybe some responsibilities can be developed differently. We have a responsibility to deliver a certain level of sound management continuity of Formula 1 with FIA and with FOM."
At the same time the Ferrari chief acknowledges, "So we really need to make the most of Bernie's ability to develop this sport in the best possible way. Believe me, it is not easy."
"Bernie is quite a character, but he is a very nice guy and has an incredible strength. I don't know what I will do when I'm his age. What he has done over the last 10 years is incredible – and he's still there."
"Bernie should pave the way to prepare the future of the F1 world. This age issue is there, so we should ask ourselves: are we appealing to young people?"
"This sport has great potential which has not been expressed yet. We need to make it entertaining because if everything is predictable, it gets boring."
"We should try to deliver more unpredictability, so to speak, so that results are unpredictable," concluded Marchionne, clearly alluding to Mercedes' dominance of the sport in recent years.
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