Ecclestone reveals Ferrari's extra cash

Eurosport - Sat, 20 Dec 23:16:00 2008

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has hit back at criticism from Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo by detailing how much more money the Italian team receive from the sport than their rivals.

2007 Brazilian GP Ferrari Logo - 0

"They know exactly what they get, they are not that stupid, although they are not that bright, either. They get about $80 million (£54m) more," added the Briton.

"When they win the constructors' championship, which they did this year, they got $80 million more than if McLaren had won it."

Ferrari are the sport's most glamorous and successful team and the only ones still in Formula One who were also present at the outset of the world championship in 1950.

It has never been a secret that the Maranello team receive a greater share of the sport's revenues in recognition of their special importance but a figure has not previously been revealed.

Ecclestone's remarks followed comments by Di Montezemolo in which the Italian said Formula One was not run in a normal, transparent manner, did not need a dictator and that teams should get more of the revenues.

"The only thing he has not mentioned is the extra money Ferrari get above all the other teams and all the extra things Ferrari have had for years - the `general help' they are considered to have had in Formula One," said Ecclestone.

The Briton added that Ferrari benefited from agreeing a new deal with him after breaking ranks with the other manufacturers in 2003 when they were threatening a breakaway series.

"They were the only team that broke ranks with the other manufacturers - why did they break ranks?" he said. "That's where the $80 million comes in."

Ecclestone suggested Ferrari might like to share some of the money with the other teams rather than seeking more from him.

"What he (Montezemolo) should do, rather than asking for money, with all the extra money Ferrari gets, he should share all that amongst the teams," he said.

A Ferrari spokesman had no comment on Ecclestone's remarks.

"However, the topic of revenue is of the highest importance at this particular time in Formula One," he added.

Montezemolo also heads the Formula One Teams Association who have agreed a package of cost-cutting measures with the governing FIA to stabilise the sport in the face of the credit crunch.

At their last meeting, FOTA and FIA also agreed that they needed to sit down with Ecclestone's Formula One Management "to discuss the earnings of the Formula One teams."

FIA President Max Mosley has suggested that up to 12 teams should get at least $50 million each from the commercial rights holder to ensure full grids and a healthy championship.

Reuters

Comment 674 - 693 of 693

Sort comments by: Most recent
  1. ginger_gitt. , i proved that he shouldn't have had­ two sets of intermediates for practice , your the one­ one who knows nothing.

    From touronroute, on Mon 29 Dec 6:57PM
  2. In which case mouronroute, all you've succeeded in­ proving is that they didn't get the tyres of his­ teammate mixed up, not the original point you were­ trying to make. Concentrate on what you want to argue­ or what point you want to make. Write it down and read­ it back to yourself, even ask a stranger on the street­ to give it the once over (I'd have said friend, but­ they're proably all busy playing that game of hide­ and seek you all started back in 1984). Then post what­ you want to say. A little planning and you might­ remain coherent.

    From ginger_gitt, on Thu 25 Dec 4:34PM
  3. ARDSAY, wrong again, mclaren put a little thin white­ stripe on hamilton car tyres as so not to get confused­ with keiki's tyres, oh god man get back with your­ stupid camels , dont you know nothing.

    From touronroute, on Thu 25 Dec 8:00AM
  4. MikeQ: Sorry you took the blame for me questioning­ mouronroute's lack of intellect, but I think Ardsay­ has since helped make my point for me that Lewis­ wasn't let off as a precedent had ben set that the­ stewards adherred to.

    From ginger_gitt, on Wed 24 Dec 5:37PM
  5. I also have no idea what the mouron was on about with­ the white stripe? These were Intermediate tyres mouron,­ where is the white stripe on these tyres. So the­ mechanics are not blind but you are stupid.

    From Ardsay e Giv-a-Shee, on Wed 24 Dec 4:54PM
  6. What mouron does not say Mike is that Button and Sato­ also commited the same offence.
    In addition
    .
    All three­ drivers will have to hand back the extra set of tyres­ used so that they cannot benefit from having a set of­ scrubbed inters for the rest of the weekend.
    .
    He also­ does not mention that Massa did the same thing at­ Valencia and exactly the same punishment was given to­ him.

    From Ardsay e Giv-a-Shee, on Wed 24 Dec 4:48PM
  7. Why are you having a go at me? I haven't said­ anything one way or another about the tyres.

    From Mike, on Wed 24 Dec 10:34AM
  8. MIKEQ, once a cheat allways a cheat, check to see they­ aint coppied that special little wing maxi boy.

    From touronroute, on Wed 24 Dec 8:45AM
  9. MIKEQ , ginger-gitt, you cant make a mistake, one set­ of tyres , means one set of tyres , oh, what about the­ bands of white. oh are the mechanics blind, MMMMMM,­ dont think so.

    From touronroute, on Wed 24 Dec 8:40AM
  10. That'd bring a tear to your eye Chris :-)

    From Mike, on Wed 24 Dec 4:19AM
  11. I never said it was the teams fault, although spookily­ GingerGitt did AFTER you accused me of it, maybe you­ really can see into the future!

    From Mike, on Wed 24 Dec 4:09AM
  12. mouronroute: You really are an idiot aren't you. ­ Unless Lewis actually got out of the car and changed­ the wheels himself then he isn't the one who made­ the mistake. It's a shame the FIA weren't so­ lenient in Valencia when Massa pulled out in fron tof­ Sutil. No wait a minute they were weren't they,­ deeming that not to be Massa's fault and therefore­ allowing him to escape punishment. Oh those pesky­ Stewards, letting Lewis off in practice for a mistake­ the team made and letting Massa get away with a­ dangerous pit release.

    From ginger_gitt, on Wed 24 Dec 2:22AM
  13. MIKEQ. IT WAS THE TEAM FAULT, PULL THE OTHER ONE.

    From touronroute, on Tue 23 Dec 9:21PM
  14. MIKEQ, YOU NEVER DO GET THE RIGHT ONE YOU ALLWAYS SHY­ AWAY FROM THE REAL TRUTH, DONT GET THE ONE ABOUT­ INTERS.Lewis Hamilton has escaped punishment for­ breaking Formula One's tyre rules in practice for­ the Brazilian Grand Prix.
    FIA investigate Hamilton­
    The 22-year-old Briton, who is on the verge of­ becoming the first rookie champion in the history of­ the sport, and the youngest too, was investigated by­ the FIA race stewards for using two sets of­ intermediate tyres in a wet opening session.

    Under­ Formula One rules, drivers are only allowed to use one­ set.

    But, following lengthy discussions after the­ day's on-track action had finished, the stewards­ decided that while Hamilton had broken the rules, it­ was the McLaren team's fault and not his.

    McLaren­ were therefore fined 15,000 Euros and Hamilton was not­ punished. Mikeq good job the fia and stewards favour­ lucky mclaren.

    From touronroute, on Tue 23 Dec 9:20PM
  15. Ardsay.
    A cunning plan. I'm surprised nobody else­ has used it! Bam Bam!
    Imagine getting a lump of­ Canadian asphalt in your helmet! Ouch!

    From Count Louis Zborowski, on Tue 23 Dec 7:17PM
  16. Mike, presumably point 2 was the old ground affect­ cars.
    I seem to remember a car (Alfa Romeo springs to­ mind) that had a huge fan on the back and pulled air­ from under the car. Only problem was that if you were­ following it it shot stones and stuff at you.

    From Ardsay e Giv-a-Shee, on Tue 23 Dec 6:31PM
  17. Mouron, just for the record Ferrari aren't quite as­ clever as you think.
    1) Lotus introduced the flexible­ wing in the 80's, thats when they were banned.
    2)­ Lotus didn't just make the floor go up and down for­ aerodynamic effect they got the whole car to do it,­ then that was banned.
    3) maybe they did, maybe they­ didn't but Renault definately did & were found­ guilty by the FIA of having Mclaren plans but received­ no punishment.
    4) Cool fuel is definately illegal, and­ the two teams definately used it but as above, Not­ Mclaren, No punishment.required.
    Don't get the one­ about Intermediates?
    Keep Trying, Whats the latest on­ Ron Dennis Buying Honda for Pedro anyway?

    From Mike, on Tue 23 Dec 5:59PM
  18. M G A, from all the family, very good reading.

    From touronroute, on Tue 23 Dec 3:08PM
  19. #675, No Americans in F1 so I just flip a­ coin................

    From mejask, on Tue 23 Dec 2:55PM
  20. Any news on Lewis's knighthood in the new year­ honours list ?. Sir Lewis Hamilton WDC sounds quite­ good. An OBE is probably in the offing for­ Ron.Touronroute would guess an MBE for Glock.

    From chtech06, on Tue 23 Dec 2:28PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account