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.
"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.
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Must leave you guys. Still haven't got Mrs ChrisT a Christmas present and unless I go now you can guess what'll be on the menu!
Normally in my house I have the last word.
...Yes, dear!
The family is sitting at the dinner table. The son asks his father, 'Dad,
how many kinds of boobies are there?' The father, surprised, answers,
'Well son, there's three kinds of breasts. In her twenties, a woman's
breasts are like melons, round & firm. In her thirties & forties, they are
like pears, still nice, but hanging a bit. After fifty, they are like
onions.' 'Onions?' 'Yes, you see them, and they make you cry.'
This infuriated his wife and daughter so the daughter says, 'Mom, how many
types of 'willies' are there?' The mother, surprised, smiles and answers,
'Well dear, a man goes through three phases. In his twenties, his willie
is like an oak tree, mighty and hard. In his thirties & forties, it's like
a birch tree, flexible but reliable. After his fifties, it is like a
Christmas tree.' 'A Christmas tree??'
'Yes dear, dead from the root up and the balls are for decoration only.'
Ill go now before i get pulled:-)
Árdsay, you nicked it yourself by saying Middle East Énd - there, it's not a bit funny now ! Good one MGA - as long as you know your place !
Or this one
Chav Christmas Story
There's this bird called Mary, yeah? She's a virgin (wossat then?) She's not married or nuffink, but she's got this boyfriend, Joe, innit? He's a chippy an' that. Mary lives with him in a crib dahn Nazaref.
One day Mary meets this bloke Gabriel. She's like 'Oo ya lookin at?'
Gabriel just goes 'You got one up the duff, you have.' Mary's totally gobsmacked.
She gives it to him large 'Stop dissin' me yeah? I ain't no Kappa-slapper. I never bin wiv no one!'
So Mary goes and sees her cousin Liz, who's six months gone herself. Liz is largin' it. She's filled with spirits,
Barcardi Breezers an' that. She's like 'Orright, Mary, I can feel me bay-bee in me tummy and I reckon I'm well blessed. Think of all the extra benefits an' that we are gonna get.'
Mary goes 'Yeah, s'pose you're right'
Mary an' Joe ain't got no money so they have to ponce a donkey, an' go dahn Bethlehem on an' that.
They get to this pub an' Mary wants to stop, yeah? To have her bay-bee an' that. But there ain't no room at the inn, innit? So Mary an' Joe break an' enter into this garridge, only it's filled wiv animals. Cahs an' sheep an' that.
Then these three geezers turn up, looking proper bling, wiv crowns on their 'eads. They're like 'Respect, bay-bee Jesus', an' say they're wise men from the East End.
Joe goes: 'If you're so wise, wotchoo doin' wiv this Frankenstein an' myrrh? Why dincha just bring gold, Adidas and Burberry?'
It's all about to kick off when Gabriel turns up again an' sez he's got another message from this Lord geezer. He's like 'The police is comin an' they're killin all the bay-bees. You better nash off to Egypt.'
Joe goes 'You must be monged it you think I'm goin' dahn Egypt on on a minging donkey'
Gabriel sez 'Suit yerself, pal. But it's your look out if you stay.'
So they go dahn Egypt till they've stopped killin the first-born an' it's safe an' that. Then Joe and Mary and Jesus go back to Nazaref, an' Jesus turns water into Stella.
Heres one for you
A man asked his wife what she'd like for her birthday.
'I'd love to be 10 again' she replied.
On the morning of her birthday, he arose early and made her a bowl of Coco
Pops and jammy toast
He took her to Alton Towers and put her on every ride in the park:
*
The Death Slide
*
The Wall of Fear
*
The Screaming Monster Roller Coaster
Five hours later she staggered out of the theme park.
They went to a McDonalds where her loving husband ordered her a Happy Meal
with extra fries and a chocolate milkshake.
Then it was off to the movies: the latest Kiddies three hour epic cartoon,
a hot dog, popcorn, all the Coke she could drink, her favorite lolly and
M&Ms!
Finally she wobbled home with her husband and collapsed onto the bed
exhausted. He leaned over his precious wife with a big smile and lovingly
asked 'Well dear, what was it like being 10 again?'
Her eyes slowly opened and her expression changed to one of total
realisation...'I meant my dress size, you f***ing idiot !!!'
The moral of this story: Even when a man is listening, he's still gonna get
it wrong
Mine haven't disappeared for a while now!
Which is strange as I don't think I'm any nicer! In fact I'm quite grumpy really.
m.e give us the joke.
682 - that's the vital clue MGA !!!!!
Oh that's not fair, I was going to make the extremely witty remark about the Middle East End only to be pipped at the post (bit like Brazil really - dragging it back to F1).
Mouron, your post
.
ARDSAY, the exsistant is there, like i said its not what you think you know, it is who you know, now you be a good boy and your airwaves will be safe.
.
thanks for that mouron - adding to the list, as instructed.
.
Tell me mourontoot why are you so nasty lately, I can remember a time I quite liked you.
How do people get your posts removed?
had mine removed last night must have upset some one.
No change there then:¬)
ARDSAY, the exsistant is there, like i said its not what you think you know, it is who you know, now you be a good boy and your airwaves will be safe.
I said desert, not deserted!
Toury's criticism of Elan's post was the b0ll0cks!
Haven't laughed so much since ...well, last time I laughed really hard.
Chris don't talk about Brands Hatch like that.
Morning mourontoot, yesterday I collected all of your insults and threats and sent them in an email to BTYahoo.
In their reply they mention that they have had issues with you before but they do not believe you have anyone inside BT wiping posts. But they are keeping tabs on my account.
Now as some of my posts have just disappeared I do hope it was not your BT friend because BT point out in the email that this is "A Grade 1 Disciplinary Offence". You might like to mention that to him, if indeed he exists.
Yes. I'd guessed that by a comment about footy sometime ago!
But I can just see you perched on your camel watching Formula One on one of these desert tracks.
Chris I am from the Middle East End.
It's difficult to understand some of the posts by the nutters.
.
Elan - It's OK to take a bribe because if it was offered to someone else they would have taken it. No it isn't.
.
Golf - It's simply appearance money that no one was told about. Oh right.
.
Mouron - well this is what he said
.
ELAN,I belive like all other teams ferrari wanted more share off the money generated by the sport. What other teams , put it right ,the mclaren team of supporters. and your spelling is worse than mine.
.
Anyone with any idea of the meaning of this sentence means then please let me know? The only thing I can pick out of it is that he was saying his spelling was bad. No don't believe it mouron old mate.
.
I am not a McLaren supporter I am an F1 supporter who enjoyed watching Lewis win last year. It was great to see a Brit win, but of course that is a really bad thing being proud of a fellow countryman they don't do that sort of things in other countries, do they?
Ang' on So Long Marianne has just started. Sublime.
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