Post by schumi on Dec 20, 2008 21:04:58 GMT
Not the best thing to admit, perhaps?
From Planetf1
Bernie: We 'bought' Ferrari's loyalty
Saturday 20th December 2008
Bernie Ecclestone has furiously hit back Luca di Montezemolo after the Ferrari president hinted that it is time for him to step down from his position as Formula One commercial rights holder.
Di Montezemolo said: "I think sooner or later he has to stop" and went on to obliquely mention the fact that the sport didn't need a "dictator" in a thinly veiled swipe at Ecclestone.
Ecclestone, though, hasn't taken kindly to Di Montezemolo's criticism and revealed that F1 has a "special deal" with the Scuderia which goes back to 2003 when they threatened to form a breakaway championship.
"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," Ecclestone is quoted in The Times.
"Ferrari get so much more money than everyone else. They know exactly what they get, they are not that stupid, although they are not that bright, either. They get about $80 million (about £54 million) more. When they win the Constructors' Championship, which they did this year, they got $80 million more than if McLaren had won it.
"They were the only team that broke ranks with the other manufacturers - why did they break ranks?
"That's where the $80 million comes in. We 'bought' Ferrari. We 'bought' Ferrari's loyalty. Our deal with Ferrari was that we 'bought' them so they would not go to the others."
From Planetf1
Bernie: We 'bought' Ferrari's loyalty
Saturday 20th December 2008
Bernie Ecclestone has furiously hit back Luca di Montezemolo after the Ferrari president hinted that it is time for him to step down from his position as Formula One commercial rights holder.
Di Montezemolo said: "I think sooner or later he has to stop" and went on to obliquely mention the fact that the sport didn't need a "dictator" in a thinly veiled swipe at Ecclestone.
Ecclestone, though, hasn't taken kindly to Di Montezemolo's criticism and revealed that F1 has a "special deal" with the Scuderia which goes back to 2003 when they threatened to form a breakaway championship.
"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," Ecclestone is quoted in The Times.
"Ferrari get so much more money than everyone else. They know exactly what they get, they are not that stupid, although they are not that bright, either. They get about $80 million (about £54 million) more. When they win the Constructors' Championship, which they did this year, they got $80 million more than if McLaren had won it.
"They were the only team that broke ranks with the other manufacturers - why did they break ranks?
"That's where the $80 million comes in. We 'bought' Ferrari. We 'bought' Ferrari's loyalty. Our deal with Ferrari was that we 'bought' them so they would not go to the others."