F1: The 2017 season

[tikay]

As expected, Bernie Ecclestone has been ousted as head of F1, taking up the pretend role of Honorary chairman.

I'll miss him greatly, he's the smallest big shot you'll ever see, (he's barely 5' tall) but an engaging & very very clever man.

Not exactly straight, he's as bent as a nine bob note, a sort of cross between Harry Redknapp & Ronnie Biggs, deffo a lovable rogue (unless you get the wrong side of him), but he single handedly built F1 into the colossus it is now.

There are numerous biographies of his life, & I'd urge you to read a fee of them, they all make excellent reading, real page-turners that are hard to put down.

What a life the old boy has had (he is 86), & what a monstrous fortune he has amassed.

Happy retirement Bernie, & thanks for everything. 

[tikay]

Insert your own caption - here's Bernie with a bunch of wide boys back in the 60's.

[tikay]

Bernie is replaced by Ross Brawn, who has had a stellar career himself, in effect founding the current all-conquering Mercedes Team. A seriously clever man.


 

[tikay]

The 2017 F1 season starts on March 26th, in Melbourne, Australia.

[AndrewT]

What a life the old boy has had (he is 86), & what a monstrous fortune he has amassed.

Wasn't there a rumour that the time where there was a sizable jump in his fortune coincided with the Great Train Robbery?

[tikay]

What a life the old boy has had (he is 86), & what a monstrous fortune he has amassed.

Wasn't there a rumour that the time where there was a sizable jump in his fortune coincided with the Great Train Robbery?

Ha, not heard that one before.

Never had you down as a Daily mail reader, Andrew?

He is wide, & a bugger to negotiate with, but I don't think he ever needed money that badly, he just accumulated it via shrewd/sharp deals.   

[The Camel]

Horrible man.

Somewhere between Martin Lewis and Richard Branson in my list of "most deplorable people in the public eye".

[bergeroo]

Defining memory of the man:

F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone pays to end bribery trial
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-28656050

Glad he put some of that money to good use in stopping himself going to jail!

[tikay]

The new season is around a month away, & with the radically new tech specs for 2017, the new cars are being unveiled.

Think they look superb. Wider, lower, & MUCH faster.

[tikay]

Alonso to miss the Monaco GP.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/39576099

[TightEnd]

Alonso to miss the Monaco GP.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/39576099

think its quite a clever decision

energises Alonso, some good PR for team and Honda

[TightEnd]

Live internet coverage from the Alonso indy test yesterday was follow by more than 2 million people.

Click to see full-size image.

[BigAdz]

Insert your own caption - here's Bernie with a bunch of wide boys back in the 60's.

Is he Chris de Burghs' Father?!

[Noose]

The new season is around a month away, & with the radically new tech specs for 2017, the new cars are being unveiled.

Think they look superb. Wider, lower, & MUCH faster.

Shaping up to be a monster season so far.

Competitive, fast cars and Ferrari are back.

[TightEnd]

FIA have confirmed they examined HAM telemetry & found restarts consistent each time - also HAM maintained consistent speed

surprised Vettel didn't get a bigger penalty