Wednesday February 23rd, 2000

Formula One supremo, Bernie Ecclestone, claims the idea to float Formula One holdings was not initiated by himself, but rather by the F1 teams, primarily Ferrari.

In an exclusive and rare interview, published at Atlas F1, Ecclestone says, "The teams wanted to know what happens if Bernie dies, or runs away." However, Ecclestone affirms that the floatation is to be held off until the European Commission ends its proceedings against the FIA.

The European Union's anti-trust watchdog formally objected last year to the rules of the FIA and to the commercial rights of Formula One which are owned exclusively by Ecclestone's company.

Speaking of the EC's claims, Ecclestone says: "They say Formula One is a market which it can't be, obviously. Our market is independent, it's a sport." Ecclestone is confident that once the European Commission absorbs the complexity of Formula One, the matter will be resolved to everyone's satisfaction. "They're getting to grips with it," he added, "and we're getting it sorted out."

Has No Plans to Retire

In the interview, conducted by Atlas F1 senior writer and American Lawyer Thomas O'Keefe, Ecclestone also reveals that he initially preferred to hold the United States Grand Prix in Las Vegas, but was blocked by the Casino owners in the city. None the less, Ecclestone promised the US Grand Prix will continue to take place in Indianapolis, Indiana as long as Tony George is the track's president.

"I am sure that as long as Tony George is alive and I am alive it is settled [as a permanent site.]" says Bernie. "And I am thinking of staying on a long time, although if my wife were to hear that she would not be at all happy but that's the way it is."

Ecclestone also talked about Sylvester Stallone's Formula One movie, which he said would have been filming by summer, without problems caused by "Hollywood lawyers." Earlier this month Stallone announced he had given up on the project and currently plans on making a film about the US-based CART series.

Ecclestone said that he himself had "no problem with Sly, absolutely zero problem with Sly," although he admits the two had disagreements over the proposed script. Giving an example of what he was worried about, Ecclestone says: "We did not want them having [a story line with] somebody on the Ferrari team running drugs."

No Future for Women in F1

Asked whether he expects to see a woman competing in Formula One at any time in the future, Ecclestone, aged 69 and a father of two teenaged girls, said that, "in all likelihood they will never get the opportunity because no one will ever take them seriously [or sponsor them financially]. Therefore, they're never ever going to get into a competitive race car... Who is going to take a chance? Ferrari can't take a chance."

He further toyed with the idea, saying: "What I would really like to see happen is to find the right girl, perhaps a black girl with super looks, preferably Jewish or Muslim, who speaks Spanish."