REPORT: Ecclestone backing breakaway GP1 series?
Bernie Ecclestone didn't get to be a billionaire by waiting for things to come his way. With the threat of a breakaway series seemingly very real once again, the man credited with making Formula 1 what it today is has apparently decided to make sure he is on it. F1 Live reports that last month, Ecclestone filed trademark application papers for Formula Grand Prix, Formula GP, and GP3, in addition to applying to protect his GP1 and GP1 Series logos.
If there were a breakaway series and the teams wished to continue working with Ecclestone, in theory, they could step right into a GP1-GP2-GP3 set-up. On the other hand, even suggesting such an alliance could get the FIA and its controversial president Max Mosley back to the table in a more conciliatory mood, potentially heading off a splinter series.
It isn't clear why any teams would want to stay with Ecclestone if there were a breakaway, since he's continually mentioned as one of the reasons the Formula One Teams Association is unhappy. Various rumors have the FOTA cutting Ecclestone out, but things won't get any clearer until the next teams meeting on Wednesday.
[Source: F1 Live | Image: Mark Thompson/Getty]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Brian 10:11AM (7/13/2009)
Or maybe registering these to stop FOTA using them ?
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Eric Liberatore 11:16AM (7/13/2009)
Exactly!
Lemon 12:31PM (7/13/2009)
Thats what it sounds like to me. Why would he trademark so many names if he was actually interested in helping them? Sounds like he's just trying to give FOTA a headache.
Jruhi4 2:59PM (7/13/2009)
I agree with the rest of you. This is hardly a conciliatory gesture on Bernie's part, but more of a pre-emptive strike.
Carlos 10:27AM (7/13/2009)
Instead of F1 they should all just go to Lemans again.
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Alex 10:30AM (7/13/2009)
Good God, please give FOTA the smarts to stay far far away from anything with Bernie attached to it. Dorna Sports has extended the olive branch to FOTA for assistance in setting up a new series. I hope serious discussion are taking place with them. They have done an excellent job with Moto GP and can be expected to do the same for a new F1.
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spookthehamster 11:43AM (7/13/2009)
I've never seen anything but the opposite suggested by Dorna. Any references?
kfj 10:37AM (7/13/2009)
So I see this is the F1 drama for this week.
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dukeisduke 10:56AM (7/13/2009)
If I were the FOTA, I'd tell Bernie, "Thanks, but no thanks."
Jorge 10:45AM (7/13/2009)
Once they decide to move away from F1, the less important thing is to choose a name for the series. They can even name it, the "we are not F1 series" and that would be just fine.
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John P. 10:56AM (7/13/2009)
We are seeing that face way too often on this blog. Can we get back to Special Edition Mustangs?
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Majarvis 11:16AM (7/13/2009)
Shut up.
Matt Clare 6:44PM (7/13/2009)
Haha -- @John P. You know your Autoblog a lot.