Jean Todt blames Bernie Ecclestone for Bahrain drama, demands new calendar proposal – Formula 1
International Automobile Federation (FIA) boss Jean Todt has blamed Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone for the Bahrain drama.
Todt stated that it was Ecclestone’s responsibility to sort out all the issues in Bahrain before the meeting of the World Motor Sport Council was held in Barcelona recently.
Recently, the WMSC decided to give Bahrain Grand Prix a date in the 2011 Formula 1 calendar. Soon after the race was rescheduled, some unknown facts about the security in the Kingdom surfaced which prompted every Formula 1 head to rethink the Bahrain decision.
Now, Todt has said that Ecclestone is responsible for the Bahrain drama.
Todt explained the Formula 1 rules and said, “It is the responsibility of the Commercial Rights Holder (Ecclestone) to perform all necessary prior due diligence to secure his calendar proposal to the World Motor Sport Council.”
He further added that Ecclestone is also responsible for resubmitting the new calendar to the FIA.
Todt also addressed the Formula One Teams Association in his letter and explained that Ecclestone will be responsible for rescheduling the calendar and will resubmit the new calendar soon.
Bahrain was given a race date in October which pushed the inaugural Indian Grand Prix to December. This lengthening of the season beyond December prompted the teams to say that it will be additional work on the staff which is not possible.
Todt also said that apart from Ecclestone, Ferrari’s Stefano Domenicali was also responsible to upset the 2011 Formula 1 calendar.
“It was the representative of the Commercial Rights Holder (who also represents the Formula One Constructors) who proposed the changes to the calendar. The delegate of the F1 Commission, in which all the Teams are represented, approved the decision that
you are now challenging,” explained Todt.
For now, Bahrain Grand Prix is to be held in October and the decision is expected to be changed by the WMSC after strong reactions from Formula 1 teams and officials.
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