Breaking news
Formula 1
Mercedes stopped 'lousy' 2014 season - Ecclestone
Bernie Ecclestone thankful for the "open approach" of team AMG Mercedes F1 yet at the same time critical of Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso.
GMM
Edited: Dec 9, 2014, 5:23 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Bernie Ecclestone has credited Mercedes' team management for preventing a "lousy" world championship in 2014.
We would have had a really lousy championship.
Bernie Ecclestone
Considering the German team's utter dominance this year, the F1 'supremo' admitted he was disappointed with the "attitude" of the struggling reigning champion, Sebastian Vettel.
Disappointed by Sebastian Vettel
"I'm a super supporter of Sebastian," said Ecclestone, "but I'm a little bit disappointed with his attitude, which I think has changed."
As he struggled with his Red Bull alongside Daniel Ricciardo in 2014, Vettel was highly critical of the sport's new regulations and decided to switch to Ferrari for a new challenge next year.
"He's acting like a defeated guy," Ecclestone said, "and he isn't -- that's not his mentality."
Writing in the foreword of the official F1 season review, the 84-year-old Briton also criticised the man Vettel is replacing at Maranello.
Disappointed by Ferrari
"Ferrari was very disappointing," Ecclestone said, "getting lost somewhere. Fernando (Alonso) got a little bit like Sebastian halfway through, so I'm a little disappointed in him, too."
2014 did, at least, crown a new winner, as Mercedes totally dominated following years of Vettel's supremacy.
"I don't think we could have lived with another Red Bull year," Ecclestone said, "any more than we could have lived with another Schumacher (Ferrari) year.
"I thought perhaps Ferrari or Red Bull or one of the other teams would catch up (with Mercedes) halfway through the season and make up a few points at the end."
Happy with Mercedes
He said that, in light of Mercedes' unchallenged supremacy, it was "lucky" the Brackley team's bosses decided to let Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg fight almost unfettered for the drivers' crown.
"We've been extremely lucky with what happened," said Ecclestone. "These two guys have been racing each other and it's good that Mercedes allowed them to do that.
"If not, we would have had a really lousy championship."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Raikkonen upbeat about 2015 – or as upbeat as Kimi gets
Next article Button resorts to jokes as McLaren wait continues
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
GMM
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Formula 1
Formula 1
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Formula 1
Formula 1
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
Formula 1
Formula 1
Chinese GP
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
More from
Daniel Ricciardo
Why Daniel Ricciardo would consider a comeback at Le Mans
WEC
WEC
Why Daniel Ricciardo would consider a comeback at Le Mans
Does Daniel Ricciardo regret leaving Red Bull for Renault?
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
Does Daniel Ricciardo regret leaving Red Bull for Renault?
Daniel Ricciardo shares heartfelt message after first Indy 500 visit brought back "childhood feelings"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Barcelona-Catalunya GP
Daniel Ricciardo shares heartfelt message after first Indy 500 visit brought back "childhood feelings"
More from
Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton slams Charles Leclerc for "do or die" attitude after Mexico GP clash
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
4 h
Lewis Hamilton slams Charles Leclerc for "do or die" attitude after Mexico GP clash
Who slept worst last night: Frederic Vasseur
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
10 h
Who slept worst last night: Frederic Vasseur
Latest news
What was Kimi Antonelli’s best moment of his F1 title-winning campaign? Our writers have their say
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
1 h
What was Kimi Antonelli’s best moment of his F1 title-winning campaign? Our writers have their say
'There’s more to come' as IndyCar and NASCAR leaders eye future doubleheaders
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 1 h
'There’s more to come' as IndyCar and NASCAR leaders eye future doubleheaders
Johann Zarco says “I didn’t want to break the engine” after Malaysian GP DNF
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Malaysian GP
2 h
Johann Zarco says “I didn’t want to break the engine” after Malaysian GP DNF
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe