Formula 1: Last few races is how F1 should be, says Ecclestone

Formula 1

Last few races is how F1 should be, says Ecclestone

We have seen some cracking action recently.

Martin Macdonald

Tuesday 17 September 2019 14:00

Former Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has praised the last few races in the 2019 calendar as how the sport should be.

In the events shortly before the summer break in Austria, Germany, Hungary, and Great Britain, as well as the ones in Belgium and Italy after F1 returned, we have seen some superb wheel-to-wheel action as well as a variety of winners including Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, and Charles Leclerc.

Ecclestone thinks that if this level of entertainment keeps up, F1 could regain some of its popularity.

“The last races were like Formula One should be,” he told Auto Motor und Sport.

“If it stays that way then I do not see any problem with it becoming as popular again as it used to be.”

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The 88-year-old believes that a contributing factor to the better action in recent races is due to stewards not being as quick to hand out penalties, which is enabling drivers to race harder.

“The fewer penalties, the better the races,” he added.

“Penalties should only be there when someone does something really dangerous or stupid. Do not forget.

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“There are 20 racing drivers on the way. Let them race! When we brake them, they are no longer racing drivers.

“I think that the stewards recently relaxed. But you could be even more relaxed. Somehow I can understand their worries.

“If they let the drivers through too much, they are afraid of the criticism.”

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