Ecclestone: Liberty Media 'have achieved nothing'

Former Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has taken a swipe at the current owners of the sport, Liberty Media, as he believes the American organisation 'have achieved nothing' since taking over, as the anniversary of the start of their tenure as owners approaches.

Liberty Media have polarised opinion since claiming full ownership of F1, with a number of proposed changes both on and off the track catalysing plenty of debate among fans and figures within the sport alike.

Ecclestone has not been impressed with the ownership over the past year.

"Democracy has no place in Formula 1," Ecclestone claimed to F1 reporter Roger Benoit.

"The new owners will soon realise this because so far they have achieved nothing."

The most controversial alteration which will be implemented by Liberty is the standardisation of engine parts over all the teams, as well as a new three-engine limit over the course of the season, with fines and grid penalties handed out after the use of any subsequent parts.

This change has particularly enraged Ferrari, who have actually threatened to leave Formula One altogether if a compromise could not be reached which would ultimately benefit the Scuderia, who are the only team who have competed in every single season since F1 started.

Ecclestone, however, is not concerned about these threats, and claims he has heard it all before when Ferrari don't get what they want.

"The old game," Ecclestone said, referring to the threats.

"If they don't win, there is usually panic. Max Mosley and I could write a long list of all the times we helped Ferrari, but they always deny it."