“They obviously like to see the world as they want it to be – wonderful,
the sun is shining, isn’t life delightful – and not how it is. The downside
of these glasses is that they blind you to reality.
“So my advice to them is to change the colour of your glasses and
tighten your belts. Stop spending more than you need to.
“The teams have to learn to be competitive without tonnes of money.
“They have to refocus again on the basics – on racing, spending on the
sport – and not on baronial motorhomes and all kinds of entertainment.”
Ecclestone appreciates, however, the opposition to such change he has
encountered in the past, and would likely do so again in the future.
Speaking on formula1.com, Ecclestone said: “We have had this kind of
problem for quite a while now as of course they (the teams) spend what they
have.
“You could install a mandatory budget for all teams – on the basis of
the smaller teams – but they (the big teams) don’t like it and fiercely
fight against it.”
Asked on formula1.com if a budget could be imposed in a few years, Ecclestone
replied: “I would welcome it. Yes, I think it could happen.”
There is, however, a stumbling block as he said: “Money, of course. “They
want to get more money – to be able to spend more!”