Bernie sez:

[gorthar]

Apparently endlessly quotable Bernard Ecclestone is at it again with his ridiculous comments. Apparently the youth market is a waste of time, struggling back-marker teams are like "women and credit cards," and going so far as to compare them to Oscar Pistorius.

No point attracting young generation to F1 says Ecclestone > F1 News > Grandprix.com

In Friday's interview, he said women "like to criticise", and likened collapsing backmarker teams to "ladies and credit cards".

And as Marussia and Caterham fight for survival, Ecclestone predicted nobody will miss them "at all" if they do fold.

"They've only got a name that people would know because of the problem they're in," said Ecclestone, comparing them the paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius who gained greater notoriety for the high-profile murder trial.

Arguably the most alarming comments, however, are about Ecclestone's attitude to social media, as he has been heavily criticised for not embracing the power of mediums like Facebook and Twitter.

"I couldn't see any value in it. And I don't know what the so-called young generation of today really wants," he said.

He admitted he is more interested in marketing F1 to the older generation, because a 70-year-old has "got plenty of cash".

"Young kids will see the Rolex brand, but are they going to go and buy one? They can't afford it," said Ecclestone.

I know this guy has been shooting off his mouth for years but the older he gets the more I struggle to figure him out. If CVC truly wants to go public I can't understand why they would ignore the youth market. Are they unconcerned with growth? What say ye? Is this guy finally beyond the pale?

[Oh Haha]

I am old and crotchety but even I can see that new media would be GREAT for the sport.

So what if the younger fans can't buy a Rolex? I can't(won't), either.


Time for a new boss.

[motion]

He's an eccentric billionaire. What more can you say?

[Porsche-O-Phile]

F1 really needs some (better) leadership to make / keep racing relevant. Bernie needs to go. Soon.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by gorthar

I know this guy has been shooting off his mouth for years but the older he gets the more I struggle to figure him out. If CVC truly wants to go public I can't understand why they would ignore the youth market. Are they unconcerned with growth? What say ye? Is this guy finally beyond the pale?

He's old and rich enough that ignoring the youth market won't hurt him. He'll be dead by the time the current rich 70 year-old fans (who can afford to go to F1 races and buy the advertised luxury goods) die off.

[gtc]

It's sad that so few people in the world are willing to vote with their wallets.

[legion]

Bernie say relax.

[creaturecat]

I believe he is correct re: the youth market.
The "women should dress in white, like other domestic appliances" comment, well, that's just ........ I dunno. Disrespectful? Hilarious?

[MrAlien]

im kind of with bernie on this... teenagers are not interested in F1, but that does not mean they will not get into it later in life. kids are interested in things that apply to them, just like everyone else. how many people in the USA actually followed F1 when they were kids? so why commit money and resources in an attempt to get them to pay attention to F1.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

F1 really needs some (better) leadership to make / keep racing relevant. Bernie needs to go. Soon.

This!

In car Live video streaming to your smart phone... took me about thirty seconds to think that one up!

I don't think playing the "rich old guys sport" is going to fly... progress or die... look what they did for Americas Cup, from old man's yachts puttering about to carbon fiber catamaran's zooming around!

[legion]

Teenagers can still afford t-shirts and increase TV ratings. Ignore them at your own peril.

[cockerpunk]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

F1 really needs some (better) leadership to make / keep racing relevant. Bernie needs to go. Soon.

on that we can agree.

bernie had his day, but its over. time for something new.

[gorthar]

Originally Posted by legion

Teenagers can still afford t-shirts and increase TV ratings. Ignore them at your own peril.

Yep.

But I get the feeling that this is about catering to F1's big corporate sponsors, who probably aren't interested in the fickle youth market, but somebody should be.

I get it...old dudes have all the loot. I would think though, that if CVC really wants to go public with their shares, that chasing well healed old guys is going to quickly reach diminishing returns. I'm honestly not sure how much growth there is in that segment. Who knows?

Bernie is a really clever guy, love him or hate him. I used to love to try and figure out what the angle was on his ridiculous quotes and stances but now he is starting to come across as a semi-senile old man, intimidated by changing culture and stuck in the past. I agree with the poster above who said Bernie is too old too care about the future of F1.

[Chocaholic]

There's a long line of 70 year olds to fill the benches for decades to come. Bernie is probably right.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Real life Mr Burns.

[5String43]

He's working hard to convince the world that he really is a senile, out-of-touch old fool who badly needs to be replaced.

[scottmandue]

What Al Davis did for the Raiders Bernie is doing for F1

[Por_sha911]

Bernie is nothing more than a self absorbed narcissist. He wants attention and is the big fish in his F1 pond. This isn't about F1, its about him.

[creaturecat]

Teenagers do not even like cars. For the most part.
Most teenagers in Vancouver do not even have a d licence, let alone a car, let alone an interest in cars, let alone an interest in F1.

I am not entirely certain that this is a bad thing.

[pavulon]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

Bernie is nothing more than a self absorbed narcissist. He wants attention and is the big fish in his F1 pond. This isn't about F1, its about him.

Psychopath is more accurate. A LOT of these types get to the "top" by way of that personality trait.

Psychopathy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia