Bernie Ecclestone has responded to a letter from the GPDA calling for urgent change in the governance of the sport.

Just one race into a the busiest season in its history, Formula One is doing what it has always done best... shooting itself in the foot, and doing its dirty washing in the full glare of the media spotlight.

Having begun the season with a qualifying format that was universally ridiculed and then followed it up with a race that saw the 'usual suspects' on the podium, the aptly named circus heads to Bahrain... with the sport yet to agree on a format for qualifying and the drivers publicly calling for an overhaul of the sport.

In a brief note of response to the GPDA today, Ecclestone, who was not named in the drivers' open letter, the Briton agrees with their basic argument but one would have to question why and to what extent.

His response reads:

Dear Gentlemen,

I am not sure if this is the right description. It is not always easy to agree with you but you are correct in stating that the decision making progress in the sport is obsolete and ill structured.

We must as you have stated urge the owners and all stakeholders of Formula One to consider restructuring its own governance.

It is easy to analyse what is wrong so why not think and come back on this. At least it is better to think before you wish.

I have been in formula One for nearly fifty years in an active role and another eighteen involved in some way. You state that every individual acts with the very best intentions. I am not sure if this is a misprint. If not, it should read "with their very best intentions".

Best wishes

Bernie.

When one thinks of stakeholders, one immediately thinks of CVC and Ecclestone, whilst forgetting about the FIA (which owns 1%), American asset management company Waddell and Reed (20.7%), Bambino Holdings (8.4%), Lehman Brothers and various others.

The teams can also be considered stakeholders since much of their income comes from the prize fund, which is well worth considering when one complains about the deal which will see free-to-air coverage of the sport disappear from screens in the UK in 2019, for despite their protestations the teams will reap the rewards of the (rumoured) £300m deal.

Whilst some claim Ecclestone's response sees him agreeing with the drivers, this doesn't appear to be the case, indeed it would seem that the Briton sees the open letter as a means to push his own agenda. Indeed, the very last line, in which he mentions "their very best intentions" will be aimed at the engine manufacturers and teams.

It is a mess, and sadly as the various 'interested parties' line up to voice their concern for the sport, it and the fans who really do care for it continue to suffer.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by gturner38, 28/03/2016 23:37

"Yeyox02- Mechanics and engineers keep their mouths shut because nobody cares what they have to say and if they did make waves, most of them are replaceable. Drivers have the media attention and the talent level that make them hard to replace. In the rare instance an engineer is famous and difficult to replace, like Adrian Newey, they feel free to talk."

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2. Posted by FORMEX1, 26/03/2016 13:58

"here is a question for the powers to be
why not just buy out good old Bernie that way he is totally out and everyone can get back to what they love to do and or why do the drivers not buy him out and that way the sport goes back to the ppl who love the sport and got into it for the love of the chase"

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3. Posted by Tafferel, 25/03/2016 9:45

"TokyoAussie - Bernie has no reflection!"

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4. Posted by Yeyox02, 24/03/2016 22:27

"If I were a Formula 1 driver, I would always be silent and I would never open my mouth, why? just because I would be a mere employee. Just as the mechanics and engineers; they never say anything."

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5. Posted by Paul C, 24/03/2016 17:39

"Bernie, PLEASE sell your share of F1 to the France family (ISC) of NASCAR and retire to a mansion in Florida."

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6. Posted by mickl, 24/03/2016 14:35

"TokyoAussie- I don't think Bernie would recognise himself if he was filmed standing over the corpse of F1 with gun in hand having just shot it............."

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7. Posted by TokyoAussie, 24/03/2016 13:53

"Does Bernie not recognise himself when he looks in the mirror?"

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Ecclestone responds to drivers

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