Whilst speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport in support of Flavio Briatore, who some insiders still believe must have had an inkling of Fernando Alonso's negotiations with Ron Dennis, Bernie Ecclestone has made a number interesting comments.
Talking of the secret deal, Ecclestone blasts Dennis for being underhand and claims that the Englishman will have enjoyed embarrassing his Italian rival since there is little love lost between them.
"Alonso was dealing with Ron Dennis, bypassing Briatore. Flavio has been left, how can you say it... deceived," said Ecclestone.
"On top of that," he adds, "with Dennis being Briatore's worst enemy, he spited him by exposing things publicly in order to make it difficult for him.
"Dennis and Briatore could have written a joint press release and would have both looked much better. Dennis's move hasn't been intelligent."
Ecclestone, who, before taking control of the sport, was a team owner (Brabham), admits that such (secret) deals are nothing new.
"I'm reminded of when I was the owner of Brabham and, in the summer of 1977, I contacted Niki Lauda at the Italian Grand Prix and offered him a drive for the following season," the Englishman revealed. "He accepted, but I told him, 'Look Niki, I don't want to have any issues with Enzo Ferrari. You explain to him how things have gone, and then we'll announce it'."
Now, it's all well and good Bernie castigating the Ronzer, but let's not get carried away.
Ignoring the situation with Briatore, Bernie is the biggest manipulator of deals, secret or otherwise, in the pitlane.
We already know of his involvement in the deal whereby Alex Shnaider got hold of Jordan, while the Englishman was also instrumental in assisting Red Bull in its purchase of Jaguar.
However, Ecclestone was also involved in the deal which saw Paul Stoddart sell Minardi to Red Bull (again), which gave Dietrich Mateschitz his second F1 team, not bad for a man with no real interest in the sport other than a means of selling his energy drink.
We hear that there were a number of other (serious) potential bidders for Minardi, and that one of them, a consortium led by former F1 driver, Eddie Irvine, had everything in place and was ready to go, indeed, we understand its offer was better than Mateschitz'. However, according to our sources, Ecclestone didn't want Irvine back in F1, and therefore smoothed the way for Red Bull. Of course, the fact that this gave him another team for his new Concorde Agreement would have played no part.
And why Ecclestone's swipe at Dennis?
Well, in the last week the Englishman has pulled off two massive coups. First he lured Vodafone away from Ferrari, then, just a few days later, secured the services of one of the most exciting talents to grace the sport in ages, the youngest world Champion in Formula One's history, Fernando Alonso.
These two deals - both perfectly timed - give Dennis, and thereby McLaren and Mercedes, a very strong hand, and it should not be forgotten that the Englishman is one of the leading lights opposing Ecclestone's new Concorde Agreement. Paul Stoddart might have been the mouthpiece, but Dennis was always the one with the cards - and now he's been dealt an even better hand.
Despite what Ecclestone says, Dennis' move has been intelligent, and the F1 supremo knows full well.
