Former Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone says that the sport’s owners, Liberty Media, does not want him to be present at Grands Prix, and has criticised their approach to business.
Liberty took control of Formula 1 in January, with Chase Carey replacing Ecclestone as the Chief Executive Officer of the sport.
However, Ecclestone remained affiliated in the role of Chairman Emeritus, though says Liberty wants to keep him out of the spotlight.
“Chase sent a message to one of the girls in the office to tell me that they haven’t got so many offices at the circuits — only what the race promoter gives them," he told the Daily Mail.
"There are three of them [Carey, commercial chief Sean Bratches and sporting boss Ross Brawn] so the three offices are being used.
“So basically they don’t want me to come to races. It would have been just as easy to have said that to me. Anyway, I have obliged them.”
Ecclestone also commented that Carey, and Liberty, have had a wake-up call since their arrival in Formula 1.
“They haven’t done anything yet as far as I can see," said Ecclestone.
"They said they wouldn’t talk, they would act. They said I talked before doing anything. I didn’t. I got things done quietly. All they do is talk. They said they wanted six races in America, for example.
“If I say I am going to whack someone next time I see them, I’d better bloody well do it.
“Chase had preconceived ideas of what needed to be done. But now he’s on board, it isn’t quite as easy as he thought. So I feel sorry for him.”
