Estoril, Portugal - Bernie Ecclestone has been criticised by the big boss of Lewis Hamilton’s world-conquering Mercedes Formula One team.
Dieter Zetsche, chairman of Mercedes owner Daimler, was reacting to Ecclestone having recently said that he would not spend his own money on watching Formula One because it was the worst it has ever been.
The 85-year-old Ecclestone also accused Mercedes, the dominant team of the past two years, of being part of a ‘cartel’ that was abusing the decision-making process to make rules that serve their own interests rather than those of the sport.
F1 boss wouldn't pay to watch a race
But Zetsche, speaking at the launch of the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class at Estoril, said: “At the Geneva Motor Show I was not going on stage to say I would never drive a Mercedes and that customers should not do so.
“I don’t understand how someone who is not only the CEO but also part-owner of Formula One talks that way about this. If he feels the way he does about it, it should be discussed internally to see how to change it, but not as a sales pitch.”
Ecclestone is believed to have a fractious relationship with Mercedes’ super-ambitious head of motorsport Toto Wolff, who is said to have designs on taking over the whole empire.
Daily Mail