“There will always be two things that will never lose their value: Formula One as a product, and Ferrari as a brand. Without wanting to step on anyone’s toes, I have to say the rest comes and goes and in the end it doesn’t matter. This is somewhat inexplicable and has a certain tragic touch to it, but in the end it is exactly like this,” admitted Ecclestone in the interview, which was conducted by F1's official website and then posted on Ferrari's media page.
Additionally, Ecclestone admitted his excitement over seeing 2-time world champion Fernando Alonso sign a long-time deal with the Scuderia at the end of last year. According to him, not only the Spaniard will benefit from this move, but also the sport, as the combination between his “lion's heart” and Ferrari's passion for racing will form a force to be feared.
When asked if he was happy Alonso moved to Ferrari, Ecclestone said: “Yes, especially because Fernando is very much a typical Ferrari pilot. He is a fighter with a lion’s heart and has a passion for competing and racing. This simply fits.”
Although saying a number of times that he would fancy a Lewis Hamilton – Sebastian Vettel lineup if he had an F1 team, Ecclestone slightly revised that plan when at the same table with Alonso. Asked if he would put a lot of money on the table for an Alonso-Vettel lineup, Ecclestone didn't event blink.
“Of course I would. I personally think that Sebastian has the class to win a world championship, which Fernando has already proven. It is a matter of quality. In my opinion both of them would be an ideal line-up as they would complement each other,” added the F1 supremo.
Finally, when asked to compare Fernando Alonso's situation at Ferrari with Schumacher's less than a decade ago, Ecclestone insisted the two have different scenarios ahead of them.
"There is a big difference between Michael and Fernando. When Michael was with Ferrari he barely had any rivals. The usual procedure in these years was that Michael got pole and won the race. But take a look at Fernando’s opponents today: both Red Bull pilots, both McLaren pilots and Fernando can get the pole position and win the race. The competition is far bigger, so you cannot really compare the two situations."
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