And we're not to address that for the time being, but some short paragraphs which refer to a couple of high-ranked figures of Formula 1. According to Daily Telegraph's correspondent Tom Cary, one of the first journalists to finish reviewing the book “No Angel, The Secret Life of Bernie Ecclestone”, current FIA president Jean Todt and Virgin Group's owner Sir Richard Branson are not among Ecclestone's closest friends.
Starting with Todt, who took the FIA presidency from Max Mosley last year, Ecclestone believes “he put the president's hat on and his personality changed.”
“Ecclestone enjoyed chastening Jean Todt whose indecisive grandeur infuriated him,” wrote author Tom Bower, referring to Ecclestone's parading alongside Flavio Briatore on the Monza grid last year. The Italian manager has been at war with the FIA since his involvement in the crash-gate.
As far as Branson is concerned, the F1 supremo tagged his Virgin Racing F1 Team “a nickel and dime operation”, projecting that “he (Branson) won't last” in Formula 1.
After becoming one of the important sponsors of title-winning squad Brawn GP back in 2009 – a collaboration which ended in significant profits for Virgin Group – Branson started his own operation in the series in 2010. His team however struggled throughout its debut campaign with lack of funds and ranked last in the manufacturers' classification. At the end of the year, the team was purchased by Russian sports car maker Marussia Motors.
Additionally, Cary also disclosed an interesting episode of Ecclestone's earlier life (before F1) as a car salesman in the UK. When a customer allegedly came to him an complained that his MG did not have a heater, as initially agreed when purchased, the future to be F1 boss replied:
“Are you calling me a liar? You want to be careful, boy. I've had fingers cut off.”
Google News