Formula 1 chief Bernie Ecclestone is confident that the 2016 season will finally put the brakes on Mercedes’ domination of the sport. In an interview given to the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag, Ecclestone voiced his concerns that, “It’s not healthy for the sport, it makes it boring. They hardly give the others a chance”.
In both of the past two seasons Mercedes have been crowned as Constructors’ Champions, while Lewis Hamilton has clinched the last two Drivers’ Championships, ahead of teammate Nico Rosberg on both occasions. Between the two of them, Hamilton and Rosberg have broken an F1 record by scoring a 1-2 finish on no less than 12 occasions this year. Mercedes – who operate under a German licence – also racked up the highest all-time points tally in a season, with 703.
“Mercedes’ domination is so great that a lot of people only ever watch the start of the Grand Prix before then turning their TV sets off, because Mercedes have made the races boring”.
The 85-year-old magnate was however quick to point out that he lays no blame on Mercedes for their stranglehold. Nevertheless, in order to prevent such a gulf in the future, Ecclestone has plans to introduce new engine regulations.
From 2018 all teams will be forced to use more powerful, and cheaper engines, which must be made by independent manufacturers. “We cannot allow Formula 1 to be destroyed”, he railed.