Abu Dhabi: Bernie Ecclestone, the Formula One supremo, on Friday gave the Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix a ringing endorsement, hailing the event as “a little bit special”.
The 85-year-old added that the GP, which is taking place this weekend at Yas Marina Circuit, will remain an important event on the F1 calendar.
“The whole set-up is a little bit better than most races,” Ecclestone told Gulf News in an exclusive interview in the Yas Marina Circuit paddock.
“Will it stay on the calendar? Yeah, yeah. No problem with that. That’s why we’ve got it on the calendar; it’s an important event for us.”
What does he make of another season of Mercedes dominance, who along with team member Lewis Hamilton have repeated their world title success of 2014? “The season this year, I’ve got mixed feelings about it. I wish we had another couple of competitors.
“Have Mercedes been too dominant? Exactly right.”
“This team are going to be a lot quicker for a start,” he added, thrusting his finger in the direction of the Ferrari base.
The emergence of young stars such as Toro Rosso’s 18-year-old prodigy, Max Verstappen, also bodes well for the sport’s future, Ecclestone said.
“It’s a case of young guys such as him being in the right team at the right time.”
Of potential rule changes for 2016, Ecclestone said: “We’re always changing rules.”
He also dismissed F1 legend Alain Prost’s assertion that Formula E, the electric car series launched last year, could prove a credible challenger to the long-established discipline. “He’s a bit of a dreamer,” he laughed.
Ecclestone did not comment on reports that he had stepped in to help cash-strapped Lotus guarantee their place at this weekend’s season-ending Grand Prix.
The website Autosport.com claimed on Friday that a protracted takeover by Renault had led to ongoing delays in Lotus paying their bills. It said: “One of those relates to the Yas Marina Circuit, which resulted in Lotus personnel being locked out and the team’s equipment sat at Abu Dhabi Airport awaiting transportation to the track. Ecclestone eventually paid the overdue amount, allowing staff to start unpacking on Thursday morning, two days behind schedule.”
In September, Lotus thanked Ecclestone for feeding their employees at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka after the team were locked out of their hospitality tent because of payment issues.
Earlier that month, Ecclestone — whose estimated worth is $3.9 billion (Dh14.2 billion) — paid £1.5 million (Dh8.2m) to cover the wages of 400 Lotus staff.
