FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[Gaz]

Just when you thought Bernie Ecclestone couldn't sink any lower, he comes up with a little gem stating that publicity from Ayrton Senna's death in 1994 was "good" for F1.

Senna tragically died at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, just a day after the sport lost Roland Ratzenberger, both through accidents.

The two deaths, especially triple World Champion Senna's, sparked an out pouring grief amongst Formula One fans.

However, Ecclestone, who has previously praised Adolf Hitler's management style, says it was good for the sport.

"It was unfortunate. But the generated publicity was so much... It was good for Formula 1," he told Brazilian newspaper Folha de São Paulo.

"It is a pity that we had to lose to Ayrton, but it happened. People who did not know anything about the sport knew more about Formula One because of the interest his death generated."

Wow...

He is such a cretin he needs to go.

[bud]

His wording is probably wrong but he has a point. Its like music stars that die, their albums all the sudden become platinum yet if they didnt die they might not even go Gold..... Human nature what can you say!

[Frosty]

Just when you thought Bernie Ecclestone couldn't sink any lower, he comes up with a little gem stating that publicity from Ayrton Senna's death in 1994 was "good" for F1.

Senna tragically died at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, just a day after the sport lost Roland Ratzenberger, both through accidents.

The two deaths, especially triple World Champion Senna's, sparked an out pouring grief amongst Formula One fans.

However, Ecclestone, who has previously praised Adolf Hitler's management style, says it was good for the sport.

"It was unfortunate. But the generated publicity was so much... It was good for Formula 1," he told Brazilian newspaper Folha de São Paulo.

"It is a pity that we had to lose to Ayrton, but it happened. People who did not know anything about the sport knew more about Formula One because of the interest his death generated."

Wow...

He is such a cretin he needs to go.

I think he does it on purpose like a little game of his! The game is whats the most outrageous thing he can say and still keep his job!

[Gilles 27]

I'll reserve judgment until i see the original article, the one posted was clearly selectively quoting and I'm inclined to question it's balance after the gratuitous inclusion of the Hitler comment

[McLaren Fan]

I agree. Although Ecclestone is at the stage where he often makes a fool of himself, there is a lot of people out there who wish to criticise him whenever they can. And, also as others have said, Ecclestone is making a valid point, though his timing could have been better (i.e., not at the time of the Brazilian Grand Prix, where the second Brazilian in two years has failed to win the drivers' title). Formula One did and still does make a lot of money from Senna. However, I think things would have been better for Formula One if he had not died, as we would have seen Senna, still capable of great racing, with Schumacher coming into his prime as a driver, going at it on the track. And I doubt the Schumacher and Ferrari domination era would ever have happened, as Senna would probably have gone to Ferrari in 1996. So, I feel we missed out on several years of great racing, and the door was opened wider for one driver to win most things.

[darwin dali]

His wording is probably wrong but he has a point. Its like music stars that die, their albums all the sudden become platinum yet if they didnt die they might not even go Gold..... Human nature what can you say!

AS, the Michael Jackson of F1.

[McLaren]

His wording is probably wrong but he has a point. Its like music stars that die, their albums all the sudden become platinum yet if they didnt die they might not even go Gold..... Human nature what can you say!

AS, the Michael Jackson of F1.

It was said of Elvis Presley that dying was the best career move he ever done.Sad but true

[headless]

His wording is probably wrong but he has a point. Its like music stars that die, their albums all the sudden become platinum yet if they didnt die they might not even go Gold..... Human nature what can you say!

Wacko

[headless]

Bernie. Is something else

[Jabberwocky]

would Senna be held in such high regard if he had got old and slow then retired long after his glory days

[Amanda]

I agree the wording lacks a bit of tact but what happened at Imola did increase publicity for F1. His facts are probably right but it's a tad insensitive, to say the least, especially given that he was talking to a Brazilian newspaper.

[Gaz]

i'm not saying that they didn't get publicity from senna its very true, but he just comes out with the most absurd things.

"its good that senna died" i mean what the hell was he thinking?

I'm glad you made some money out of the death of one of the greatest racing drivers ever you utter muppet.

Perhaps he can kick the bucket so we can get some free publicity and the teams can get paid some money.

[Amanda]

i'm not saying that they didn't get publicity from senna its very true, but he just comes out with the most absurd things.

"its good that senna died" i mean what the hell was he thinking?

I'm glad you made some money out of the death of one of the greatest racing drivers ever you utter muppet.

Perhaps he can kick the bucket so we can get some free publicity and the teams can get paid some money.

Not that I'm trying to defend Bernie but that's a bit of a misquote that makes him come across a little more harsh. He said:

"It was unfortunate. But the generated publicity was so much... It was good for Formula 1,"

Which translates to 'the publicity was good for F1' not that it was 'good that Senna died'.


I do agree that it was a dumb thing to say though.

[scotty]

i'm not saying that they didn't get publicity from senna its very true, but he just comes out with the most absurd things.

"its good that senna died" i mean what the hell was he thinking?

I'm glad you made some money out of the death of one of the greatest racing drivers ever you utter muppet.

Perhaps he can kick the bucket so we can get some free publicity and the teams can get paid some money.

But like everyone is saying, it seems he's just really fecked up the wording there.

The safety changes were the most important thing to come from that weekend though. Just off the top of my head, accidents like Kubica's at Montreal, Brundle's at Melbourne at 1996 and Ralf Schumacher's at Indy would have been much, much more severe.

[McLaren]

would Senna be held in such high regard if he had got old and slow then retired long after his glory days

He didnt know the meaning of the word slow

Think it was his no holds barred style,2nd wasn't worth it had to be win or nothing.His attitude and dedication I think held him in that higher regard.So yes I think he would of,but I'm biased