58 replies to this topic

[Frans]

Just read about the succesor of Bernie Ecclestone.... Marco Piccinini, and how more do you need to start believing in the conspiracy in F1 to make it red??

so the FIA-F1 will be entirely Italian ruled,......... Aghrw...

number 1 in the prize of worst news of the day.
wished it was tomorrow...

[jaisli]

How much more do we need? Well, how about a link for starters.

[Frans]

several sites, here are a quick Dutch one;
http://www.formule1n...hp?storyid=4628
and a belgium one;
http://www.f1pits.be...id=2472_0_1_0_C

I have no cleu how reliable they are, but... this Marco Piccinini is basicly Mr. Ferrari or something.... now isn't?

[Tomecek]

[dan2k]

Bernie is Bristish isnt he?
Why does he talk **** about Silverstone at every chance he gets?
Why doesnt he help favour Williams over Ferrari? Etc...

[Double Apex]

Poor Frans...

[ensign14]

Originally posted by jaisli
How much more do we need? Well, how about a link for starters.

It's also in this month's F1 Racing, I think (certainly in one of the current mags).

[BRG]

I can just see Ron Dennis agreeing to this.....

It would be a lot easier just to award thwe WDC and WCC to Ferrari for the next thirty years, cancel all the races and use all the money saved to eradicate world poverty

[Frans]

I hope it never reaches higher and meaningfuller than a rumor....

that's all.

[Teez]

Originally posted by BRG

I can just see Ron Dennis agreeing to this.....

It would be a lot easier just to award thwe WDC and WCC to Ferrari for the next thirty years, cancel all the races and use all the money saved to eradicate world poverty

What's this supposed to mean? Just because the guy's Italian? Talk

[coyoteBR]

People, look at the bright side:
We're about to get free of Bernie

Come, Marco can't possibly be worst than BE. Have a little faith. In fact, since everybody will como with this Frans-like conspiracy, it's more likely Marco'll try to hurt Ferrari, to show his independency (of course, that would mean he would favour all other teams, but...)

[Frans]

http://www.grandprix...ref-picmar.html

the duude was director of Ferrari-SpA in the 80's, so he's basicly Jean Todt's forerunner.. so to speak.

but.. hey... nothing new or shocking under the Labour or the Sun,
conspiratually predictable. very.

[Teez]

Originally posted by Frans

the duude was director of Ferrari-SpA in the 80's, so he's basicly Jean Todt's forerunner.. so to speak.

Ah. Now I know why the name was familiar. Still, so what?

[coyoteBR]

Originally posted by Frans
http://www.grandprix...ref-picmar.html

the duude was director of Ferrari-SpA in the 80's, so he's basicly Jean Todt's forerunner.. so to speak.

but.. hey... nothing new or shocking under the Labour or the Sun,
conspiratually predictable. very.

... and Bernie used to own Brabham. You can see now how this team is helped by FIA. Your point being, Frans?

[RedIsTheColour]

We'll be free of Bernie when his health goes and not before. There's still loads to do including the forthcoming battle over tobacco advertising in the EU and sorting out who will run/own the sport when concorde expires. I think the tobacco issue could get really nasty and there must be a fair chance that the EU will tax broadcasters who show tobacco sponsored sports events which are now effectively illegal across most of the EU. That's the sort of challenge that gets the hyper rich out of bed in the morning. Unless there's a hole in one of Bernie's pipes, the deputy will stay that way for a good few years.

[Frans]

I just get some kind of wierd feeling as if this is basicly giving the FIA in hands of Ferrari.

Not that this is a suprise or what so ever, but... just think about it, 10 years from now, the FIA would be from Ron Dennis....

getting lost of Bernie just isn't a stable and good thing for F1 as we know it. Especially with the EU and the upcomming rules... F1 will leave basicly Europe, F1 will leave.. F1 is no F1 anyway... at least not all the time...

F1 get's less sexy that way... or so.

[Group B]

Originally posted by Teez

What's this supposed to mean? Just because the guy's Italian?

Nothing like a bit bit of xenophobia to help the day go by.

[davegp3]

It would be conflict of interests. But I am not surprised.
Bernie and whole FIA favour Ferrari, so nothing would change....

[SCHUEYFAN]

Frans, BRG, I am a Canadian Italian and am completely insulted you associate Piccinni's so called nomination as FIA president with favouring Ferrari. If anything, he may have to lean on Ferrari more to show he is not favouring them.

BTW, if you haven't come to terms that Schumacher and Ferrari have been kicking everyone else's asses because they are the best combination, then go watch something else.

[jaisli]

Originally posted by Frans
several sites, here are a quick Dutch one;
http://www.formule1n...hp?storyid=4628
and a belgium one;
http://www.f1pits.be...id=2472_0_1_0_C

I have no cleu how reliable they are, but... this Marco Piccinini is basicly Mr. Ferrari or something.... now isn't?

Sorry Frans, English, German or maybe French if it's in baby talk. But unless Dutch is written like short hand these tiny articles didn't appear to dig deeply.

But as others have pointed out, other articles are available and I'll take a look. In a nutshell, if you'll pardon the pun, Bernie will either have to retire or die in the process before long. How much longer can he last? Five years? Maybe ten? Somebody will have to take over and who should that person be?

Is it better to have a complete outsider who has little or no knowledge of F1? How crazy would that be? Yet, as in politics, anybody who's been even remotely involved with the F1 circus could be seen to have bias or owe favors to one party or another.

As somebody else already pointed out, Bernie was once the owner of Brabham. Who would you rather see take over?

[tifosi]

It should be pointed out that the only thing Bernie is in control of is the packaging and marketing of Formula One. Does he have any influence at all with the FIA, sure probably, but he is NOT part of the FIA and he certaintly doesn't run things or we would have slicks, Spa would have never been dropped, and Villenueve would have been in a Ferrari 3 years ago.

The Formula One teams seem to be pretty happy with the way BE runs things, even though they aren't exactly happy with the money distribution. If and when they decide that BE is screwing them, or later Piccinini, then they are free to leave and if all the non-Italien teams left and formed a new series tomorrow, where do you think that would leave Bernie. Of course the worst part of this is that Formula One is now ruled by 2 Brits yet somehow when Piccinini takes over the marketing side of things, its a slimey little Italien favoring his own country.

[pRy]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. The man who will replace Bernie Ecclestone, when god forbid, he finally quits, will be none other than Martin Brundle.

[BRG]

Originally posted by Teez
What's this supposed to mean? Just because the guy's Italian? Talk

Look at the picture on the link - the guy is wearing Ferrari uniform. It's nothing about being Italian. It's everything about being in Ferrari's pocket. The same would apply if it were Brawn or Todt who certainly aren't Italian. Trying thinking a little before playing the nationalist card...

[BRG]

Originally posted by tifosi
Of course the worst part of this is that Formula One is now ruled by 2 Brits yet somehow when Piccinini takes over the marketing side of things, its a slimey little Italien favoring his own country.

The FIA (and that includes YOUR national authority, tifosi) elected Mosley. The President of the FIA has to come from somewhere.

As for Bernie, well I have no excuses for him - he is a nasty little s**t and I only wish he was someone else's nasty little s**t and not Britain's. But he isn't in some team's pocket - Brabham was history long ago and he sold out of it long before that. It isn't about some slimy Italian (your words, not mine!) favouring his country, it's about Piccinini favouring his friends at Maranello.

If we have to have a new Bernie, let it be someone honest. decent and without any F1 team loyalties. How about that nice Tom Walkinshaw?

[coyoteBR]

Originally posted by BRG


If we have to have a new Bernie, let it be someone honest. decent and without any F1 team loyalties. How about that nice Tom Walkinshaw?

... can I use it as a sig? Can I? huh?please. purty please?

[Dolk]

BRG, what proof do you have Piccinini is dishonest, not decent and will favour Ferrari ? Nasty accusations that you throw around just on a whim.

[Teez]

Originally posted by BRG

Look at the picture on the link - the guy is wearing Ferrari uniform. It's nothing about being Italian. It's everything about being in Ferrari's pocket. The same would apply if it were Brawn or Todt who certainly aren't Italian.

OIC. It's not a nationalist thing, it's just another stupid, paranoid conspiracy thing. Gotcha.

Trying thinking a little before playing the nationalist card...

To be honest I did, but from your posting history I didn't think you were the type to believe in silly conspiracy theories where everyone and everything is in "Ferrari's pocket", so I guessed -- with regret -- you were against it because he's Italian. My bad. I apologize.

[Scoots]

Wasn't he sacked by Ferrari? Why would he favour someone who let him go?

The man has made 0 decisions ... before you cry foul, maybe we should see if there is one.

[tifosi]

Originally posted by Scoots
The man has made 0 decisions ... before you cry foul, maybe we should see if there is one.

Well unfortunately racsim and prejuidice will always exist in this world.

[BRG]

Originally posted by Teez
I didn't think you were the type to believe in silly conspiracy theories where everyone and everything is in "Ferrari's pocket",

Come on. it's one of Frans's conspiracy threads - you have to go along with the theme or it's no fun at all...

[HP]

Originally posted by dan2k
Bernie is Bristish isnt he?
Why does he talk **** about Silverstone at every chance he gets?
Why doesnt he help favour Williams over Ferrari? Etc...

Look at Balestre, and what favouring his nation, and in particular his nations best driver (Prost) did to F1, and what it did to Balestres job as well.

Besides, Bernie has little say on the sporting regulations (in contrast to Balestre), but in Silverstone he looks at his commercial interests. His beef with Silverstone is the commercial side, not the race itself.

[Estwald]

Originally posted by HP
Look at Balestre, and what favouring his nation, and in particular his nations best driver (Prost) did to F1, and what it did to Balestres job as well.

Besides, Bernie has little say on the sporting regulations (in contrast to Balestre), but in Silverstone he looks at his commercial interests. His beef with Silverstone is the commercial side, not the race itself.

Exactly. I'd be much happier if we were talking about replacing Max rather than Bernie.

[Carsten]

Originally posted by Frans
Just read about the succesor of Bernie Ecclestone.... Marco Piccinini, and how more do you need to start believing in the conspiracy in F1 to make it red??

so the FIA-F1 will be entirely Italian ruled,......... Aghrw...

Ah well........ at least that will make a change from the current pro-British (Williams/McLaren etc) bias then hey?

[BuonoBruttoCattivo]

Originally posted by BRG
If we have to have a new Bernie, let it be someone honest. decent and without any F1 team loyalties. How about that nice Tom Walkinshaw?

I can totally understand your hesitation/suspision re: CV/background of Piccinini, but I cannot understand why you automatically suggest the gentleman is not decent or honest.

I will give you example of two Italian umpires whom many in world football consider to be a total and absolute model of objectivity, professionalism, honesty and integrity; Agnolin and Collina.
The aforementioned character traits are not alien to italians, be careful with your assumptions.

[mtl'78]

Originally posted by BuonoBruttoCattivo


I can totally understand your hesitation/suspision re: CV/background of Piccinini, but I cannot understand why you automatically suggest the gentleman is not decent or honest.

I will give you example of two Italian umpires whom many in world football consider to be a total and absolute model of objectivity, professionalism, honesty and integrity; Agnolin and Collina.
The aforementioned character traits are not alien to italians, be careful with your assumptions.

I'll go ahead and say he isn't a gentleman. He was the central figure in the Pironi vs. G. Villeneuve Imola controversy. He was jealous of the influence GV had within Ferrari and used Pironi to try and destabilize Villeneuve, which culminated with Imola 1981, where Pironi ignored team orders to hold position and stole victory from Villeneuve. It was Piccinini who came to the defence of Pironi and lied to the press saying they had been free to race, a claim later denied by everyone from Forghieri to Ferrari himself.

He most certainly isn't a good guy.

[BuonoBruttoCattivo]

Originally posted by mtl'78



I'll go ahead and say he isn't a gentleman. He was the central figure in the Pironi vs. G. Villeneuve Imola controversy. He was jealous of the influence GV had within Ferrari and used Pironi to try and destabilize Villeneuve, which culminated with Imola 1981, where Pironi ignored team orders to hold position and stole victory from Villeneuve. It was Piccinini who came to the defence of Pironi and lied to the press saying they had been free to race, a claim later denied by everyone from Forghieri to Ferrari himself.

He most certainly isn't a good guy.

I am very aware of that incident within Ferrari, that was 20 years ago FFS.
BTW, in that year the whole F1 politics, accusations and off-track politics make today's squabbles look like disney-world material. Do you have more relevant or more recent reports of dishonesty or indecency? Or shall we all stoop to Ron Dennis' levels and cry Italian foul and publicly bitch a-la Suzuka '00 starting from...say...now.

[BRG]

Originally posted by BuonoBruttoCattivo
The aforementioned character traits are not alien to italians, be careful with your assumptions.

As I have already stated twice - my comments about Piccinini are NOTHING to do with his nationality. I am a great admirer of Italy, the Italians and the Italian way of life - in fact I am off on holiday there later this month. I am also a great admirer of Collina - if there were more referees like him, I might be more of a football fan. Perhaps we could get him to replace Bernie?

(PS : The "decent, honest" comment was about Walkinshaw and was a joke but it seems that a terminal sense of humour faliure is compulsory amongst the Tifosi.)

[se7en_24]

Originally posted by jaisli


Sorry Frans, English, German or maybe French if it's in baby talk.

If you can speak English and German you should be able to get the jist of a Dutch written sentence - I know I can!

[Frans]

that's because German and English derrived from Ancient Dutch.

[jaisli]

Originally posted by Frans
that's because German and English derrived from Ancient Dutch.

So you're saying that not only are Jos the Boss and Schumi friends but they MAY also be distantly related?

[Chris_Amon]

No one studied F1 rules as Piccinini during his Ferrari years.

[ensign14]

Originally posted by Frans
that's because German and English derrived from Ancient Dutch.

No, they all derived from Proto-Germanic. Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European.

[BRG]

Actually, the closest "relative" of Old English is Frisian, not Dutch.

[AtlanticRacer]

Originally posted by BRG
I can just see Ron Dennis agreeing to this.....

It would be a lot easier just to award thwe WDC and WCC to Ferrari for the next thirty years, cancel all the races and use all the money saved to eradicate world poverty

hhaha, good point. Ferrari soon need to learn how to loose (on the track).

[Rene]

According to this story Marco Piccinini is set to be Bernie Ecclestone's successor.

What do we know about Marco Piccinini?

Here's a true story:
The 1982 Belgian GP was one of the rare race weekends that Joann Villeneuve, wife of Ferrari star Gilles, did not attend, it was the couple's daughter Melanie's confirmation.

Following the news of Gilles death at Zolder a family friend headed to Monaco to get Joann, son Jacques and Melanie and take them on to Belgium. By the time the family friend arrived in Monaco Joann had been heavily sedated and by all accounts was hardly aware of what was going on around her.

A Lear jet was rented and the party, which included Gilles' former team-mate Jody Scheckter and his wife, headed to Belgium to pick up the Canadian racer's body. Meanwhile Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau had sent a government plane to bring Gilles body, Joann, the children and the rest of the party back to Canada.

Joann was still semi-drugged, and obviously distraught, left alone for a few minutes while the family friend went to the toilet, she was approached by a person (who shall remain nameless) who was holding a multi-page document, written in Italian, and a pen. The person explained to Joann that the document had to be signed as it was for "the insurance".

The family friend, a close friend of pitpass, explains: "At first I was just pissed because she shouldn't have been bothered, but I grabbed the document and started going over it. I don't speak or read Italian, but you would be surprised how well four years of Latin and law school can help. It became apparent that the document was a release of liability and not about insurance."

The family friend advised the bearer of the document "that Ms. Villeneuve would be signing nothing until there was a certified copy in both French and English and if he came near her again I would throw him off the airplane."

"This person was trying to get a newly widowed mother of two to release Ferrari of all liability," says the family friend.

"And why?" asks the family friend. "Because the damn seat belts ripped out of the car and that is why Gilles died," he adds.

Is this the sort of person you want running F1?

Source:http://www.pitpass.c...cfm?newsid=7700

Nice guy!

[MaxScelerate]

I hadn't heard of that 'release of responsibility' story, but the ripped seatbelts one isn't new to me.. Something to do with a reinforcement plate that was *supposed* to be tacked on the bottom of the car, to hold 'em in place, and wich wasn't... : I don't know the validity of that story, though..

[mtl'78]

Yes, but there's more. He was Pironi's puppet master in the whole Imola flap. He was jealous of GV's influence with Ferrari and used Pironi to try and destabilize him, which of course led to Imola. It was Piccinini who publicly came to the defence of Pironi, and effectively created a wedge between GV and the team in his final two weeks.

[Todd]

Whoever wrote the story has an agenda. Interestingly, I don't even see anyone taking credit for it. I do see that the person accused of misleading Mrs. Villeneuve shall remain nameless. If it went down as described, why would Piccinini necessarily have even known that the release would be misrepresented? That may have been a decision of this nameless chap. You guys can do what you want, but I'm not going to be manipulated by the coward that wrote and edited this piece of propaganda.

[Ross Stonefeld]

We're going to discredit a man who isnt even mentioned, based on a pitpass story and the accusation of a 'family firend' from 20 years ago?



The thread Frans started on this guy is more credible

[Rene]

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld
We're going to discredit a man who isnt even mentioned, based on a pitpass story and the accusation of a 'family firend' from 20 years ago?

The thread Frans started on this guy is more credible

If the story is true, then it says bagloads about Piccinini...not the most warm hearted of men...