Bernie Ecclestone is calling for everyone to remain calm as the recession bites hard at F1. Apparently, we are all panic-stricken and need to wait and see how much effect the economic news will have.
Now remember, guys - don't panic!
Funny, that; I do not recall being in too much of a flap before Bernie made his statement. In fact, the sport has been ticking over quietly for some weeks now, the Honda affair having lost its initial shock value and the teams working steadily on their challenges for the 2009 season. Even the news that the Mercedes board has approved their continuing presence in F1, albeit by a small majority, is hardly a sign of panic.
The most worrying point is Bernie's statement itself. After all, we cannot believe a word he says and, if he is advising patience and calm, it seems quite likely that there is good reason to be concerned. It was only recently that the little man was feeling confident enough to tell us of his dream of getting the manufacturers to sign contracts guaranteeing their presence for several years, although why they should do that when he makes clear that the idea would be to "sue the arse off them if they left" is beyond me. Why he should have suddenly retreated from such optimism to a fear that we are all in panic is not clear at all.
I suppose we must face the fact that Bernie does not think before opening his mouth. Over the years we have presumed that he is the consummate businessman and that everything he says has a hidden purpose - he is always beavering away at some brilliant scheme, manipulating our thinking with cleverly-worded statements here and apparently throw-away comments there. That might have been true once but of late I have begun to suspect that he has lost it and is merely reacting in a state of panic himself as his grip on events becomes ever weaker.
The problem is that Bernie has become used to stirring the pot with his asides and is just going through the motions now, clinging desperately to the illusion that he still counts for something in F1. The reality is that he is an employee of the group that holds the commercial rights - his responsibility amounts to maximizing his employer's income and he has no influence over the direction or regulation of the sport at all. Mosley's cool dismissal of Bernie's medals proposal is a clear indicator of where the real power lies.
So the best thing to do with Bernie's latest statement is to ignore it. No one is reacting in panic and the advice to be patient is surely superfluous when given to those who have no option but to wait and see anyway. We might gaze into the future and suggest ways to meet it but that does not mean that we think F1 is doomed. Actually, it is a good sign that we have not given up hope yet.
There is no doubt that F1 fans live in interesting times. On top of technical regulation changes more fundamental than we have seen for years, the Max and Bernie era draws to a close. Dissatisfaction with their rule is mounting and, regardless of Bernie's desire for immortality, age will get them in the end. With a bit of luck, the sport can look forward to a bright new future with a more democratic government and new ways of getting things done. Well, it's a hope, at least...