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Adapted from GMM
Bernie Ecclestone's latest proposal is that Formula 1's most important races become a tennis-like 'Grand Slam'.
Insisting that the calendar will probably not expand much beyond 20 races, the F1 chief executive also admitted that "circumstances change".
If that's the case, the most important races could be like international tennis' Slams.
"Absolutely," Ecclestone told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport. "I'm working on it. And if it gets that far, then there would be more points for the Grand Slam races."
On another topic, Ecclestone has confirmed he is still at loggerheads with Mercedes over the new Concorde Agreement.
The German car maker's team is the big missing name, after F1 chief executive Ecclestone announced recently he has agreed terms with "the majority" of the teams including Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull.
Ecclestone indicated that the disagreement he is having is with Brackley based Mercedes GP, the Ross Brawn led works outfit and not the car maker.
The team believes it should have been offered a better deal, based on Mercedes' long history in the sport. But Ecclestone disagrees.
"If you trace the roots of that team, they started as Tyrrell," he said. "Since then, there have been four different owners and four different names.
"I can see little history with this (Mercedes) team," Ecclestone insisted.
The Briton confirmed that teams will receive bonuses under the new Concorde for "history and success", adding that Mercedes has won "one race" so far.
The F1 boss also revealed he does not support moves to install a budget cap in F1.
"It wouldn't work. You can't stop people from spending the money they have. They will always find a way to get around whatever you try to do to control it. Instead, the technical rules should be written so that it is not possible to just use money to make a faster car," Ecclestone insisted.
Another solution, said the 81-year-old Briton, is to allow smaller teams to buy year-old customer cars.
He said a clause will "probably" be written into the next Concorde Agreement.
Ecclestone acknowledged the dilemma that allowing customer cars could result in all the small teams buying the best car off-the-shelf, resulting in there being only a handful of constructors left on the grid.
"The way I'm imagining it, this would not be possible," he insisted. "I'll tell you about it soon."
Bernie Ecclestone's latest proposal is that Formula 1's most important races become a tennis-like 'Grand Slam'.
Insisting that the calendar will probably not expand much beyond 20 races, the F1 chief executive also admitted that "circumstances change".
If that's the case, the most important races could be like international tennis' Slams.
"Absolutely," Ecclestone told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport. "I'm working on it. And if it gets that far, then there would be more points for the Grand Slam races."
On another topic, Ecclestone has confirmed he is still at loggerheads with Mercedes over the new Concorde Agreement.
The German car maker's team is the big missing name, after F1 chief executive Ecclestone announced recently he has agreed terms with "the majority" of the teams including Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull.
Ecclestone indicated that the disagreement he is having is with Brackley based Mercedes GP, the Ross Brawn led works outfit and not the car maker.
The team believes it should have been offered a better deal, based on Mercedes' long history in the sport. But Ecclestone disagrees.
"If you trace the roots of that team, they started as Tyrrell," he said. "Since then, there have been four different owners and four different names.
"I can see little history with this (Mercedes) team," Ecclestone insisted.
The Briton confirmed that teams will receive bonuses under the new Concorde for "history and success", adding that Mercedes has won "one race" so far.
The F1 boss also revealed he does not support moves to install a budget cap in F1.
"It wouldn't work. You can't stop people from spending the money they have. They will always find a way to get around whatever you try to do to control it. Instead, the technical rules should be written so that it is not possible to just use money to make a faster car," Ecclestone insisted.
Another solution, said the 81-year-old Briton, is to allow smaller teams to buy year-old customer cars.
He said a clause will "probably" be written into the next Concorde Agreement.
Ecclestone acknowledged the dilemma that allowing customer cars could result in all the small teams buying the best car off-the-shelf, resulting in there being only a handful of constructors left on the grid.
"The way I'm imagining it, this would not be possible," he insisted. "I'll tell you about it soon."