Ecclestone: I have no legacy in F1
Bernie Ecclestone would delay the new Formula 1 rules for three years.
Bernie Ecclestone says he leaves behind no legacy in Formula 1 because the world moves on quickly, so he will be “forgotten”.
The 89-year-old served as chief executive of the Formula One Group until January 2017 when he was replaced by Chase Carey following Liberty Media’s takeover of F1.
Ecclestone was a polarising figure in the sport, though he without question helped to move F1 forward. That being said, he doesn’t think he has any legacy, and instead will be quickly “forgotten”.
“I don’t have one. I will disappear and be forgotten within a few months like most people,” Ecclestone said during F1’s latest Beyond the Grid podcast.
“Nobody remembers. The world moves on. New people, new things happen. The world is moving so quick now to what it used to, maybe 20 years ago even.
“It’s easy for people to march on for new things, new ideas.”
Ecclestone reportedly turned down a CBE in 1996, and he said he took that decision because he didn’t deserve it, since the work he did wasn’t to benefit England.
“I don’t particularly agree with these things. I think 20-odd years ago, I was given the opportunity, and decided not to,” he explained.
“Really because I don’t think doing things that I’ve done deserve any acknowledgement from anyone.
“All the things I’ve done, I didn’t set off to do something good for the country.
“If, by chance, it happened, I did do something good for the country, good. But it wasn’t my intention.”
There have been calls for six-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton to receive his knighthood, but Ecclestone believes like him, the 34-year-old’s achievements are for himself, not his country.
“He’s done a great job for England, for sure,” Ecclestone said.
“On the other hand, like myself, he never set out to do something good for England. He set out to do something good for what he wanted to do.
“But there are people on lots of occasions where people do try to do things for the country, and don’t benefit from it financially. They benefit perhaps that they have done something good.”
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