Ecclestone: The inmates can’t be allowed to run the asylum

Formula 1 commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone has stressed that, as teams suggest several regulation changes following a generally processional season-opening on Sunday, the competitors must never be placed in a position to modify rules themselves.

Having feared before the season began in Bahrain that the huge hype may not live up to expectations, Ecclestone remains calm after the general outcry from fans across the internet who, like many drivers, complained about the lack of overtaking and general action.

There is no panic, no crisis for F1," Ecclestone, owner of Formula One Management (FOM), told The Times. "I think there is nothing we can do immediately and we should not just knee-jerk into changes."

With a number of significant team representatives and F1 personalities having suggested ideas such as two mandatory pit-stops per race, Ecclestone is adamant that those competing must not be placed in a position to rewrite the sport's rulebook.

"I had a meeting with the teams and tried to explain to them what our business is about," Bernie continued. "Racing and entertaining the public, not about playing with computers and going fast over one lap. The problem is that you cannot really have teams, in any shape or form, having a part in the sporting or technical regulations – you cannot have the inmates writing the regulations."