Ecclestone: We don’t need Concorde Agreement

Bernie Ecclestone

Commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone has claimed that F1 could continue without a new Concorde Agreement being signed.

The most recent version of the agreement came to an end at the end of the 2012 campaign, with discussions ongoing surrounding a new deal.

As yet, teams have been unable to reach agreement on a revised deal but – with time running out before the start of the new season in Australia – Ecclestone said he didn't feel it was vital that a new Concorde Agreement was put in place.

Indeed, Ecclestone said financial terms had been agreed with the team and it was the FIA that was currently holding up proceedings.

"We don't need the Concorde Agreement signed," he was quoted as telling ESPNF1. "It doesn't matter to me whether we have got the Concorde Agreement or not.

"The Concorde Agreement is really made up of two sections. We have already dealt with the financial section with the teams. It is all done so it is a case of the regulations, which change all the time. It's a case really of how you change the regulations.

"What affects the teams more than anything is the technical regulations. It is the that which could put them out of business."

New Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff meanwhile said it was down to Ecclestone and the FIA to reach agreement, with teams hoping for a resolution that was 'best for the sport'.

"All the teams have bilateral agreements which give comfort in terms of the commercial side of things but a global Concorde would bring stability to the sport," he said. “It would mean that Bernie and the FIA had reached agreement over a couple of points which are not only commercial but are also from the regulatory side.

"Such a broad agreement would be good but is it our business? Probably not. It is up to Bernie and the FIA to sort it out. Bernie is the rights holder so it is up to him and the FIA to find a solution. We are pretty much on the co-pilot's seat.

"I don't think there are big discrepancies. Like all agreements, it is coming to a point where the biggest controversies seem to be out of the way and now it is about making it work and working on the details. I trust they are trying to do the best for the sport and that is what we all hope for." Crash.Net