bleungberg.com

Bleungberg doesn’t really care what happens on the track in F1 - it’s far too boring to our liking. But we’ve been fascinated by recent development off the track - not least FIA Chairman Max Mosley’s kinky Nazi-themed bondage session with some German-speaking prostitutes.

In the past few days, we were very taken by the addition of Abu Dhabi to the F1 calendar - much to the chargrin of the all-conquering, egotistical Doha who must now share the spotlight with a fellow sheikh in motor-racing’s premier competition. Fresh from being overlooked for the candidancy to host the 2016 Olympics, Doha now has the 2018 World Cup in site in its bid to overgun/out-do/ outshine/ outperform Dubai as the premier destination in the Middle-East.

Anyway, we digress.

Bleungberg also likes what F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone has done in bullying tracks around the world into submission. Singapor’s race will be held under flood-lights; Melbourne was threatened by losing its race to Sydney if it didn’t stage the race at night time, and Ecclestone almost got his wish with the race dee to start three hours later at 5pm local time - as a compromise - in order to capitalise on bigger race audience in the Far East and more importantly, Europe.

In addition, the race calendar has been lengthened to 19 races in 2009, with more races in newer tracks such as Shanghai and Istanbul replacing traiditonal circuits such as Monza and Magny-Cours. Just today, Silverstone is to lose the Grand Prix to rival Donnington from 2010, despite spending upwards of £30m in upgrading its circuit over the past few years. It would seem though that wasn’t enough for Ecclestone, who despite his tiny frame which wouldn’t look out of place in a jockey weighing room, continues to wield extraordinary power over the sport.

Horse racing wants to replicate F1’s riches by having its own champions league-style series. I reckon they’d need someone like Ecclestone in charge to get them out of the financial quagmire!

No one does it better than lil’ Bernie!