AUGUST 4, 2016

Ecclestone to sell F1 radio communication?

Bernie Ecclestone is reportedly planning to monetise access to radio communications in F1.

Bernie Ecclestone is reportedly planning to monetise access to radio communications in F1.

At the recent strategy group meeting, the controversial restrictions on radio communications were dropped completely, with the FIA confirming that this was done "at the request of the teams and commercial rights holder".

Part of the deal is that messages that were kept private by the teams even before the radio clampdown was ever implemented will now be out in the open.

The FIA said this is to provide "improved content for fans and spectators".

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport now reports that F1 supremo Ecclestone plans to "sell" this full access to all the communications between cars and the pitwall to the public.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff was quoted as welcoming the moves to make all radio traffic available to the public.

"We believe that it is a necessary part of entertaining the fans," he said.

(GMM)