JUNE 21, 1999

Bernie's heart surgery

FORMULA 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone underwent a heart bypass operation last week at the London Chest Hospital in VictoriaÊPark, Hackney. The operation was described as "routine" by consultant cardiac surgeon John Wright. The 68-year-old Ecclestone had been urged to have the operation by F1's doctor Professor Sid Watkins.

Wright said that Ecclestone will "be back in the fast lane in a couple of weeks". It was not widely known that Bernie had been having heart problems but this may help to explain his non-appearance at all the non-European races for the last nine months. It is worth noting that former FIA President Jean-Marie Balestre underwent the same operation in 1986 - at the age of 65 - and is still going strong 13 years later.