Bernie Ecclestone believes ten teams is enough as far as sponsors are concerned ... and the lack of sponsorship on the 2011 HRT suggests he might be right - it was launched last week with a 'this could be you' message on the side rather than a mainstream sponsor © Sutton Images
Bernie Ecclestone has again stoked the row over the number of teams in Formula One, with a clear swipe at the viability of Virgin and HRT to succeed in the sport.
Ecclestone has made no secret of the fact he thinks there are too many teams in Formula One, and last season he suggested "one or two of [the new teams] shouldn't be there perhaps ... it's a bit rich for their blood".
But he singled out Lotus as being worthy of its place. "I'm very happy that they are back," Ecclestone told the BBC. "They will get on their feet and then sponsors will be attracted to them and we'll see them grow. Frank Williams was like that years ago."
When asked how the 2011 season will be for Virgin and HRT, Ecclestone said: "Difficult … 12 teams is too many. Ten is enough." A report in Spain's El Mundo Deportivo suggested he wants to drop the limit for the maximum number of teams from 13 to 10 for the new 2013 Concorde agreement.
The article said Ecclestone thinks ten is a better number to financially look after the teams and ensure there are enough good sponsors to go around. That would seem to be borne out by the fact HRT is still without a main sponsor for the new season.
Referring to 2010, Virgin boss John Booth said: "We thought F1 was achievable the way we were doing it, and we thought it was a wonderful thing. But you soon get the wake-up call, don't you?"
Credit: ESPN F1 (en.espnf1.com)
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