Bernie and Alex play word tennis in the media

Alex with Tiago
By Huw Alban
February 19 2006

In the last week or so a quote appeared claiming that Bernie Ecclestone was now having doubts about Alex Shnaider and Midland. In the same week, the billionaire businessman talked up his team and his approach, and I’ve used the opportunity to get a few things off my chest.

"I feel a bit guilty for advising Shnaider to buy Jordan," Bernie Ecclestone was quoted as saying to Italian magazine Autosprint recently. "I tried to help him. He is a businessman but he probably underestimated the work that comes with a successful F1 team."

"We heard from the doubters from the moment we entered the sport: First, they said we would never make it on to the grid, then they said we would not make it through our first season, and so on, and so on," Shnaider has been quoted as saying on the official Midland F1 website.

"Well, we're not only still here, we're stronger and more motivated than ever. As tempting as it might be to tell them to shut up, that's not our way. All we ask for is the opportunity to be judged fairly on our own merit."

I know it is a little unusual to start an article with a quote, but I felt that these words stood alone so well that they wouldn’t need any introduction.

The thing that is unclear to me, is how Bernie came to say what he said and in what context. As a statement alone, it would appear that he expects Midland to fail.

These quotes first appeared on the MF1O forum, and they have served so far to fuel the still simmering resentment shown by loyal supporters of Eddie Jordan and his team to the Midland organisation. Whilst I understand their views, and last year agreed with their feelings, I cannot help but think that it is now time to move on. The yellow cars have gone, and with them the “rock ‘n’ roll” of Jordan Grand Prix. In its place now rises a new team, with a new attitude, a new look, and a new car. Some have already moved on, and I respect them greatly for that – it took me three years to move on from Arrows Grand Prix when that team folded in 2002.

Me – I’m with Alex. As a fan of the sport I’ve decided to follow this new team and give them the benefit of the doubt for one season. Already they’ve admitted to grave mistakes in 2005, and to alienating their fans – it takes a brave organisation to admit to that! Midland have also committed themselves to rebuilding those fan relationships, and the unprecedented help that we get here at MF1O is a huge example of the lengths that the Midland organisation is prepared to go to achieve that. For heavens sake, we’re a fan site with the freedom to say pretty much what we like, but our questions get answered, we get told about a lot of things in confidence, we were invited to the new car launch and allowed to produce and publish all our planned content without the need for prior approval, and all this started to happen within weeks of us going live with this site. In addition we have never been asked to remove content is which we express our views, feelings, or concerns. It’s plainly obvious to me that Midland want to hear about what the fans of the sport feel about their team.

I’ve been told recently that Midland staff read our stories, and the forum! Perhaps even Mr Shnaider himself! Hang on, Midland staff read what fans say about their team on an open public forum! Please give me an example of another team that takes this much interest in its fans?

This doesn’t forgive Midland for the mistakes of 2005, but it sure does show that there has been a dramatic shift in attitude. I’m also told that the team at the factory at Silverstone read this site, and that our positive attitude and general optimistic mood on the forum is welcomed by those hard working people. I’m sure that fan comment here on this site is helping to fuel the motivation of the Midland F1 team - although I’m sure that there are plenty more out there that would doubt that.

When I stood on the balcony of the Brooklands suite at Silverstone, and watched the M16 being uncovered, I noted that Alex swelled with pride and said as much in my article on the launch (see link below). He positively beamed as he surveyed his team’s creation just as a young child would, having been given the latest children’s toy of the moment for Christmas. I can’t think of a better way of putting it but, this bloke was chuffed to bits to be standing in zero degrees at a grey Silverstone circuit sharing in the glow of his new toy.

"To see this beautiful, brand new car -- the culmination of such a massive effort, not to mention investment -- finally roar to life, was almost a surreal experience," Alex continued.

"It was what I had envisioned when we announced that Midland would be entering F1, and I was very proud of the whole team for being able to accomplish this goal. Now, with all the necessary resources in place, we are looking forward to a successful new beginning.

We know that we have made a leap forward with the new car - there is no question of that. What remains to be seen is how much our competition has improved relative to us.

But, I don't think we could have possibly worked any harder to get to where we are today."

From where I’m sitting I have to agree.