Ecclestone happy with HRT's new direction
Global Motorsport Media
Bernie Ecclestone is happy that HRT, the back of the grid Spanish team, appears to have turned a corner.
Last year, the F1 chief executive described the team and fellow straggler Virgin as "cripples" that have been "an embarrassment" that the sport needed to "get rid of".
A year on, HRT has new owners in the form of Thesen Capital and is working towards building a more Spanish identity and a permanent base.
McLaren's highly experienced Pedro de la Rosa has been signed for the next two seasons, the gearbox deal with Williams has been extended, and a new Toyota link has emerged.
The BBC reported last weekend that the team is set to begin working with a Cologne company that is co-owned by Caterham's Tony Fernandes and Mike Gascoyne.
"It's effectively the design office of the former Toyota team", reported assistant editor Andrew Benson.
They may start to be a good team to give joy to the Spanish fans
All the developments have been received as good news by Ecclestone.
"Yes, I have to say I am very happy with the direction being taken now," he told Spanish sports newspaper Marca.
"It has changed, it's a good project with the right steps being taken. They may start to be a good team to give joy to the Spanish fans," added the 81-year-old Briton.
Share Or Save This Story
Aston Martin claims Lance Stroll is “unbeatable” at many F1 tracks
Aston Martin claims F1 chassis is “fifth-fastest” at some tracks
Aston Martin: Jonathan Wheatley isn’t joining “for the time being”
F1 Spanish GP at Madring: Saturday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
Oscar Piastri shoots down Lando Norris sabotage theory
Why Monza remains F1's eternal test of team bonds
LIVE: F1 Spanish Grand Prix updates - Follow qualifying in Madrid with live timing
Kimi Antonelli "should be in a Ferrari" after Monza win, says Guenther Steiner
Anthony Davidson warns young drivers not to follow Lewis Hamilton's Madrid FP3 example
F1 Spanish GP: Kimi Antonelli tops red-flagged FP3 following Lewis Hamilton, Oliver Bearman crashes
Audi’s long road back to the top of grand prix racing
What we learned from Friday practice at the 2026 F1 Spanish GP
What F1's risky Madrid bet needs to get right in order to pay off
The deeper meaning of Vettel’s emotional Schumacher demo run at Monza
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments