Former FIA president Max Mosley believes that Liberty Media should have kept Bernie Ecclestone in charge of Formula 1 following its takeover of the sport last month.
Mosley forged a famous partnership with Ecclestone during his time as FIA president between 1993 and 2009, the duo working together to grow F1 rapidly and take it to a number of new markets.
Ecclestone was forced to resign as F1 CEO two weeks ago after Liberty completed its takeover of the sport, with American executive Chase Carey taking over the role. Carey will form one part of a triumvirate to run F1 moving forward alongside commercial boss Sean Bratches and sporting chief Ross Brawn.
Speaking to ITV News, Mosley said that he believes Liberty should have kept Ecclestone at the helm of the sport instead of giving him the honorary position of chairman emeritus.
"I think it may be quite difficult [for Liberty]. I think what [Ecclestone] was brilliant at was dealing with the promoters and the organisers and the whole structure of the championship," Mosley said.
"For somebody new to come in without all the personal relationships it may be difficult.
“If it had been me I’d have kept him on doing the things that he’s demonstrably very good at and concentrated my efforts on doing the things that up to now have not been done, like interactive television, virtual reality, social media, the internet and all the rest of it.
"All of that’s been slightly neglected in Formula 1 and that’s the sort of thing that Liberty will probably be very good at."
Mosley said that he found Ecclestone's impact on F1 to be unmatched in any other racing championship, believing the rapid growth of the sport to be his enduring legacy.
"People tend to forget that probably the potential in the World Rally Championship is, and always has been, greater than Formula 1. Arguably also long distance racing like Le Mans," Mosley said.
"But Bernie came into Formula 1, and it was big when he came in, and he’s made it so much bigger. When I was FIA president I kept thinking why can’t we have another Bernie to do the rallies, to do the long distance and there just wasn’t one.
"All of those different aspects of the sport could be built into just as big a business as Formula 1."
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