Ecclestone says was behind F1 radio ban to convert drivers from 'puppets' to 'heroes'

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has said that he was behind the ban on teams giving drivers over the radio, and also stated that drivers needed to be heroes in the wake of concerns they appeared to be puppets for engineers.

Ecclestone said that the drivers are all happy that the teams giving radio advice is gone, adding that they drive the cars and should know what's wrong and right.

Governing body the FIA has issued guidelines over what teams can and cannot tell drivers to help enforce a rule that they drive the car unaided, The BBC reported.

Teams have been given a list of about 50 items of permitted and banned radio messages, which extends to information on the drivers' pit boards as well. The banned areas include giving any information on where a competitor is faster or slower, clutch, gearbox, brake and engine settings, battery charge for the hybrid system and fuel usage.

Ecclestone said that the drivers shouldn't have someone on the pit wall telling them what to do. He said that they have a regulation in force that drivers must drive the car alone and unaided.

The Formula One boss said that the drivers have been well and truly aided and still are, even if they get rid of this ship to shore, and added that there are still a lot of aids they shouldn't have.

Ecclestone also said that Formula One is not easy, but it is easier than it used to be.