The FIA is a joke slams Bernie

Any publicity in Formula One has always been seen as good publicity and Bernie has once again tried his hardest to get F1 back in the headlines.

With the Formula One season opener in Australia just days away, now is certainly the time to get people talking and raise the interest level around F1 and what better way than having a war of words with the president of the FIA Jean Todt?

Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has had a number of run ins with Todt in recent weeks, they've clashed over the proposals over fuel-efficient engine technologies, they've clashed over the future of the Australian Grand Prix, they've even clashed over Jean Todt's travel arrangements.

But Ecclestone as never been one to hold his tongue and he has come out with all guns blazing this time!

'Jean Todt is a poor man's Max [Mosley], He has been travelling around the world doing what Max didn't do too much - kissing the babies and shaking the hands. It is probably good for the FIA but we don't need it in Formula 1.' Bernie told Daily Express.

'We should write the rules with the teams, The competitors have got to race and have got a big investment. We have got a big investment. We should write the rules, give them to the FIA and they should make sure they are followed.

'It should be like the police – the police don't write the rules and say you've got to do 30 miles an hour. The FIA is a joke.'

This little battle of words is set to rumble on throughout the season, if the new regulations to improve the spectacle of F1 on the track fails, then the battle of Bernie and Todt could make up for it.