Bernie Ecclestone , former CEO and Chairman of Formula 1, sends out a characteristic caricatured Christmas postcard every year, and 2021 was no exception. In his new postcard he recalled themes that were present during the season that ended in the last Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The title of the postcard is “the search for equality”, and in his two caricatures he tries to reflect it with a bit of humor.
The front of the postcard is divided into two, one reflecting the fight for the drivers’ championship between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, with the Red Bull and Mercedes cars at the same level, while behind it is a Ferrari, a Haas , a McLaren and a Williams .
The two cars that contended for the constructors’ championship have an inscription underneath that reads: “At least some cars are the same at times.”
At the top, Ecclestone has tried to reflect the moment before each Grand Prix in which the national anthem of each country is played and in which one of its objectives is to fight and end racism and inequality.
Mr. E , as he was also known in the paddock, changed the slogan on shirts evoking an anti-racism message to a dollar sign and the word “equitable”, referencing pay gaps. In this image are Sergio Pérez, George Russell, Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Antonio Giovinazzi, Nicholas Latifi, Charles Leclerc, Pierre Gasly and the new champion, Max Verstappen.
In turn, Ecclestone also wanted to remember the fight against the pandemic , and two doctors appear on the postcard vaccinating Gasly and Russell.
The back of the postcard does not forget an aspect that has been constantly remembered in 2021, the track limits , and therefore wrote: “Rules for 2022: do not cross the white lines (the track limits), help your rivals , also to the stewards and don’t run”, all as an allusion to the tight duels on the track that triggered some controversial decisions by the FIA.
Ecclestone’s last sentence refers to the 23-race calendar , the most extensive in Formula 1 in its entire history: “Merry Christmas everyone. Enjoy these days and next year there will be no holidays. Kind regards, Bernie.”
