- Ecclestone traditionally releases an F1-themed Christmas card every year
- It normally features playful jokes that reference moments from that year's season
- The 2023 edition marked a departure from the norm in an apparent dig at F1
It's safe to say that the 2023 Formula 1 season won't go down as one of the most memorable, as Max Verstappen won 19 of 22 races on his way to a third straight championship.
That sentiment seems to have been echoed by former Formula 1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone, in the latest publication of his annual Christmas card.
In a memorable moment from the past season, the 93-year-old releases the annual pass that normally shows a funny joke.
This year, however, there was a deviation from the norm, as instead of a cartoon of F1 drivers and team leaders, it only shows a snow-covered field.
Red Bull's executive advisor Helmut Marko, said Marcasaid Ecclestone's card was a 'big slap' in the face of Formula 1.
Ex-F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone has been accused of delivering a 'huge slap' in the face to the sport
His annual Christmas card normally features a cartoon of something that happened during the season, but this time he “couldn't think of anything exciting or strange” this year.
Max Verstappen (right) won 19 of the 22 races and became a three-time champion
Marko's reaction may be based on the message on Ecclestone's card after a rather procedural season in which it became clear early on that the title stood in Verstappen's way.
Ecclestone wrote on his card: 'I am sorry that I could not think of anything exciting or strange that happened this year that could be illustrated in my usual card.
'So I wish you a happy and peaceful end of the year in which 2024 will bring you everything that is good for you and a more stable world. Bernie.'
A year ago the caption read “Just organizing the plotting,” with the card art depicting warring team bosses whispering and eavesdropping in the pit lane.
Before that, Ecclestone joked about the social and cultural moments of the time, with drivers wearing surgical masks, shown kneeling on the grid and receiving vaccines.
Ecclestone's public profile has declined since he left the sport, although his comments about the 2008 title fight have sparked controversy this year.
Felipe Massa initiated legal proceedings over the 2008 championship title over alleged comments by Ecclestone suggesting he was aware of the deliberate nature of the 2008 Singapore crash – which is said to have cost the Brazilian the championship.
In March 2023, the Brazilian driver initiated legal proceedings after Ecclestone was quoted stating that he and former FIA president Max Mosley were aware of the deliberate nature of the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix incident – involving Nelson Piquet Jr. in the Renault deliberately crashed – before they came to light to the public.
Red Bull's Helmut Marko (right) was the person who said the card was a 'slap in the face'
Previous cards have included cartoons of memorable moments from that season, such as Nico Rosberg throwing his second-placed cap to Lewis Hamilton after the 2015 US Grand Prix.
'I honestly don't remember anything about it. I certainly don't remember the interview,” Ecclestone told Reuters.
Piquet's crash and subsequent safety car helped his teammate Fernando Alonso win.
Massa had led for most of the race, but an unfortunate pit stop error during the safety car, caused by Piquet's crash, which left his fuel hose stuck, resulted in time loss and ultimately saw him finish outside the points .
Lewis Hamilton secured the 2008 F1 Drivers' Championship, narrowly beating Massa, who came agonizingly close to victory, missing out by just one point.