Todt tells Ecclestone to stop slating F1

Commercial rights holder Ecclestone has never been one to conceal his views, in particular with regard to F1's 1.6-litre V6 power units - which he recently described as "a shitty product".

Todt feels if Ecclestone has any complaints then they should be aired in private so the FIA could try to work with him on solutions.

Asked about Ecclestone's promotion of F1, Todt said: "It's a sensitive question because - and I am deeply sincere about this - Bernie has been doing an outstanding job.

"If you take what was Formula 1 50 years ago, and if you see Formula 1 now I admire it.

"I complain about the paddock, but I think about one side of the paddock and the other side, the way it is structured, it is so professional, so well done.

"All that has been done on promoting Formula 1 is absolutely admirable. For me, for 30 years, I love arriving on a Sunday arriving, but maybe the timing [of the race] is not the best.

"Maybe we should decide that rather than the race at 1pm or 2pm in Europe during the summer, if you ask my opinion, I would prefer to have it at 6pm in the evening.

"That way people can then go to the beach, arrive home and see it.

"Sometimes you have a good race, sometimes you don't have a good one and that is the expectation, and he has created that.

"All the credit and money he has got, he deserves it, but I would hope he will be more positive about the product [in the future].

"If he has some complaints, which may be right, it's something we should address internally and not make it public."

Although the roles of Todt and Ecclestone are very different, that has never stopped the latter from interfering in the jurisdiction of the former.

Todt can appreciate that so long as Ecclestone's approach is positive

"I know Bernie very well," he said.

"I know he may tell you I am his best friend, then five minutes later to somebody else I am the worst idiot he has met in his life. I live with that.

"The only thing is I will not get into that, because does it give something to the sport? Does it make something? It just creates some unnecessary gossip.

"Bernie, I don't have any problems with him getting more involved as he has to if it is bringing something on board.

"If it is not constructive, you should not do it.

"But it is his style. Do I intend to change him? I don't intend to change him."