There is a fine line connecting the Formula One Teams’ Association (FOTA) announcement that Gran Prix racing fans will be consulted more about future rule changes, FOTA’s ongoing feud with FIA President Max Mosley and Bernie Ecclestone’s recent comments about totalitarian regimes and admiration of Hitler’s leadership.

Bernie’s recent comments, while wildly inappropriate, are certainly no slip of the tongue. Comments stating he didn’t intend to invoke Hitler’s name and “…I got dragged into something I wasn’t supposed to discuss…” just don’t ring true. After all this is the man who is widely credited with turning F1 into the multi-million dollar business it is today.

Instead this is a calculated move designed to both remind the 8 teams who threatened to form a breakaway series that F1 is not a democracy and to get the media glare off of F1’s current infighting. Despite many Jewish organizations calling for a boycott of this weekend’s German Gran Prix at Nurburgring as well as for Bernie’s resignation, the likely outcome for his comments is nothing. The attention called to Bernie doesn’t weaken his position as F1 Supremo and Bernie himself has said calls for him to resign come from people without the “power to say these things”.

Despite FOTA and FIA reaching an agreement for the future rules of F1, it is an uneasy truce which is expected to breakdown if Mosley stands for re-election as FIA president. Although Ecclestone also called for Mosley to stand down, Max is still his guy and isn’t about to let FOTA flex any new found muscle they might think they may have developed by dancing on Mosley’s grave or promoting their first audience survey. The only thing Bernie wants less than FOTA’s confidence is the media and fans talking about it and what better way to ensure that then to provide a big controversial distraction.

As it is, F1 is not winning many fans these days. The drivers have become too press trained and as a result have lost any sense of character. TV is a mixed bag with ITV’s brutal announcers and too much footage of the race leader’s big lead while missing entertaining back marker battles. Overtaking is rare and the courses which allowed for it are being dropped from the schedule. With Jensen Button and Sebastian Vettal as this years only winners so far, the oft promised race day parity has not arrived. Add up all these factors and Bernie has a lot to lose if the specter of a rival series raises its head again.

So while Bernie’s comments are unacceptable and border on anti-Semitic, I am not convinced they were accidental or part of a prejudicial agenda. Instead they are Bernie doing what Bernie does best – protecting his interests in F1.