Ecclestone admits F1 needs a Beckham

Apr.30 (GMM) F1 may be louder and more glamorous, but the sport cannot compete with football in one area, Bernie Ecclestone has admitted.

The F1 chief executive is well placed to draw comparisons between the world's two most popular sports, as he also co-owns the London club Queens Park Rangers.

This week on a visit to Spain, the 78-year-old hit out at some of F1's stars, including Fernando Alonso, calling them "stupid" for not being more interested in promoting their sport.

He also thinks there are not enough characters: like the elite advertising brand and fashion icon David Beckham.

"In formula one we do not have a Messi," billionaire Ecclestone said, referring to the 21-year-old Argentinean player.

"Or Beckham. He would be ideal," he is quoted as saying by the El Mundo newspaper.

Ecclestone, contemplating how to encapsulate all the under-represented groups in formula one, then jokingly laid out his dream occupant of a grand prix cockpit.

"Ideally she would be Jewish and black," he said.